NORTH CAROLINA -- Residents who have Medicare health insurance are reminded to check their mailbox for their new cards.
- Residents should destroy their old card once they receive their new card
- The new cards won't have Social Security numbers on them
- Users are also warned about potential scammers
Once they receive their new card, they should destroy their old card.
It will likely take 30 days or more for the mailings to be complete.
NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said, "Your new Medicare card may look a little different. It will no longer have your Social Security number on it. That’s to help protect against fraud and identity theft, and to protect your medical information.”
Causey also warns that scammers may try to steal from those with new cards and offers tips:
- Is someone calling, claiming to be from Medicare, asking for your Social Security number or bank information? Hang up. First, Medicare won’t call you. Second, Medicare will never ask for your Social Security number or bank information.
- Is someone asking you to pay for your new card? That’s a scam. Your new Medicare card is free.
- Is someone threatening to cancel your benefits if you don’t give up information or money? This is also a scam. New Medicare cards will be mailed out to you automatically. There won’t be any changes to your benefits.
For more info about how to protect yourself, call the Senior Medicare Patrol within the Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1-855-408-1212.