The 5.7 million people who use Medicare in California are getting new identity cards.
The new cards will no longer have the beneficiary’s Social Security Number on display. Instead, it will have a new Medicare Number unique to each user. The change protects people who use Medicare from fraud.
The new paper card will be automatically mailed to everyone who uses this service.
If the new card is lost, your doctor or health care provider can look up your new Medicare number online.
The Medicare website recommends destroying your old card once the new one arrives.
The website also warns of scammers. They say if someone calls you asking for personal information, money, asks about your health plan or tries to cancel your health benefits, call 1-800-633-4227.