New Medicare ID cards mailed to Idaho residents

The newer, safer version of the Medicare identification card is on its way to Idahoans who utilize the federal health plan.  

 Unveiled this past spring, the new ID card is designed to help prevent fraud and identity theft.  

 Updated cards are now being mailed automatically at no cost to Idaho residents and should arrive in mailboxes within the next few weeks.  

 Old Medicare cards that once relied on a member’s Social Security number are being replaced with a new, 11-character identifier using digits and letters uniquely designed for the Medicare beneficiary.   

 Officials warn Medicare recipients to be aware of suspicious or fraudulent callers requesting payments or soliciting private information in order for the card to be sent.  

 “Medicare will never call an enrollee asking for money or any type of personal information in exchange for obtaining the newly designed card,” said director Dean Cameron. 

 Medicare beneficiaries with questions about the new card or other Medicare issues can contact the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) with the Idaho Department of Insurance.  SHIBA counselors are available statewide at 800-247-4422.   

 Idaho is part of the sixth wave of the federal card distribution process. Once a new card arrives, old cards should be destroyed, preferably using a confetti shredder.  

 Government officials say all 60 million Medicare enrollees nationwide should have the new card by April of 2019.