Beginning April 1, 2018 individuals with Medicare will receive new Medicare cards. The new cards no longer show Social Security numbers but will have a different unique number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). The new cards are generated to combat medical identity theft for people with Medicare.
If you have Medicare you do not have to do anything. Medicare will mail your new card to the address on file with the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you need to update your address, visit https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ to make any changes.
There are no changes Medicare coverage and benefits, these remain the same. Only your number will change.
You may begin using the new card as soon as you receive it.
Your medical providers (physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, and other facilities) know the new cards are coming so they will ask you for your new number.
Cards will be mailed between April 1, 2018 and April 2019. Arkansas residents can expect their new cards to be mailed after June 2018.
For more information visit: https://go.medicare.gov/newcard