No, there are no new, updated, or "special" 2022 Medicare cards being issued, and any claim suggesting otherwise is a scam. The nationwide rollout of new, paper, red-white-and-blue cards without Social Security numbers was completed in 2019.
Your Medicare card. Medicare beneficiaries are not receiving new cards this year, but scammers may try to convince you otherwise. For example, scammers may falsely tell you that Medicare is issuing new cards—perhaps a card that is plastic or metal, or a card that has a chip in it.
However, this doesn't mean that a new card will arrive in your mailbox every single year. In fact, most people keep the same Medicare card for many years unless there are specific changes to their plan or personal circumstances.
A new unique Medicare number will replace the current Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on the new Medicare cards. We're taking this step to protect people with Medicare from fraudulent use of SSNs, which can lead to identity theft and illegal use of Medicare benefits.
To help protect your identity, Medicare is removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards. Instead, the new cards will have a unique Medicare Number. This will happen automatically. You don't need to do anything or pay anyone to get your new card.
No new cards are being issued for 2025 or any upcoming year unless you personally request a replacement or are notified by Medicare. Medicare will never call, text, or email you asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information to send you a new card.
Why did I get it? Your Medicare coverage, Medicare Number, or name changed, or you (or someone on your behalf) asked for a new Medicare card.
Yes, Medicare automatically sends you a card if you're already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits when you turn 65 or qualify for disability, typically arriving three months before coverage starts; otherwise, you'll get your card within about two weeks after you sign up. It's a red, white, and blue card for Original Medicare (Parts A & B), and you'll get separate cards from private insurers if you enroll in Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Part D plans.
Yes, the Medicare Part D donut hole (coverage gap) is officially gone as of January 1, 2025, eliminated by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), simplifying coverage into three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic, with a new $2,000 out-of-pocket spending cap for covered drugs in 2025.
You might have noticed that your red, white, and blue Medicare card doesn't have an expiration date. That's because once you're enrolled in Original Medicare, your coverage is continuous as long as you continue to pay the monthly premiums.
Your card will never be arbitrarily deactivated, and no Medicare representatives should call you unless you call them first. If you get a call like this, knowing the safety tips below can help protect your information. We recommend that you treat your Medicare card like your social security card.
Carrying the Card Safely
While it's necessary to have your Medicare card when receiving medical services, it's important to protect it: Keep It Secure: Only share your Medicare number with trusted healthcare providers. Avoid carrying the card when it's not needed.
Unless you take action to change it during the Annual Enrollment Period, your current Medicare coverage will renew for the following year. Automatic renewal helps ensure that you will have continuing coverage.
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to remove social security numbers for Medicare beneficiaries' identification cards by April 2019. Beneficiaries will be assigned a unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).
Offers of a plastic Medicare card are scams.
Why is the Medicare card paper and not plastic? Medicare prints its cards on paper instead of plastic because paper cards are easier to issue and replace. Paper cards are also more cost-effective and environmentally friendly, especially considering the large number of beneficiaries who require them.
Yes, the Biden administration, through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed in 2022, eliminated the Medicare Part D "donut hole" (coverage gap) as of January 1, 2025, replacing it with a simpler structure that includes a $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on drug costs for the year, after which beneficiaries pay nothing for covered drugs. This change means beneficiaries now move directly from initial coverage to catastrophic coverage, simplifying costs and providing significant financial relief.
Tips on How to Avoid the Donut Hole Coverage Gap
Discuss lower-cost drug alternatives with your healthcare professionals. Seek out discounts on medications. Choose generic drugs over brand-name drugs. Opt for in-network pharmacies only.
Rather than basing your Medicare number on your social security number, each new card contains a Medicare number that is unique to each person with Medicare. Your social security number is a valuable piece of information to those who seek to steal a person's identity.
Medicare is mailing new, more secure Medicare cards with a Medicare Number that's unique to every person with Medicare. Medicare is getting rid of the old card because the old Medicare Number was based on a person's Social Security Number.
Yes, Social Security automatically sends you a Medicare card if you are already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits when you turn 65, or if you've received Social Security disability benefits for 24 months (or have ALS/ESRD) before turning 65, arriving about three months before your coverage starts. If you're not on benefits and must sign up yourself, you'll get your card within two to three weeks after enrolling.
You know you're being scammed on the phone if the caller uses high-pressure tactics, demands immediate payment via gift cards or wire transfers, asks for sensitive personal info (SSN, bank details), threatens arrest or fines, or offers "too-good-to-be-true" deals, as legitimate organizations won't use these aggressive, unusual methods. Real agencies won't threaten you, demand instant payment, or ask for passwords; they'll let you verify information independently.
To get a new Medicare card, the quickest way is to sign in to your Medicare.gov account or My Social Security account online to print one immediately or request a mailed replacement, which usually arrives in about 30 days. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, visit a Social Security office, or, if you get benefits through the Railroad Retirement Board, contact them directly.