06/02/2026
Some Medicare beneficiaries are receiving new Medicare cards with new numbers. Medicare is sending these new cards with a letter explaining why a new number has been issued.
If you received a new card, here are a few things to do:
--Verify the Letter: Ensure the letter is from an official source, such as CMS or the Department of Health and Human Services. Legitimate mail will include instructions on when the new number becomes effective. If you aren’t sure if mail from Medicare is legitimate, call 1-800-Medicare or MA SMP 978-946-1352 and ask.
--Update Your Providers: You must give the new number to your doctors, pharmacists, and insurance companies immediately. Using the old, deactivated number can cause claims to be rejected.
--Destroy the Old Card: Once the new card is active, safely shred your old paper card to prevent anyone from finding and using the old number.
--Watch for Scams: Medicare will never call you to "verify" or "activate" a new card. If someone calls asking for your new or old MBI, it is a scam; just hang up. If you suspect a Medicare scam, contact your local SMP program https://www.masmp.org/
