2018 Medicare ID Card Change
CB0007-17
August 8, 2017
Be prepared to answer your clients’ questions regarding the upcoming changes to the Medicare ID card.
Beginning in April 2018, new Medicare cards without Social Security numbers will be sent to beneficiaries, according to CMS, meeting a deadline set by Congress to replace all cards by April 2019. Instead of the Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), the new cards will use a unique, randomly assigned combination of letters and digits that will be known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).
The MBI will be an 11-character code so it can be easily distinguished from the 9-digit Scocial Security numbers.
CMS has promised an easy transition for Medicare providers. Through December 2019, providers will be allowed to use either the MBI or the old HCIN.
When discussin the Medicare card change with consumers, remind them the transition period ends in December 2019 and that they should not throw away their red, white and blue Medicare card.
As always, we thank you for your support and cooperation. For questions or comments, please email us at Compliance@NSGACommunications.com or you may call the toll-free number listed below.
FOR AGENT USE ONLY. NOT FOR USE WITH CONSUMERS.
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