As a Medicare beneficiary, it’s important to keep your Original Medicare card safe and in good condition. However, accidents happen, and you might find yourself in a situation where your Medicare card is lost, stolen, or damaged. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to take to replace your Medicare card as quickly and efficiently as possible.

How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Medicare Card

If you’ve lost your red, white, and blue Original Medicare card, or it has been stolen, you can replace it by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227). Alternatively, you can log in to your medicare.gov account and order or print a replacement card.

Make sure to have your Medicare number and other identifying information ready when you call or log in. Your new Medicare card should arrive in the mail within 30 days.

If you receive Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage Plan, such as an HMO, PPO, or PDP, you’ll need to call your plan to replace your card.

Replacing a Damaged Medicare Card

If your Medicare card is too faded or damaged to be used, you can also request a replacement. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227) or log in to your medicare.gov account to order a new card.

It’s worth noting that Medicare will not charge you for your first replacement card, but subsequent replacement cards may incur a fee. Make sure to keep your Medicare card in a safe place and in good condition to avoid additional costs.

Protect Yourself Against Medicare Fraud

If your Medicare card has been lost or stolen, it’s important to watch out for Medicare fraud. Check your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) for any services or items that you didn’t receive, and if you notice any, report them to the Inspector General’s fraud hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). You can also seek assistance from your local Senior Medicare Patrol.

Protect Your Important Documents

Your Medicare card, Social Security card, and other health insurance cards are crucial documents that you should safeguard. It’s important to make photocopies of your important identification and insurance cards, write down important numbers such as your Medicare number, and keep everything in a secure place for future reference in case anything is lost.

Losing or damaging your Medicare card can be a hassle, but replacing it is a straightforward process. By calling 1-800-MEDICARE or logging in to your medicare.gov account, you can quickly order a replacement card or report a lost or stolen one. Make sure to keep your Medicare card and other important documents in a secure place to avoid any unnecessary headaches. As always, call the Plan Medicare team for any Medicare questions you may have.