In a previous blog article I complained about Medicare’s inclusion
of my complete Social Security number (SSN) on my Medicare identification card.
See, Your
Medicare Card: What does the letter after the SSN mean? (February 3, 2013).
Here was my complaint -
Another good question is: why does the government keep
showing social security numbers on the Medicare cards we have to carry and use
so often, given the serious threat of identity theft? Unfortunately, I don’t
have a good answer for that.
I do understand that changing to a new numbering
system would cost the government some money and require reissuance of over 50
million cards. But exposing Medicare beneficiaries to an increased risk of
identity theft is just unacceptable. Wouldn’t it be nice if Congress required a
change in this dangerous practice as part of any upcoming changes to the Medicare
program?
Well, Congress has now addressed
the problem. Section 501(a) of the
recently enacted “doc fix” law - The
Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 – mandates that the “Social Security account number (or
derivative thereof) is not displayed, coded, or embedded on the Medicare card
issued to an individual who is entitled to benefits . . .”
Thank you Congress!
Now for the bad news. The law gives Medicare up to four years
to start issuing cards with new identifiers to new Medicare beneficiaries. And
it gives Medicare an additional four years to reissue cards held by current
beneficiaries.
This means current beneficiaries (like me) may have to wait for
up to 8 years to get a Medicare ID card that does not include my SSN. That is a
heck of a long time.
What should you do while you are waiting (for up to 8 years)
for your new safer Medicare ID card. For myself, I’m going to continue to follow
the suggestion I made in my earlier post:
In the meantime, we are stuck with seeking other ways
protecting our identity and privacy. Personally, I don’t carry my original
Medicare card. I carry a photocopy from which I have removed the social
security number. I give my social
security number verbally to the health care provider at the time I present a
photocopy of the card and request services.
Not a perfect plan, I’ll admit. But, at least it may
help protect me if my wallet gets lost or stolen.
Further Reading:
Your
Medicare Card: What does the letter after the SSN mean?, Marshall Elder and
Estate Planning Blog, February 2, 2013
New
Cards for Medicare Recipients Will Omit Social Security Numbers, Robert
Pear, New York Times, April 20, 2015
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