Medicare · Cornerstone
Your Medicare card: what it shows and how to keep it safe
Last reviewed October 12, 20267 min readBy the Goodsurance editorial team Reviewed by the Goodsurance editorial team
Your Medicare card is a small paper card with a big job. It shows your name, your Medicare Number, and the parts of Medicare you have. Here is how to read it, when to carry it, and how to keep scammers away from it.
1The short version
If you only read one part of this page, read this.
The short version
Your Medicare Number is not your Social Security number
Guard it like a credit card number.
Medicare will not call you out of the blue
If someone calls asking for your number, hang up. Call 1-800-MEDICARE.
A real Medicare card costs nothing
It is paper, and it is mailed to you. No one can charge you for one.
Have Medicare Advantage? Use your plan card
Keep your Medicare card safe at home in case you switch back.
2What your Medicare card shows
Your card is the card for Original Medicare. It shows five things. The numbers on the sample below match the list under it.
If you get Railroad Retirement Board benefits, your card looks a little different. The second sample shows how.
How to read your Medicare card
It says "Medicare Health Insurance"
This is the card for Original Medicare. The labels are printed in English and Spanish.
Your name
It matches the name Social Security has for you. To change it, you go through Social Security.
Your Medicare Number
11 letters and numbers, picked at random. It is not your Social Security number.
The parts you have
HOSPITAL means Part A. MEDICAL means Part B. You may have one or both.
When each part starts
The date your coverage begins for each part.
If you get Railroad Retirement benefits, your card looks like this
The RRB emblem
Railroad cards have the Railroad Retirement Board emblem at the top.
The rest is the same
Your name, your Medicare Number, your parts, and your start dates read the same way as on any Medicare card.
"Railroad Retirement Board" at the bottom
For a new card, call the RRB, not Social Security: 1-877-772-5772 (TTY 1-312-751-4701).
3Your Medicare Number is not your Social Security number
Your Medicare Number has 11 letters and numbers. They are picked at random, so they say nothing about you. The number never uses the letters S, L, O, I, B, or Z.
The dashes on your card are just there to make it easy to read. You do not type them in.
Medicare cards used to show your Social Security number. That changed to protect you. If you still have an old card with your Social Security number on it, print or order a current card from your Medicare.gov account. Then shred the old one.
4Which card to show, and when to carry it
Which card you show depends on how you get your Medicare.
With Original Medicare, carry your Medicare card when you are away from home. Show it to your doctor, hospital, or other provider when you get care. If you also have a drug plan or a Medigap plan, carry that card too.
With Medicare Advantage, you use your plan card to get care, not your Medicare card. But do not throw the Medicare card away. Keep it in a safe place in case you switch plans or go back to Original Medicare. You may also need it to join a plan or buy a Medigap policy later.
| If you have | Show this card | Your Medicare card |
|---|---|---|
| Original Medicare only | Your Medicare card | Carry it when you are away from home |
| Original Medicare and a Medigap plan | Your Medicare card and your Medigap card | Carry it, along with your Medigap card |
| Original Medicare and a Part D drug plan | Medicare card at the doctor. Drug plan card at the pharmacy. | Carry it, along with your drug plan card |
| A Medicare Advantage plan | Your plan card, for all your care | Keep it in a safe place at home |
Source: Medicare.gov, "Your Medicare card."
5When your card arrives
If you get Medicare automatically, your card comes in a welcome package. (You get it automatically if you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.) It is mailed about 3 months before your coverage starts. The same is true if you get Medicare after 24 months of disability benefits.
If you sign up yourself through Social Security, your welcome package and card come about 2 weeks after you sign up.
If it never comes, check your address. Your card goes to the address Social Security has for you. You can check and fix it in your my Social Security account, or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). While you wait, you can print an official copy from your Medicare.gov account. Railroad Retirement beneficiaries can call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772.
Not signed up yet? See how to sign up for Medicare.
6Medicare card scams to watch for
Your Medicare Number is the key to your benefits. That is why scammers want it. Treat it like a credit card number.
Who should have it: your doctors and other health care providers. Your insurance company or health plan, and its licensed agents or brokers. People you trust who work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
When Medicare calls: only in a few cases, like when you called first and someone is calling you back. Medicare will never call you uninvited to ask for your number, and it will never call to sell you anything.
Scam calls pick up during Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7. Here are the ones to know.
Medicare card scams going around now
Last checked
The "new card" call
- What you hear
- “You need a new plastic card with a chip. Just confirm your Medicare Number and bank account.”
- The red flag
- Medicare cards are paper and cost nothing. Medicare does not call to ask for your number.
- What to do
- Hang up. Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you are not sure.
Source: FTC, Sept. 2025
The "your benefits will be canceled" threat
- What you hear
- “Your Medicare will be canceled today unless you verify your information.”
- The red flag
- Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask for personal information.
- What to do
- Hang up. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Source: Medicare.gov
The fake "Medicare" agent
- What you hear
- “I am calling from Medicare about your plan for next year. I can switch you over right now.”
- The red flag
- Medicare will never call you to sell you anything. Caller ID can be faked.
- What to do
- Do not join a plan on a call you did not ask for. Call the number on your plan card or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Source: Medicare.gov
The free genetic test
- What you hear
- “Medicare covers a free cheek swab to check your cancer risk. We just need your Medicare Number.”
- The red flag
- You could be stuck paying the whole cost of the test.
- What to do
- Say no. If a kit shows up, refuse it or send it back.
Source: HHS Office of Inspector General
The free back brace
- What you hear
- “Do you have back or knee pain? We can send you a brace at no cost. Medicare pays.”
- The red flag
- Only your own doctor's office should ask for your Medicare information.
- What to do
- Hang up right away.
Source: HHS Office of Inspector General
The "rebate" call
- What you hear
- “You have a Medicare refund waiting. Give us your bank account so we can send it.”
- The red flag
- Medicare is paying some people a one-time $90 Part B rebate in October 2026. It comes by direct deposit or a U.S. Treasury check. No one needs to call you for it.
- What to do
- Never give bank details to a caller. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to ask about the rebate.
Source: Medicare.gov
To report a scam, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048). Your local Senior Medicare Patrol can also help, at no cost to you: 1-877-808-2468.
7What to do if your card is lost, wrong, or stolen
Most card problems take one call or a few clicks. Find yours below. For step-by-step help with a lost card, see how to replace a lost Medicare card.
If something goes wrong
Your card is lost or damaged
Print or order a copy in your Medicare.gov account. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048). It costs nothing.
Your name changed
Update it with Social Security. Medicare uses the name on your Social Security record and mails you a new card.
Your card never came
It goes to the address Social Security has for you. Check it in your my Social Security account, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
You got a new card you did not ask for
A real one comes with a letter that says why, such as a new number. Start using it and destroy the old one.
Someone may be using your number
Call 1-800-MEDICARE. For identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov or call the FTC at 1-877-438-4338.
You get Railroad Retirement benefits
Call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 (TTY 1-312-751-4701) for a new card. You can also print a copy in your Medicare.gov account.
8Your Medicare.gov account, and where to learn more
A Medicare.gov account is the fastest way to handle most card tasks. In it, you can print an official copy of your card, see which parts you have and when they started, and order a new card.
You can also review your claims. Look for care you never got. Catching that early is one of the best ways to stop fraud.
Want to learn more about keeping your identity safe? Start with Medicare.gov's page on reporting fraud. The FTC runs IdentityTheft.gov. Your local Senior Medicare Patrol is at SMPResource.org.
Ready to use your coverage? Show your card when you get care, and see how Medicare works with your doctors. New to all of this? Start with New to Medicare.
Common questions about Medicare
Quick answers to common questions
Tap any question to expand. Each question links to a fuller standalone answer.
Where can I find more details about protecting my identity?
Start with Medicare.gov's page on reporting fraud and abuse. For identity theft, go to IdentityTheft.gov or call the FTC at 1-877-438-4338. Your local Senior Medicare Patrol can also help: call 1-877-808-2468 or visit SMPResource.org.
What should I do with my Medicare card if I have Original Medicare?
Carry it when you are away from home, and show it to your doctor, hospital, or other provider when you get care. Keep the number private, the same way you would a credit card number.
When should I carry my Medicare card with me?
With Original Medicare, carry it whenever you are away from home, so you can show it when you get care. With Medicare Advantage, carry your plan card instead and keep your Medicare card at home.
Why should I keep my Medicare card in a safe place if I join a Medicare Advantage plan?
You use your plan card to get care, but you may need your Medicare card again if you switch plans or go back to Original Medicare. Keep it somewhere safe, not in your wallet.
Should I carry other cards if I have a Medicare drug plan or supplemental coverage?
Yes. If you have a Part D drug plan or a Medigap plan, carry that card along with your Medicare card. Show the drug plan card at the pharmacy.
When and how will I get my Medicare card after enrolling?
If you get Medicare automatically, your card comes by mail in a welcome package about 3 months before your coverage starts. If you sign up yourself through Social Security, it comes about 2 weeks after you sign up.
What should I do if I didn't get my Medicare card in the mail?
Your card is mailed to the address Social Security has for you. Check and update it in your my Social Security account, or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can print an official copy from your Medicare.gov account while you wait.
What should I do if my name changed?
Change your name with Social Security. Medicare uses the name on your Social Security record and mails you a new card. Start using the new card and destroy the old one.
How can I get or view my Medicare card if I get Railroad Retirement Board benefits?
You can print a paper copy from your Medicare.gov account. For a new card in the mail, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 (TTY 1-312-751-4701) or use the RRB's online form. The RRB says it mails replacement cards within 30 days.
Is my Medicare Number the same as my Social Security number?
No. Your Medicare Number is 11 random letters and numbers. It is not based on your Social Security number.
How do I spot a Medicare card scam?
Medicare will not call you uninvited to ask for your number, your bank details, or money for a card. Real cards are paper and cost nothing. If a call feels wrong, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE.
What should I do next to get health care?
Show your Medicare card (or your plan card, if you have Medicare Advantage) when you get care. Make sure your doctor takes your coverage before your visit.
References
- Medicare.gov: Your Medicare cardWhat the card shows, which card to carry, replacing a card, and Railroad Retirement cards.
- Medicare.gov: Reporting Medicare fraud and abuseWhen Medicare may call you, and how to report fraud.
- CMS: Understanding the Medicare Beneficiary IdentifierThe 11-character Medicare Number format.
- Medicare.gov: How do I sign up for Medicare?When your welcome package and card are mailed.
- Medicare.gov: Replacement Medicare card letterWhy you might get a new card, and what to do with the old one.
- Medicare.gov: One-time premium rebate letterThe October 2026 Part B rebate and how it is paid.
- FTC: Medicare Open Enrollment scamsConsumer alert, September 2025.
- HHS Office of Inspector General: genetic testing and brace scam alertsFraud alerts on free tests and medical equipment.
- Senior Medicare Patrol: Medicare card scamsRed flags and free local help. 1-877-808-2468.
- Social Security: Change your nameHow to update the name Medicare uses.
- Railroad Retirement Board: FAQReplacement Medicare cards for RRB beneficiaries.
- Railroad Retirement Board: Sample Medicare cardWhat the railroad version of the card looks like.