Medicare · Cornerstone
Your Medicare card and your online account
Last reviewed June 11, 20263 min readBy the Goodsurance editorial team Reviewed by the Goodsurance editorial team
The Medicare card is a small thing that causes a surprising amount of confusion, partly because it changed in recent years and partly because it is a frequent target for scams. Knowing what the card is, what the number on it means, who should ever see it, and how to handle it when it is lost or stolen covers most of what people actually need.
1What the card is and what it shows
Your Medicare card is red, white, and blue, and it shows your name, your Medicare Number, the parts of Medicare you have (Part A, Part B, or both), and the dates each one started. This is the card for Original Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage plan or a standalone Part D drug plan, that private plan sends its own separate card, and at the doctor or pharmacy you generally show the plan card, not the red, white, and blue one. People with Advantage sometimes wonder why they have two cards; that is why.
Your Medicare card, explained
Your name
As Medicare has it on file
Your Medicare Number (MBI)
Yours alone, not your Social Security number
The parts you have (A, B, or both)
With the date each one started
Which card to show
Advantage / Part D members generally show the plan card instead
2Your Medicare Number is not your Social Security number
This is worth stating clearly because it changed. Medicare cards used to use your Social Security number as the identifier, which was a security problem, since the card you carry around had the one number you are told to guard most carefully. That was fixed: every card now uses a unique Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, a string of letters and numbers that is yours alone and is not your Social Security number. If you are still holding an old card showing a Social Security number, it should have been replaced; you can get a current one through your online account or by phone.
3Guarding the number, because the scams are real
Your Medicare Number is the key to your benefits, which makes it valuable to fraudsters, and Medicare card scams are common and persistent. A few rules cover most of the risk. Medicare will not call you out of the blue to ask for your number, to offer a "new" card for a fee, or to confirm details before sending benefits. No legitimate new plastic, metal, or "upgraded" card requires payment. Only your doctors, your insurer, and the people you trust to help with your care should ever have the number. If someone contacts you unexpectedly asking for it, that by itself is the warning sign.
Medicare does not call you out of the blue to ask for your number or offer a "new" card. No legitimate card costs money. An unexpected request for your Medicare Number is itself the warning sign, only your doctors, your insurer, and people you trust to help should ever have it.
4Your online account at Medicare.gov
You can create a free account at Medicare.gov, and it is the simplest way to handle most card and coverage tasks without a phone call. From the account you can see exactly which parts you have and when they started, order a replacement card if yours is lost or damaged, print an official copy to use in the meantime, review your Medicare claims to see what was billed and paid, and check on your drug coverage. For anyone who would rather not rely on paper or wait on hold, setting this up once saves a lot of friction later.
5When your card is lost, stolen, or wrong
If your card is lost or damaged, the fastest fix is to log into your Medicare account and order a replacement, which also lets you print a temporary copy immediately. You can also call Medicare to request one. If you think your card or number was stolen, or you see charges on your claims you do not recognize, report it promptly, both to protect your benefits and because catching fraud early is far easier than unwinding it later. Reviewing your claims now and then is a quiet habit that catches problems while they are still small.
Common questions about Medicare
Quick answers to common questions
Tap any question to expand. Each question links to a fuller standalone answer.
Does Medicare cover durable medical equipment?
Yes.
Medicare Part B covers durable medical equipment (DME): reusable medical gear your doctor prescribes for use at home, such as wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, oxygen equipment, CPAP machines, and blood sugar monitors. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026, and Medicare pays the other 80%. To be covered, the item must be ordered by a Medicare-enrolled doctor and supplied by a Medicare-enrolled supplier, and some items are rented rather than bought. Equipment meant mainly for use outside the home, or only for comfort or convenience, is not covered.
Does Medicare cover mental health services?
Yes.
Medicare covers mental health care across its parts in 2026. Part B covers outpatient services like therapy, counseling, and visits with psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers, and since 2024 it also covers marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 deductible, and one depression screening each year is free. Part A covers inpatient mental health care, with a lifetime limit of 190 days in a freestanding psychiatric hospital. Part D covers most mental health medications. Many of these services are also available by telehealth, and Medicare Advantage plans cover at least the same benefits.
Does Medicare cover vision care?
Mostly no for routine care.
In 2026, Original Medicare does not cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses, and it does not pay for the glasses or contacts themselves. It does cover some medical eye care: yearly glaucoma screenings for people at high risk, diabetic retinopathy exams, treatment for eye diseases, and cataract surgery (including one pair of standard glasses or contacts afterward). For those covered services you pay 20% after the $283 Part B deductible. Many Medicare Advantage plans add a routine vision benefit covering eye exams and an allowance for glasses.
Does Medicare cover physical therapy?
Yes.
Medicare Part B covers outpatient physical therapy that is medically necessary to treat your condition. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). There is no longer a hard dollar cap on therapy, but once your physical and speech therapy together pass $2,480 in 2026, your therapist must add a note (called a KX modifier) confirming you still need care. Claims above $3,000 may be reviewed for medical necessity. Part A covers physical therapy you receive as a hospital inpatient or in a skilled nursing facility. A doctor or therapist must set up and regularly review your plan of care.
Does Medicare cover chiropractic care?
Partly.
Medicare Part B covers one specific chiropractic service: manual manipulation of the spine to correct a subluxation (when one or more bones of the spine are out of position) that a doctor confirms is medically necessary. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. Medicare does not cover other services a chiropractor might offer, such as X-rays, massage therapy, acupuncture, or routine wellness visits, so you would pay the full cost for those. Some Medicare Advantage plans include extra chiropractic or wellness benefits beyond this.
Does Medicare cover ambulance services?
Yes, in limited situations.
Medicare Part B covers emergency ambulance transportation when traveling any other way could endanger your health, taking you to the nearest appropriate hospital or facility. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible in 2026. Air ambulance is covered only when ground transport cannot reach you or would take too long. Non-emergency ambulance trips, for example to dialysis, are covered only when a doctor provides a written order stating they are medically necessary. Medicare does not cover ambulance rides taken purely for convenience.
Does Medicare cover skilled nursing facility care?
Yes, on a short-term basis.
Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care after a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days, when you need daily skilled care like nursing or therapy. In 2026 you pay $0 for days 1 through 20 of each benefit period, $217 per day for days 21 through 100, and all costs after day 100. Coverage is for skilled care while you recover, not for long-term or custodial care (help with daily activities like bathing or dressing), which Medicare does not cover. Long-term nursing home care is generally paid through Medicaid or private funds.
Does Medicare cover hearing aids?
No, not under Original Medicare.
In 2026, Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not pay for hearing aids or the exams to fit them. Part B does cover diagnostic hearing and balance exams when your doctor orders them to help diagnose or treat a medical condition, and for those you pay 20% after the $283 deductible. Many Medicare Advantage plans, however, include a hearing benefit that helps pay for routine hearing exams and hearing aids, often through a specific network or allowance. If hearing coverage matters to you, it is worth comparing Advantage plans or a standalone hearing plan.
Does Medicare cover home health care?
Yes, when you qualify.
Medicare Parts A and B cover home health care if a doctor certifies that you are homebound (leaving home takes a major effort) and need part-time skilled care, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy. A Medicare-certified home health agency must provide the care under a plan your doctor reviews. You pay $0 for covered home health visits in 2026, and 20% for any durable medical equipment. Medicare does not cover 24-hour home care, meal delivery, or homemaker services like cleaning when that is the only care you need.
Does Medicare cover diabetes supplies and testing?
Yes.
In 2026 Medicare covers most diabetes care across two parts. Part B (outpatient care and equipment) covers blood sugar monitors, test strips, lancets, and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as durable medical equipment, plus diabetes screenings and a self-management training program. You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the $283 Part B deductible. Part D (drug coverage) covers insulin and related supplies like syringes, and in 2026 your insulin is capped at $35 for a month's supply. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, it covers at least the same diabetes benefits, sometimes with added extras.
Which is better, Medigap or Medicare Advantage?
Neither is better for everyone; they suit different needs.
Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement, a private policy that pairs with Original Medicare) lets you see any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare with no network and very predictable out-of-pocket costs, but you pay a monthly Medigap premium and add a separate Part D drug plan. Medicare Advantage (Part C, your Medicare benefits through a private plan) often has a lower or $0 plan premium, bundles drug coverage and extras like dental and vision, and caps your yearly out-of-pocket costs, but uses provider networks and may require prior approval. People who travel, want maximum doctor freedom, and prefer steady costs often lean Medigap; people who want low premiums, extras, and a network they are comfortable with often lean Medicare Advantage. With both, you still pay the Part B premium ($202.90 per month in 2026). To find out which fits your situation, reach out to a licensed Goodsurance advisor at 1-888-301-8091 (TTY 711), Mon to Fri 8 am to 5 pm PT.
Can I see out-of-network doctors on a Medicare Advantage PPO?
Yes.
A Medicare Advantage PPO (Preferred Provider Organization plan, where your Medicare benefits come through a private plan) lets you see doctors and hospitals outside the plan's network, but you usually pay more for out-of-network care than for in-network care. Staying in network keeps your costs lower, while going out of network is allowed and can be worth it if you want a specific provider. This flexibility is a key difference from a Medicare Advantage HMO (Health Maintenance Organization plan), which generally only covers in-network care except in emergencies. With a PPO, you also typically do not need a referral to see a specialist. Keep in mind the provider must accept the plan and Medicare. Emergency and urgent care are covered regardless of network on both plan types. The trade-off with a PPO is more freedom in exchange for generally higher costs than an HMO.
References
- Medicare.govThe Medicare card, online account features, and replacing a card.
- CMS, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesThe Medicare Beneficiary Identifier and the move away from SSN-based numbers. cms.gov
- Medicare.gov/fraudCard scams and reporting suspected fraud.