What to do if your Medicare card expires?

Listed on your Medicare card are Part A and B effective dates, stating when those parts of Medicare will start. Your Medicare card never expires, but because we get this question a ton, we decided to write an article about some things that may cause you to need a new Medicare card. Also, we will go over some other cards that might need to be updated.

Medicare Card

Though Medicare cards did not expire, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) law went into effect a few years back. Medicare beneficiaries had a timeline to transition to the new card that included the all-new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number that replaced the Social Security number previously there. This card came out in order alphabetically in approximately 2019. It certainly caused some confusion between those on Medicare, insurance agents helping them, and the providers billing Medicare on their behalf. Thankfully that is all behind us, but there is always the possibility that something like that could change again and cause you to need to call Medicare at 800-Medicare to see if you need a new card.

The plans are based on a calendar year guarantee as far as Medicare Advantage, and Part D Prescription Drug Coverage go. It is possible (and has happened a lot recently) that your card could be rendered useless due to your plan being terminated without replacement or merged with another. If this happens, do not worry, you get a Guaranteed Issue Period to change and a new card mailed to you based on whatever that new plan ends up being.

Medicare Supplement Card

Medicare Supplement cards are reissued over time, but Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans are guaranteed renewable for life. So, the Medicare Supplement card doesn’t expire, they update them from time to time to keep the information frequent, legible, and color schemes/logos appropriate to their brand.

If you are concerned that your card needs to be updated, please call us at 662-844-3300.