I just received my Medicare card in the mail and was surprised to see that the ID number is the same as my Social Security number. I know it’s a bad idea to carry around anything that displays my Social Security number because it makes me vulnerable to identity theft. Wasn’t the government supposed to stop putting Social Security numbers on Medicare cards?
Many people who are new to Medicare are surprised to learn that the ID number on their Medicare card is identical to their Social Security number (SSN). After all, we’re constantly warned not to carry our SSN around with us, because lost or stolen SSN information could result in identity theft. But what should you do when the Medicare card itself tells you to carry it with you so that you can present it to administrative staff at a doctor’s office or hospital? Here are some tips and information that you can use to protect yourself. (click here to read the complete article on the UM Foundation website)