New Medicare Cards

[Oldoak]

Congress allocated $242 million for the switchover. Based on the normal Federal cost overruns, the taxpayers' tab will likely be at least $500 million!!! That's just the tip of the iceberg, imagine the private healthcare industry costs!

Exactly!

 

[Oldoak]

You who are complaining that finally the Govt. is doing something can't have it both ways.
Continuing to use SS#s is no solution. At least they're moving away from that system, and eventually all those whose SS#s are/were on file will be terminated by eventual death.
Progress is glacially slow in Govt., but eventually it catches up. You naysayers have a better solution than just complaining- bring it.:confused2:

Don't hold your breathe. Yes it is a complete waste of money for our government to keep running in circles.

Printed right on my Social Security card is "NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES".

If those in charge in our government offices would have adhered to that rule, we wouldn't have been having this discussion now. So what makes you so confident it won't happen again?

 

[TractorGuy]

I went with a HMO advantage plan so my health card never had my SS number on it.

I have carried my SS card since I got it in the 3rd grade. Yes I have the original card and I am now 66. I can't get info from my bank or even get internet without giving it out.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I went with a HMO advantage plan so my health card never had my SS number on it.

I have carried my SS card since I got it in the 3rd grade. Yes I have the original card and I am now 66. I can't get info from my bank or even get internet without giving it out.

I am 82 and still have my original SSC issued when I was 12. It has never been out of my wallet except when needed. Not been laminated either. Even went through Vietnam and the many training exercises you experience in 33 years service. It has been sweat on, soaked in both fresh and salt water, and who knows what else and still legible. They don't make paper like that anymore especially from the low bidder.

Sure hope the new medicare cards are wallet size and laminated. The old ones do not fit a wallet until severally trimmed.

Ron

 

[rekees4300]

Got this email today:

If you live in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, or Wisconsin keep an eye on your mailbox your new Medicare card is on its way!

 

[sixdogs]

This may no longer be an issue but I was told that you could not laminate a Soc Sec card. Knew of a guy that was told that by a nurse. Must not matter any longer.

 

[jmc]

This may no longer be an issue but I was told that you could not laminate a Soc Sec card. Knew of a guy that was told that by a nurse. Must not matter any longer.

I was researching reputable sites and read not to laminate Medicare cards. Amazon sells some clear vinyl envelopes to store the card and it can be removed as well. Might be handy to keep all the cards they require before office visits in one envelope.

Amazon.com : Medicare Credit Card Protector Sleeve Clear 6 Mil (24) : Office Products

 

[rekees4300]

Got our cards today. Size is 3 3/8" X 2 1/8". Made of paper so prone to tearing, lamination is prudent. Ordered Amazon's best-selling laminator for only $18. Can be used for photos and other important documents up to 9" wide.

View attachment 561945

 

[WM75Guy]

This may no longer be an issue but I was told that you could not laminate a Soc Sec card. Knew of a guy that was told that by a nurse. Must not matter any longer.

Mine states "Do not laminate this card" on the first line on the back. It still plainly legible through the laminating. :laughing:

 

[rekees4300]

Mine states "Do not laminate this card" on the first line on the back. It still plainly legible through the laminating. :laughing:

Social Security card and Medicare card are 2 different things. The Medicare card (old and new) has no mention about not laminating.

 

[fishheadbob]

This may no longer be an issue but I was told that you could not laminate a Soc Sec card. Knew of a guy that was told that by a nurse. Must not matter any longer.

I hope she was a decent nurse. When I worked for Social security we never gave a crap if anyone had laminated their card. Fact is I don't know that I ever asked anyone to show me their card, just tell me the number. If they got it wrong that became obvious soon enough, we had enough info in our files to come up with the correct number in a hurry.

"Wait. Wait. This guy laminated his card. Call the FBI...Throw the key away."

 

[Oldoak]

Any medical office I had reason to visit in recent times, always photo copied or scanned my Medicare card, which I always laminated upon receiving them (old and new card). No comment was ever made about being laminated.

I have never been asked anywhere to present my original Social Security card for any purpose. Only requested my S.S. number.

 

[Bird]

I've always had mine laminated, and never heard of there being a reason to no do so. Of course I haven't yet gotten the new one.

 

[WVBill]

I signed up a while back to get e-mail notifications about the new card. Got an e-mail today that said:

Your new Medicare card should have arrived in the mail by now. If you didn't get it, here's what to do:

Remember that your new Medicare card will come in a plain white envelope from the Department of Health and Human Services.

If the card didn’t arrive, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE. Our call center representatives can help check the status and correct your address if needed.

I called and was told: "We just started mailing them to your state - you should receive it soon."

Gotta love the gubmint.....

By the way - Of ALL the identities that have been stolen, I wonder how many were due to SSNs on lost Social Security cards. I just wouldn't think that's a very big piece of the problem.

 

[Travelover]

............I have never been asked anywhere to present my original Social Security card for any purpose. Only requested my S.S. number.

I actually was asked. I'd sold my house and was opening an account at Pentagon Federal credit union to store the proceeds of the sale while I shopped for a new house. I guess I answered some security questions wrong so they asked me to present a notarized copy my original SS card, which I amazingly still have in the envelope it was mailed to me at age 14 (half a century ago). The security guys at PenFed evidently had never seen one that old and declared it a fake! :laughing:

 

[Travelover]

I've always had mine laminated, and never heard of there being a reason to no do so. Of course I haven't yet gotten the new one.

Oh sure Bird. You probably cut the labels off mattresses, too. Federal crime! :laughing:

 

[k0ua]

I actually was asked. I'd sold my house and was opening an account at Pentagon Federal credit union to store the proceeds of the sale while I shopped for a new house. I guess I answered some security questions wrong so they asked me to present a notarized copy my original SS card, which I amazingly still have in the envelope it was mailed to me at age 14 (half a century ago). The security guys at PenFed evidently had never seen one that old and declared it a fake! :laughing:

Mine is that age too. The original one, still looks pretty good, and never laminated!

 

[sixdogs]

Social Security card and Medicare card are 2 different things. The Medicare card (old and new) has no mention about not laminating.

My wife was in line at a doctor's office a year back and overheard the receptionist telling someone she was not supposed to take a laminated Medicare card and to get a new one for the next visit.

 

[ultrarunner]

The DMV is issuing REAL ID to meet requirements for flying...

One of the documents accepted in the package for the new Driver's License is Social Security Card.

They were turning away several with laminated ones... people who had waited the many hours like we did only to be turned away after being told to order a replacement.

Lines around the block... incredible to see what folks have to put up with.

By the way if you owe back child support or have a tax lien your passport can be revoked or not renewed.

 

[rekees4300]

My wife was in line at a doctor's office a year back and overheard the receptionist telling someone she was not supposed to take a laminated Medicare card and to get a new one for the next visit.

When did receptionists become legislators? Many folks in the healthcare industry tend to have arrogant attitudes. There is no law prohibiting the lamination of Medicare cards. We have laminated our new Medicare cards and if the medical folks wont take them then they wont be paid ... simple as that.