Is that Medicare card legitimate?
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You’ve heard the saying about something in the water. It seems to happen often where Medicare is involved.
Last week, I heard from clients who had just received a letter from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. It seems that Medicare found an issue with their Medicare numbers and sent them new cards. They wanted to know whether these cards were legitimate and what they should do.
Data incidents affecting Medicare accounts often lead to fraudulent activity. For example, in April 2026, one incident received national attention. CMS reissued new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBI or the Medicare number) to 1.3 million beneficiaries. However, other breaches that can jeopardize beneficiaries often don’t receive fanfare.
What To Do if You Receive a New Medicare Card
The first thing is to check for obvious signs of fraud or forgery. I looked at the letters the clients received.
- The logos for the Department of Health & Human Services and CMS appeared to meet the brand identity standards.
- The letters did not ask for money, gift cards or personal information.
- They did include the new Medicare card and number.
Then, confirm that the Medicare card is the real thing.
For final verification:
- Log into your Medicare.gov account. Click on “Get my Medicare card,” reenter your password and you should see the new card and number.
- If you don’t have a Medicare.gov account, check your Benefit Verification Letter in your my Social Security account. Social Security automatically updates the letter when a Medicare number changes. However, to see, download or order a replacement Medicare card, you must use the Mediare.gov account.
- Call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Once you have confirmed that the card is legitimate, follow through on the three requests in the letter.
- Start using the card on the date noted.
- Destroy your old card.
- Inform your providers of the change.
Watch for Fraud
Let’s add one more very important item to the to-do list. Monitor your claims for these signs of fraud.
- Charges for services, lab tests or medical equipment that you never ordered or received. In 2025, the Department of Justice took down operators charged with $14.6 billion in fraudulent charges for durable medical equipment and catheter supplies.
- Dates for services that do not correspond to your calendar.
- Provider names you do not recognize. This can be difficult because the services may be billed under one provider for the entire practice or clinic.
- Double billing for services.
For those who have Original Medicare, check claims in your Medicare.gov account. Medicare Advantage enrollees should review the Explanation of Benefits.
If you suspect Medicare fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit Report Medicare Fraud online. Those who have Medicare Advantage or a Part D drug plan can also call the Investigations Medicare Drug Integrity Contractor at (877) 772-3379.
In today’s world, people, devices and systems are all connected and interactive over the internet. This hyperconnectivity can be great but it also makes us vulnerable. One breach of security can put millions at risk. The best piece of advice is to protect yourself. Be vigilant, pay attention to what is happening. And realize that such scams are becoming more and more sophisticated as Artificial Intelligence is used to create credible disinformation. When in doubt, go to the source.
