Contact Us | Call for your FREE in-home assessment 781-245-1880

ABC Home Healthcare Professionals
  • HOME
  • WHY CHOOSE ABC
  • SERVICES
  • HOME CARE NEWS
  • CAREERS
  • PAY MY BILL
  • HOME
  • WHY CHOOSE ABC
  • SERVICES
  • HOME CARE NEWS
  • CAREERS
  • PAY MY BILL

ABC's LATEST

Home Care News, Advice and More
July 27, 2017

Protecting Your Identity: Medicare issuing new cards in 2018

Did you know that your social security number is printed on your Medicare Card? If you didn’t know – you’re not alone. There are an estimated 50 million benefit cards that currently have social security numbers printed on them to date. As far back as 2004, private insurance companies and other agencies began transitioning from the use social security numbers to help eliminate the access to this personal data in an effort to help reduce identity theft. Medicare lagged behind in this transition, which is disappointing considering seniors remain a prime target for identity theft.

Why are we considered a prime target for identity theft? Because as seniors we often have more money in savings and our credit tends to be better than our younger counterparts. Also, many seniors tend to rely on mail rather than online tools to manage our accounts, which means we don’t review our accounts outside of our monthly statements. Unfortunately, we also tend to fall for more online scams that enter our inbox.

In 2016 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported 3 million complaints of identity theft. Of those cases, 37% of those complaints came from seniors over the age of 60. What is one of the most precious, unique pieces of our identity provided to us by the United States Government? Our Social Security Number – something we need to keep private.

Beginning in April 2018, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS.gov) reports that new cards will be issued with the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) to all people with Medicare. This change is a direct result of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (signed in April 2015), which helped secure the necessary funding for this transition. The MBI number will replace the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on the new Medicare cards for Medicare transactions like billing, eligibility status, and claim status. The MBI won’t change Medicare benefits. People with Medicare may start using their new Medicare cards and MBIs as soon as they get them.

For more information regarding these changes, go to https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/SSNRI/Index.html

identity protection medicare cards senior identity fraud
Previous StoryCreating an Assisted Living in Your Own Home
Next StoryLiving and Caring for those with Alzheimer’s

Related Articles

  • Medicare Fraud
  • Coronavirus Scams Targeting the Elderly: What You Need To Know

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Past Issues of Our E-newsletter

Missed an issue? Read it online!

• February 2023
• January 2023
• November 2022
• October 2022
• September 2022
• August 2022
• July 14, 2022
• June 21, 2022
• June 1, 2022
• May 2022
• April 2022
• March 2022
• February 2022
• January 2022
• December 2021
• November 2021
• October 2021
• September 2021
• August 2021
• July 2021
• June 2021
• May 2021
• April 2021
• March 2021
• February 2021

Sign Up for ABC's Monthly Newsletter

Have ABC's newsletter delivered right to your inbox.

Select list(s) to subscribe to


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: ABC Home Healthcare Professionals, 233 Albion Street, Wakefield, MA, 01880, http://www.abchhp.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Recent Posts

  • Tax Tips for Older Adults March 15, 2023
  • Retirement January 16, 2023
  • Resources November 10, 2022
  • Caregiver Burnout November 10, 2022
  • Breast Cancer Awareness October 18, 2022

Categories Dropdown

Archive

  • March 2023 (1)
  • January 2023 (1)
  • November 2022 (2)
  • October 2022 (1)
  • September 2022 (1)
  • August 2022 (2)
  • July 2022 (1)
  • June 2022 (2)
  • May 2022 (2)
  • April 2022 (3)
  • March 2022 (2)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • October 2021 (3)
  • September 2021 (4)
  • June 2021 (2)
  • May 2021 (6)
  • April 2021 (3)
  • March 2021 (4)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (1)
  • August 2020 (1)
  • July 2020 (1)
  • June 2020 (2)
  • May 2020 (4)
  • April 2020 (3)
  • March 2020 (3)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • November 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (4)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • May 2019 (1)
  • April 2019 (3)
  • March 2019 (3)
  • February 2019 (4)
  • January 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (2)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (2)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • April 2017 (1)
  • March 2017 (2)
  • February 2017 (1)

OFFICE LOCATIONS

ABC Home Healthcare
Corporate Office:
233 Albion St.
Wakefield MA 01880

Regional Offices:
Gloucester – 281R East Main St.

Lawrence – 354 Merrimack St.
Bldg 1 Entrance A Suite 277

Phone: 781-245-1880
Email info@abchhp.com

PREFERRED PROVIDER

ABC is an approved vendor for:
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
• Area Hospice Providers
• Long Term Care Insurers
• Veterans Administration

MEMBERSHIPS

ABC is an active member of:
• Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts
• Home Care Aide Council
• SOMWBA Certified Women Business Enterprise
• Aging & Disability Resource Consortium of the Greater North Shore

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • ABC CAREGIVNG TEAM INFORMATION

Copyright © ABC Home Healthcare Professionals. All Rights Reserved