(DES MOINES, Iowa) – Identity theft affects everyone, including Iowans on Medicare. To help protect the identity of Iowans, Medicare is mailing new Medicare cards between April 2018 and April 2019.

“This is a welcome and important change that will affect many Iowans,” Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen said. “We hear often about this issue and SHIIP is here to help be a resource for Iowans with questions during this transition.”

The new Medicare card will no longer have a Social Security number on it. The new Medicare card will instead have a new number that is unique to each cardholder. All Medicare benefits and coverage will stay the same. Only the Medicare cards will change.

It is important that Iowans have their correct address on file with the U.S. Social Security Administration to be able to receive the new card. To update or check the address on file, visit https://ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778. Railroad retirees should contact the Railroad Retirement Board at 877-772-5772.

Mailing 57 million cards takes time. New Medicare cards may arrive at a different time than the cards of a spouse, friend or neighbor. Call 1-800-MEDICARE for cards not received by April 2019.

For more information visit https://go.Medicare.gov/newcard or call SHIIP (the Iowa Insurance Division’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program) at 800-351-4664 (TTY 800-735-2942).

–This information was provided in a news release on behalf of the Iowa Insurance Division.