Yes.  Starting on January 1st (or the first day of the month of your plan's effective date), you can begin using your Medicare drug coverage - even if you have not received your new Member ID card.

After enrolling in a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare plan provider (such as WellCare or Humana or United Healthcare) will need about 10-business days to send you a new Member "Welcome" package or a letter confirming your enrollment.

However your new Medicare plan may need some extra time to send you a new Member ID card.  In fact, your Medicare plan may need up to five (5) weeks to send a new Member ID card - especially if you enroll late in the annual Open Enrollment Period (AEP - October 15th through December 7th) when your new Medicare plan may need time to process a higher-than-usual volume of enrollments.

The good news is that there are still several ways for you to use your Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage as you are awaiting the arrival of your new drug plan's Member ID card:

(1)  Look for the information identifying your prescription drug plan.

If you have received an enrollment confirmation or “Welcome” letter from your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan, the letter should include your:

• (1) Member ID number,
• (2) PCN,
• (3) Rx BIN, and
• (4) Group ID (or Rx Group).

With these four (4) numbers, you can get prescriptions filled while waiting for your new Member ID card to arrive.

If you cannot find this information, you can telephone your plan’s Member Services department and ask a representative for these four numbers that identify your Medicare plan coverage.  The telephone number for Member Services can be found on almost all of your plan's written correspondence or the plan's website.

If you cannot find your plan's Member Services number on any of your plan's printed information or website, we have the telephone number for most Member Services departments online, just click on the plan’s name when using our Medicare Advantage Plan Finder or MA-Finder (enter your ZIP to begin) or our stand-alone Medicare Part D Plan Finder or PDP-Finder (choose your state to begin).

(2)  Use the Medicare.gov system.

Check your myMedicare.gov account on the government's Medicare website for information about your chosen Medicare plan - and you may be able to print a temporary copy of your Medicare card.  (Please note, you will need to set up your myMedicare.gov account before this information is available.)  You can then use your Medicare card to learn more about your current Medicare drug plan coverage.

(3)  Use your Medicare plan's online or web-based system.

Check with your Medicare plan's online member system (start on the plan's website and look for the "Member Portal" or similar link), then set up a login to the member system (following the instructions on the screen), and you may be able to print or download a temporary Member ID card.

(4)  Telephone a Medicare representative for assistance.

You can telephone a Medicare representative at 1-800-633-4227 and a Medicare representative can look up your chosen Medicare plan.  You can then ask for the Member Services telephone number, contact the plan, have a new Member ID sent, and obtain the four numbers (mentioned above) that you need to receive Medicare Part D drug coverage.

(5)  Get help from your local pharmacist - Part 1.

You can give the pharmacy the acknowledgement, confirmation, or welcome letter you got from the plan or the enrollment confirmation number that you received from your plan and the plan name and phone number.  The pharmacist may then be able to contact your plan and receive all the necessary member information needed to process your prescription fill.

(6)  Get help from your local pharmacist - Part 2.

If you can't remember the name of your new Medicare drug plan, your pharmacist may be able to get your drug plan information if you can provide your Medicare ID number (on your new red, white, and blue Medicare card - that you received back in 2018).  And if you can't find your card, you can provide your pharmacist with your Medicare number or the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number.  Please remember that the process your pharmacy will have to go through may take some time and may not be an option if the pharmacy or pharmacist is busy.

(7)  Purchase your medications, pay for your drugs without using your Part D drug plan, keep the receipts, and seek reimbursement from your plan.

Lastly, if your Member ID card still has not arrived and you have exhausted all other options (see above), you can buy your formulary prescriptions yourself paying out-of-pocket costs.  If you purchase a formulary medication without using your Medicare plan coverage, save your receipts for the drug purchase, and contact your plan's Member Services department for instructions (and forms) on filing a claim for reimbursement (the toll-free Member Services telephone number should be on your plan's printed information and is also found on your Member ID card).

Tip:  Please do not just send your receipts to your Medicare plan without also submitting the properly completed reimbursement forms.

Tip:  Remember, you will not be reimbursed for non-formulary drug purchases and your plan may expect that you submit the correct forms and receipts for your drug purchases on a timely basis (within a weeks of the purchase).