Archive: I am new to Medicare, will I receive an old-style Medicare Card or the new Medicare Card?

If you are becoming eligible for Medicare during 2018, it will probably depend on the time of year when Medicare is issuing new Medicare cards and where you live to determine whether you receive an older-style Medicare card or the new Medicare card that is being issued starting in April 2018. So you will need to consider:

When are you eligible for Medicare (before or after April 2018) and
When is your area scheduled to receive new Medicare cards (April 2018 through April 2019)
(Update 04/05/2018 - New Medicare cards will be sent to people who are newly eligible for Medicare starting April 2018. New Medicare cards will be sent to existing Medicare beneficiaries starting May 2018.)

If you are eligible for Medicare before April 2018, you will most likely receive an old-style Medicare card and then receive your new Medicare card when your geographic area (for instance, Kentucky) is scheduled to receive cards. If you are eligible for Medicare during or after April 2018, you will most likely receive a new Medicare card from the start - perhaps even before other Medicare beneficiaries in your geographic area.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services actually provides a several examples illustrating when certain people who are newly eligible for Medicare will receive their new Medicare card.

CMS Scenario #1

"Mrs. Jones becomes entitled for Medicare in March 2018 and is automatically enrolled. Mrs. Jones will receive her Initial Enrollment Period package with her Medicare card in January 2018. Ms. Jones’ Medicare card includes her Social Security Number. The area where Ms. Jones lives will receive new Medicare cards in May 2018. Mrs. Jones will receive a new Medicare card with a new unique number in May 2018."

CMS Scenario #2

"Mr. Smith becomes entitled for Medicare in August 2018. He will receive his Initial Enrollment Period package in May 2018. The area where Mr. Smith where is scheduled to receive the new Medicare cards in September 2018. Mr. Smith’s original Medicare card will be the new design with the new number. Mr. Smith won’t receive another (duplicate) Medicare card in August 2018 when the new Medicare cards are mailed to other people with Medicare in his area."

CMS Scenario #3

"Ms. Green signs up for Part B using a Special Enrollment Period in March 2018. She receives the current Medicare card with the SSN-based number. The area where Ms. Green resides is scheduled to receive the new Medicare cards in September 2018. Ms. Green will receive the new Medicare card in September 2018."

Source:

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/New-Medicare-Card/Partners-and-Employers/New-Card-Update-for-Partners-September-2017-Final.pptx