September 9, 2019

Important Date Regarding Your New Medicare Card is Fast Approaching!

As many of you know, New Medicare Cards were mailed to all Medicare beneficiaries in 2018 and 2019. These new cards were sent so beneficiaries' Social Security numbers are no longer on their cards.This means everyone who received a new card received a new Medicare number that includes numbers and letters. The important date that is upcoming is that starting on January 1, 2020 your old Medicare card and number will not be accepted. All providers are aware of this transition and will not accept your old Medicare card or number. If you have not received your new card, you can call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and request a card to be sent to your home address. If you have had your Medicare card or number compromised at any time, you can call the Illinois SMP at (800)699-9043, and we can call Medicare together to request a new card. Click here to print out our New Medicare Card Tip Sheet.

Be on the Lookout for Your Annual Notice of Change from Your Medicare Advantage or Part D Prescription Plan

Did you know that your current Part D or Medicare Advantage Plan must notify you for any changes to cost or coverage for next year? They will notify you with an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Plans must mail these notices to their members every year before September 30 to notify them of cost, benefit and service area changes that will take effect starting January 1 of the following year. When you receive this notice, you should review any changes to your plans and decide whether the plan will continue to meet your needs in the next year. If you decide that you want to change plans or compare plans for next year, those changes can be made during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from October 15-December 7. If you do not get this ANOC document, by September 30, contact your plan provider and have them send you a copy. If you need help during the Annual Enrollment Period with any questions about your plan, you can find your local Illinois SHIP counselor here or call (800)252-8966.

Have a wonderful week! Travis Trumitch travis.trumitch@ageoptions.org

Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area. If you would like to sign up to receive the Fraud Alert directly, visit click here. This project was supported, in part by grant number 90MPPG0036, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

The Illinois SMP at AgeOptions partners with agencies across the state to empower and assist Medicare beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers to prevent, detect, and report health care fraud, errors, and abuse through outreach, counseling, and education. Please share this Fraud Alert with colleagues, consumers, or other professionals in your area and visit our website to sign up for our Fraud Alert email list.

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