How to Prevent Identity Theft with Your Medicare ID Card

Estate Planning | Apr 18, 2014 | Hook Law Center

A recent Reuters article highlights an identity security problem for U.S. seniors. Identification cards issued by Medicare contain instructions to carry the card with you at all times. But your card also contains your full social security number (SSN). Losing the card places you at risk of identity theft and fraudulent benefit claims.

No government agencies track data on theft of Social Security numbers from Medicare cards, but it is clearly a problem. The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the recovery of $4.3 billion from attempted federal health insurance fraud schemes in a single fiscal year – a record high.

In 2007, the George W. Bush administration ordered all federal agencies to cease any unnecessary use of Social Security numbers. And the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) acknowledges the need to remove SSNs from Medicare cards. But doing so would cost between $255 and $317 million, according to a Government Accountability Office report – funds that are hard to secure.

In the meantime, the AARP recommends seniors do not carry the cards, saying it is usually unnecessary to do so. An AARP representative told Reuters her recommendation for seniors who are uncomfortable being without the card is to make a photocopy of it with the first five digits of their Social Security number masked out. Then you can have proof of Medicare enrollment with you, just in case, while protecting yourself from identity theft.

The elder law attorneys at Hook Law Center assist Virginia families with will preparation, trust & estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, long-term care planning, special needs planning, veterans benefits, and more. To learn more, visit https://api.hooklaw.net/ or call 757-399-7506.

Make a Plan
Let's make a plan.
We help individuals and their families navigate the legal maze and implement plans to secure their futures. By working together, we're able to offer comprehensive planning, life care services and legal representation, giving you peace of mind for what ever life brings.