On Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, host Don Marsh discussed a recent law regarding Medicare – new cards are being issued that exclude Social Security Numbers to address the current risk of medical identity theft. The new cards include a unique number for each beneficiary – 1.2 million people in Missouri.
Joining the discussion was Julie Brookhart, public affairs specialist for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She described the recent changes as “a long time coming.”
Brookhart addressed what Medicare members need to know about the new cards, and urged them to be patient while cards get sent out throughout the month of November.
She recommended that people should “black out” the numbers on the old cards and shred them. Brookhart also mentioned the new card design, what Medicare beneficiaries should do to ensure they receive their new card – and information about fraudulent marketing that has happened across the country as the cards mail out on a rolling basis.
Medicare Open Enrollment is currently active and ends Dec. 7.
Listen to the full discussion:
St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Alex Heuer, Evie Hemphill, Lara Hamdan and Xandra Ellin give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.
