As glad as I am to finally see this happening...it's kinda like shutting the barn door after the horse has left home. I remember being told I would receive a new card with a new number over 15 years ago. Sadly, any damage that could be done using my SS # has already had all the public exposure it'll ever need through legitimate venues.

My card never has had my SS number on it.

The HIPAA privacy requirements came into force in 2003. They are very stringent and healthcare providers take the responsibility under the law very seriously, as most of us have experienced multiple times. No information system, electronic or hardcopy, is absolutely secure from access but this is not a likely risk.

Most people today with Medicare coverage have had that coverage only since the effective date of HIPAA. I would bet that those in this group are very, very unlikely to have suffered identity theft or unauthorized credit tampering because their social security numbers were used for Medicare purposes. That their social security numbers, when used for other purposes, may have been accessed, perhaps a different story, But still not likely, nothing to warrant a Chicken Little reaction.

Why do some of you carry around your Medicare card? I'm only recently covered in addition to my private insurance but I never have it with me. I've been asked for my account number and it's something I can easily recall- it's my SSN and a letter or two. I've never been asked to show a card. And a Social Security card? Yikes, I don't think I even have one.

I don't carry my card with me either. Was at the ER quite unexpectedly a month or so ago for half the night. Gave them my basic private insurance info. They said sorted it out on their own with who paid what had I been admitted when I asked about Medicare. It turned out I wasn't admitted so I just got billed the standard co pay for the ER visit. Medicare didn't come into play.

My card never has had my SS number on it.

Compare it to your social security number. Yes, your Medicare number (on the card) is your SS number plus a letter. Oh, it might be your spouse's SS number if you are a dependent. Is that what you mean?

My Mom's Medicare # was my Dad's SS#.

No , I was surprised when I looked at mine. It just has a file case number. Not at all like any of my exs eather, and I got mine ten years ago

I cut the first five numbers off mine, leaving the last four. But now that I have a supplemental insurance card I don't need to carry it.

Decades ago, an attorney we knew had a hissy-fit over the 'need' to ID yourself by providing your Soc. Sec. number. He refused to provide his and was successful doing so. I don't know that he continued to be able to refuse, but I think he was right in his contention that this was not necessary much of the time.

Gosh, I remember back in the 1980's when I was working in a retail store, that we asked for everyone's driver's license and wrote the number on the check. In my state, it was ones SS number. That continued until about 5 years ago when they stopped using SS numbers for ones license number.

I don't carry my card with me, just the number in the "Notes" section on my iPhone. I also have my son's, daughter's, late husband's and now I've added DGS1 as I needed it to get him an app't to take his driving test and get his provisional license. Need to get DGS2 "just in case".

Those who don't carry the card-not even when you see a new doctor? - everytime I see a new doc, they make copies of all my insurance cards.

No, I never carry it. The conversation at a new provider usually goes like this:

"Can I please get your insurance and Medicare cards to copy?"

----------"Here's my insurance card (no SSN on it). I don't have my Medicare card with me but I can give you the number".

"Okay, that should be fine".

It seems like they input it and the number gets validated to my name, there must be some database lookup that happens. At least at the medical providers I've been to.

I have been carrying my SS card in my wallet. Not anymore. The doctor's office will just have to deal.

My doctor's office is smarter than most. I have a medical card prepared by them which includes everything about me with no visible information about me. When inserted, my picture pops up along with MyChart. So simple.