Guard Your Medicare Card Number Like a Credit Card!
Posted: April 06, 2026
April 2026 Missouri SMP Fraud Fact
Your Medicare number is private information and can be just as valuable as a bank account number. Scam artists try to use your Medicare number for fraudulent billing!
The Missouri Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) strongly advises that you be careful about sharing your Medicare number. You should only share your number with your trusted health care providers. You can also safely share it with people who work directly with Medicare, like the Missouri SMP.
Medicare already has your number in its system, so they will never call to “verify” it. If you need an official replacement card, call 1-800-MEDICARE. Medicare will not call you (unless they are returning a call you made to them).
Remember these tips and best practices to manage your Medicare card:
- Do NOT laminate your Medicare card.
- Do NOT make copies or pay someone else to make copies of your Medicare card.
- Don’t share or sell your Medicare number.
- GUARD YOUR CARD! Leave your Medicare card at home unless you’re going to a medical appointment.
- Medicare is NOT sending out new cards.
The Missouri SMP is here to provide you with information you need to protect, detect, and report potential Medicare fraud, errors, and abuse. If you think you or a loved one has been a target of a Medicare scam, call the Missouri SMP at 888-515-6565.
This project was supported, in part, by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $638,014 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government