When to Expect Your New Medicare Card

New Medicare Card Mailing Strategy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is required to remove Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from all Medicare cards by April 2019. A new, unique Medicare Number is replacing the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on each new Medicare card.

Starting April 2018, CMS is mailing new Medicare cards to all people with Medicare on a flow basis, based on geographic location and other factors. These mailings will follow the sequence outlined below. Additional details on timing will be available as the mailings progress.

People with Medicare can get information about the mailings and sign up for emails about the status of card mailings in their area on Medicare.gov/NewCard.

Chart of Medicare Card Mailing Waves