Alabama residents are due to start receiving their new Medicare cards, from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the near future – with that current distribution schedule showing that Alabamians are slated to begin receiving new cards after June.

The exact date of mailing has not yet been announced, but the center said it can take up to a month after distribution begins for cards to actually be delivered.  That new paper card will have a number that is unique to each recipient replacing those Social Security numbers that were on old cards.  All coverage and benefits stay the same.

You can go here to input information to receive an email when your card is mailed.

Those new Medicare numbers will be made up of a unique combination of eleven randomly assigned numbers and letters called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or MBI. The new numbers use digits 0 to 9; the letters S, L, O, I, B and Z are never used.  The card changes are an effort to prevent identity theft associated with the old cards.

You don’t need to do anything to receive your new card, it’ll automatically come to you, and there is no cost associated with the new card. Once you receive your new card, as long as your address is up to date, you don’t need to contact Medicare.  If you need to update your address, you can do so here.

After you get your new Medicare card, destroy your old card and start using your new one right away.

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO or PPO), your Medicare Advantage Plan ID card is your main card for Medicare – you should still keep and use it whenever you need care, and if you have a Medicare drug plan, keep that card as well.  Even if you use one of these other cards you also may be asked to show your new Medicare card so keep it with you.

Once you receive your new card, use it at the doctor’s office or with other providers.

(al.com/www/al.com)