NGC Medicare

[Park Ridge Phil]

 I’m not a happy camper after receiving my first Medicare card today.  I called Medicare to ask why is my social # on the card and they refer to it as a claim number. They would not give me an answer without me giving my name and so called claim number. I said it’s none of your business I just want an answer  and I plan on blacking it out on the card due to identity theft if I lost my card. I know what my number is. Still no real answer. 😡

[wrbix]

Obama administration had same concern - but the wheels of the SSA apparently turn at a glacial pace:
https://medicare.com/administration/new-medicare-card-not-to-contain-social-security-numbers/

[Rough Edge racing]

 I don't use my actual Medicare card, I show an Aetna Medicare card that has it's own ID....OP, do you just have Medicare alone with no additional insurance  to fill in the gaps?

[Park Ridge Phil]

 I have Aetna also which will now be the supplement. I was told you need to show both cards.

[PeteS]

Leave it at home. I have had mine for 8 years and never been asked for it. I am sure you can remember the number.

Pete

[Park Ridge Phil]

Leave it at home. I have had mine for 8 years and never been asked for it. I am sure you can remember the number.

Pete

Yes, exactly what I told the person on the phone.

[wrbix]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but suspect what Rough Edge has is a Medicare Advantage Plan through Aetna. If someone has Medicare plus a Supplement, then the Medicare number is needed.....same as PeteS, the Medicare # is in my head, not my wallet.

[Lumpy Idle]

Leave it at home. I have had mine for 8 years and never been asked for it. I am sure you can remember the number.

yeah, me too. if they ask me for it i tell them its my social sec. #. done and done. occasionally i have had them say "we need to see the card." i then turn to them blankly and say "gee, sorry, i don't have it anymore."

BTW, if you can't remember your social security # you need to see a doctor.

[Lannis]

I have several cards in my pocket with personal information people would like to have.

Three of them have my Social Security number on them.   Two have my bank account numbers on them.   Two have my credit card numbers on them.

I have a cunning plan, you see.   I just don't lose them!    Far as I remember, I've never lost my wallet, I'm pretty careful with it ....

Lannis

[LowRyter]

Great plan Lannis.  I hope all of us here can follow it.


Now where in the hell did I leave my keys?    Oh wait, here are some keys. now where in the hell do those keys fit?

I think I'll ask Lannis.   

Wait,  Dusty I need to call Lannis.  What's his number?   Hell, where's Dusty's number?

[Lannis]

Great plan Lannis.  I hope all of us here can follow it.

Well, it's sort of like carrying my passport when I'm overseas.    I've been with people who have actually lost/misplaced their passport while they're traveling, and there's no bigger hassle in the world than replacing a lost passport.

So it's kind of important not to lose it; so I have a leather pouch on a leather thong

(I thought about not even saying that because the thong jokes will be flying everywhere but I decided that I'll be the adult for once and talk in real words)

around my neck and I don't let it out of my hand unless I'm watching it like an eagle.

Same for my wallet ... and I don't carry keys.   The more you can reduce the error precursors, the fewer errors you'll make, especially as the short term memory capability starts leaking away ....

Gotta plan for these things ....

Lannis

[ohiorider]

Great plan Lannis.  I hope all of us here can follow it.


Now where in the hell did I leave my keys?    Oh wait, here are some keys. now where in the hell do those keys fit?

I think I'll ask Lannis.   

Wait,  Dusty I need to call Lannis.  What's his number?   Hell, where's Dusty's number?

We can follow that plan until the day we don't follow that plan. Then it'll be "where's Dusty's number?"

[oldbike54]

 Who is this Dusty you guys keep referring to 

 Confused

[wrbix]

Well, it's sort of like carrying my passport when I'm overseas.    I've been with people who have actually lost/misplaced their passport while they're traveling, and there's no bigger hassle in the world than replacing a lost passport

around my neck and I don't let it out of my hand unless I'm watching it like an eagle.



Lannis

A question...it's been a few years... but when I've travelled in Europe, hotels always  held my passport until checkout...that because I appear unsavory or has this practice changed?

[Lannis]

A question...it's been a few years... but when I've travelled in Europe, hotels always  held my passport until checkout...that because I appear unsavory or has this practice changed?

I don't know about the past, but I don't let 'em keep it now.   They copy down information off of it (EU rules, they say) and I get it back before I move away from the desk.

[Orange Guzzi]

I would be impressed if someone wanted to take over my identity.  The way I see it, if someone excepts personal information about me from someone that is not me, that is their problem.  Not mine.  My personal information is everywhere and way beyond my control.  I have to provide it to people I do not know nearly everyday.  My license, medical records, passport, insurance card, credit cards have been copied and submitted to thousand of unknown people. 

On the other hand, the nature of one of my businesses is data mining.  I have file drawers full of banking accounts, tax i.d. numbers, drivers license, business license, voided checks and signed authorizations to perform ach debits from bank accounts.  It is easy to get.  I just ask and they will send it via text messages to my cell phone.  No questions ask.  People I have never met send it.

What I do try to do is protect my credit/debit card number, expiration date and 3 digit security code.  I never allow someone to carry my card off to pay for a transaction.  Especially in restaurants.  I plan ahead and pay cash or will go to the wait staff area and pay the bill. 

[Two Checks]

Funny...it says on my ss card..."not to be used for identification purposes".

[Rough Edge racing]

Correct me if I�m wrong, but suspect what Rough Edge has is a Medicare Advantage Plan through Aetna. If someone has Medicare plus a Supplement, then the Medicare number is needed.....same as PeteS, the Medicare # is in my head, not my wallet.

 Yes ,something like that, the Aetna card say Medicare PPO... it's a no cost supplement..

[wrbix]

Yes ,something like that, the Aetna card say Medicare PPO... it's a no cost supplement..

Yeah, a PPO would be a Medicare Advantage Plan - essentially Medicare as run by one of the corporate insurers.

[Park Ridge Phil]

Correct me if I�m wrong, but suspect what Rough Edge has is a Medicare Advantage Plan through Aetna. If someone has Medicare plus a Supplement, then the Medicare number is needed.....same as PeteS, the Medicare # is in my head, not my wallet.

Yes, I agree. I don’t need the advantage plan with the Aetna ins coverage I already have. I think the whole thing stinks.

[LowRyter]

My medical insurance offers a 1 + 1  plan.  It's a full plan, not a supplemental, but much cheaper than a Family Plan.

So Bev and I are keeping this policy even though she's been under Medicare since last year.  I think we'll keep it when I go under Medicare next year.

[Park Ridge Phil]

 They finally got it. It pays to be heard. 😎

[Tom]

Black out or cross out the numbers except the last 4.  Honolulu give the "Senior's" discount for riding the bus if you show your card.  There are probably others that do the same.

[webmost]

The horse has left the barn.

[Lannis]

The horse has left the barn.

We're smarter than a horse.   We can catch him .... !

[Rough Edge racing]

Yes, I agree. I don�t need the advantage plan with the Aetna ins coverage I already have. I think the whole thing stinks.

 It stinks? Works well for me.....I have only been asked once for my actual Medicare number.. And it's not like I don't have my SS number memorized...Just like my Army serial number.... When I do really forget those numbers it's time to lay out on the woods ...