To get a replacement Medicare card, sign in to your account at Medicare.gov and print an official copy on the spot, then order a physical card to be mailed. If you’d rather not use the website, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and a representative will send one to the address Social Security has on file. Replacements are free, and the mailed card typically arrives within about 30 days.1Social Security Administration. Medicare Replacement Card Applications Filed via the Internet
Print or Order a Card at Medicare.gov
The fastest option is online. Log in at Medicare.gov, print your card directly from the screen, and use that printed version anywhere you’d use the plastic one. Doctors’ offices and pharmacies accept it as an official copy.2Medicare. Your Medicare Card From the same screen you can request a physical replacement in the mail.
No account yet? You’ll need to create one before you can print. Medicare.gov verifies your identity through ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov, and each requires an email address that isn’t shared with anyone else.3Medicare. Log In to (or Create) Your Medicare Account Once you’re in, the print option and the mail-order option both live on the same page.
Order a Card by Phone
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if you’d prefer to skip the website. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048. A representative will order a replacement mailed to the address on file with Social Security.4Social Security Administration. How Do I Get a Replacement Medicare Card? This line handles all general Medicare questions, so expect some hold time at busy hours.
Check Your Address Before You Order
Your card ships to whatever address Social Security has for you. If you’ve moved, update your address first. Otherwise the card goes to your old home, and with a 30-day mail window a wrong address can leave you waiting two months to try again.5U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. How Do I Get a New Medicare Card if My Card Is Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed?
The quickest fix is your my Social Security account at ssa.gov, under My Profile. You can also call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or stop by a local office. Updating your address with Social Security updates it for Medicare automatically; there’s no separate Medicare form.6Social Security Administration. How Can I Change My Address or Direct Deposit Information for My Social Security Benefits?
How Long the New Card Takes
Plan on about 30 days for a physical card to arrive.1Social Security Administration. Medicare Replacement Card Applications Filed via the Internet There’s no expedited option, which is the practical reason to set up the Medicare.gov account and print the interim copy. If you also need something that confirms your enrollment dates, you can generate a benefit verification letter through my Social Security at ssa.gov.7Social Security Administration. Get Benefit Verification Letter Between the printed card and that letter, you shouldn’t see any gap in care.
Railroad Retirement Board Beneficiaries
If your benefits come through the Railroad Retirement Board rather than Social Security, use the RRB instead. Call 1-877-772-5772; the automated system takes replacement card requests around the clock, and representatives are available during business hours. TTY users can call 1-312-751-4701.2Medicare. Your Medicare Card The RRB also offers services online at rrb.gov.8U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. Medicare for Railroad Workers and Their Families
Medicare Advantage and Part D Cards Work Differently
If the card you lost is from a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or a standalone Part D prescription drug plan, don’t call Medicare. Those cards come from your private insurer, and you have to go through the plan directly. Most insurers let you print a digital ID card from their member portal or app, and the member services number on any plan paperwork can send a paper replacement.2Medicare. Your Medicare Card Keep your original red, white, and blue Medicare card in a safe place either way. You’ll need it if you switch plans or move back to Original Medicare.
If Your Card Was Stolen
Someone holding your Medicare number can file fraudulent claims for equipment, prescriptions, and services you never received, and those claims can attach to your medical records. Request the replacement the normal way, then take a few extra steps:
- Review your Medicare Summary Notices against your own records, and call the provider if anything looks off.
- Report suspected fraud to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or filing with the HHS Office of Inspector General at oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud/.9Medicare. Reporting Medicare Fraud and Abuse
- Call the Senior Medicare Patrol at 1-877-808-2468 for help sorting out suspicious activity.10Federal Trade Commission. Medicare Fraud Affects Everyone, So Here’s What to Know and Do
- If someone used your information to get medical care, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
The longer false claims sit in the system, the harder they are to unwind.
Your Medicare Number Won’t Change
Your 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, the MBI printed on the front of the card, stays the same on the replacement.11Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Understanding the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Format Write it down and store it somewhere secure, or look it up anytime by signing in to your Medicare.gov account, so you’re not stuck waiting on the mail the next time you need the number.