The “New Medicare Card,” features a unique, personalized Medicare Number. This replaces the older system that used Social Security Numbers (SSNs) for identification to better protect people from identity theft.
The Medicare Number is an 11-character identifier that consists of numbers and uppercase letters. This alphanumeric identifier is randomly assigned, and it doesn’t contain embedded information about the beneficiary such as geographical location, ethnicity, or other personal details.
To decipher the new Medicare card number:
Position 1: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Position 2: Numeric 1-9.
Position 3: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Position 4: Numeric 0-9. Can also be letter ‘Z’.
Position 5: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Position 6: Numeric 0-9.
Position 7: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Position 8: Numeric 0-9. Can also be letter ‘Z’.
Position 9: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Position 10: Numeric 1-9.
Position 11: Any letter except for S, L, O, I, B, Z.
Remember, these characters do not carry any special meaning or hidden data – they are simply part of a unique identifier.
As the information on Medicare cards is subject to change, I recommend checking the official Medicare website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.