How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Medicare Card (Free)
Lost your Medicare card? Replacing it is free. See the three ways to get a new card, how long it takes, how to print one online today, and what to do if your card was stolen.
If you lost your Medicare card, replacing it is free and there is no penalty. You can print an official copy online in minutes or order a replacement Medicare card in the mail. Losing the card does not interrupt your Medicare benefits or your coverage for a single day. What you do next depends on which card you lost, the red, white, and blue Medicare card, or a private plan's card. Here is how to replace each one.
Three ways to replace your Medicare card
If you lost your original Medicare card, the red, white, and blue one, you have three options:
- Online (fastest). Log in to your secure Medicare account at Medicare.gov. You can see your Medicare number immediately, print an official copy of your card, or order a replacement to be mailed. If you do not have one yet, our step-by-step guide to creating it walks through the setup.
- By phone. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
- Through Social Security. Because the Social Security Administration handles Medicare enrollment, it can also issue a replacement Medicare card. That route is covered in detail below.
You do not need to know your Medicare number to request a replacement. Either agency can verify your identity with your name, date of birth, and Social Security number.
A Medicare card replacement is always free, and there is no limit on how many times you can request one. The card is issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is why the government replaces it rather than an insurance company.
Replacing your card through Social Security
The Social Security Administration is the second official channel, and for some people it is the only one. Three ways to use it:
- Online. Sign in to your my Social Security account at SSA.gov and request the replacement there. The same account shows your Medicare enrollment details, including the date your Part A and Part B coverage began.
- By phone. Call 1-800-772-1213, weekdays.
- In person. Make an appointment at your local Social Security office. See how to make an appointment with Social Security first, because walk-in waits are long.
Use the Social Security route if you get your Medicare through the Railroad Retirement Board, or if you are also sorting out something else on your record at the same time.
Your Medicare card and your Social Security card are two different documents replaced through two different processes. A lost one is also replaced free through SSA, but without the online print-it-today option.
How long a replacement takes
A card ordered by phone or mail typically arrives in about 30 days. If you need proof of coverage before then, the online option is best: you can print an official copy the same day, and most providers accept it. You can also simply give your provider the number itself, which is all they truly need to bill Medicare while the replacement Medicare card is in transit.
If your Medicare card was stolen
A lost card is usually harmless. A stolen card is different, because your Medicare number is what a fraudster needs to bill Medicare for services you never received. That is medical identity theft, and it can leave errors on your claims record that take months to unwind.
If you believe your card or your number was stolen:
- Request a replacement right away using any method above.
- Review your Medicare Summary Notices, or the claims list in your online account, for services and charges you do not recognize.
- Report anything suspicious to 1-800-MEDICARE.
- Report the theft itself to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov, which generates a recovery plan you can act on.
Medicare will never call, text, or email to ask for your number or to demand payment for a card. Those calls are scams, and new cards are always free.
For more on what the card is and how to protect your number, see our guide to your Medicare card.
Replacing a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan card
This is where many people call the wrong number. If you lost the card for a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), a Part D drug plan, or Medigap, Medicare cannot replace it, because a private insurance company issued it, not the government.
To replace a plan card, contact your plan directly. Medicare Advantage plans are usually HMO or PPO plans, and each one runs its own member services line. You will find the number on your plan paperwork, your insurer's website, or your Explanation of Benefits. Most insurers also let you print a temporary card from their member portal while the new one is mailed.
Not sure which coverage you have? Compare Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D or read about Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans.
Do you even need the physical card?
If you have Original Medicare, carry the red, white, and blue card, because providers use it to confirm your Part A and Part B coverage. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you show the plan's card for care instead, so a lost paper card is less urgent, though it is still worth replacing and keeping at home.
Common questions about replacing a Medicare card
How do I get a replacement Medicare card?
Log in at Medicare.gov to print or order one, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. All three are free.
How much does it cost to replace a Medicare card?
Nothing. Replacing your Medicare card is always free. Anyone charging a fee, or asking for payment to send a "new" card, is running a scam.
How long does it take to get a new Medicare card?
A mailed card takes about 30 days. If you have an online Medicare account, you can print an official copy the same day.
Can I get my Medicare card online?
Yes. With a Medicare.gov account you can view your number, print an official copy of your card, or order a replacement. See our guide to setting that up.
Is my Medicare card the same as my Social Security card?
No. They are separate cards with separate numbers. Since 2018 your Medicare number is a randomly assigned Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, not your Social Security number, which is exactly why the two cards are replaced through different processes.
What if I lost my Medicare Advantage or drug plan card?
Contact your plan directly, not Medicare. The private insurer that issued the card replaces it, usually with a printable temporary card available right away in your member portal.
Do I need my physical card to see the doctor?
Not strictly. Your provider only needs that number, or your plan member ID, to bill. A printed copy or the number itself works while your replacement is on the way.
Talk to a licensed Medicare advocate
Lost your card while getting set up with Medicare, or unsure which plan you are actually on? A licensed Medicare Advocate can help you sort it out, at no cost and with no pressure to enroll.