You can replace a lost or damaged Medicare card for free through Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE. Your online Medicare account lets you print an official copy or order one by mail. If the missing card came from a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, contact that plan instead.
Start by identifying which card is missing: your red, white, and blue Medicare card, or a membership card issued by a private Medicare plan. The replacement route depends on that distinction. Medicare cards are free, so a demand for payment to issue one is a warning sign.
Which card do you need to replace?
Medicare explains that people with Original Medicare show their Medicare card when getting services. Medicare Advantage members generally use their plan’s card for care and keep the Medicare card in a safe place.
| Missing card | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Red, white, and blue Medicare card | Your Medicare.gov account or 1-800-MEDICARE |
| Medicare Advantage plan card | The insurance company that runs your plan |
| Separate Part D prescription drug plan card | Your drug plan’s member services |
Medicare’s card-replacement guidance directs people with a missing Medicare Advantage or drug-plan card to contact that plan. Replacing the federal Medicare card does not replace a separate insurer’s membership card.
Print an official Medicare card or request one by mail
According to Social Security’s replacement-card instructions, you can print an official copy from your online Medicare account, or request a mailed replacement by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). The TTY number is 1-877-486-2048.
- Open the official Medicare card page in your account. Sign in, or follow Medicare’s account-creation instructions if you need an account.
- Choose the available option to print or order your card. Printing is useful when you need a copy before a mailed card arrives.
- If you cannot use the online service, call the Medicare number above and request a replacement by mail. Ask about expected delivery when you make the request.
If you receive Railroad Retirement Board benefits, Medicare lists a separate replacement contact: 1-877-772-5772, or TTY 1-312-751-4701.
Missing your number, or recently moved?
Social Security says you can find your Medicare number in your benefit verification letter through your Social Security account. That is useful if the missing card was your only handy record of the number.
Before requesting a mailed card after a move, check your official address. Medicare directs people to Social Security to update their address, even if they have Medicare but do not receive Social Security benefits. Follow the official instructions for your situation rather than assuming that changing an email address updates your mailing address.
What if the missing card belongs to your plan?
Contact your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and ask for its replacement-card process. If you do not have the plan’s phone number, Medicare says you can call 1-800-MEDICARE for the plan’s contact information.
For example, if the missing item is the card you use for a separate drug plan at the pharmacy, start with that drug plan. If both your Medicare card and your plan card are missing, make a separate request for each.
If you have an appointment or prescription pickup before replacements arrive, call the provider’s office or pharmacy and ask what information it needs to verify your coverage. Do not assume that submitting a replacement request gives them the details they need.
Avoid paying a caller for a replacement
The Federal Trade Commission warns about callers claiming you need a new or updated Medicare card. They may ask for payment, banking details, or your Medicare number. Caller ID can be faked, even when it displays a familiar name or number.
End an unexpected call demanding that information. Contact Medicare yourself using 1-800-MEDICARE to check the claim. If you suspect someone is using your Medicare number, report that concern to Medicare rather than treating it only as a missing-card problem.
When the replacement arrives
Follow the instructions in Medicare’s replacement-card letter: start using the new Medicare card and securely destroy the old one if you still have it. A replacement card itself does not change your Medicare coverage or benefits. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, continue using that plan’s ID card for your care.
- Medicare: Your Medicare Card
- Social Security: Can I get a new Medicare card for a beneficiary?
- Social Security: Manage your Medicare benefits
- Medicare: How do I change my address with Medicare?
- Medicare: Getting care in a disaster or emergency — replacing an insurance card
- FTC: This Medicare Open Enrollment season, learn how to protect yourself from scams
- Medicare: Replacement Medicare card letter
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