MN057 Q&A From The Audience

Hello Medicare Nation listeners!

Today, I’ve put together a few questions from our audience that I’d like to read on the air. Many of you ask the same questions, so I’d like to help out as many of you as I can.

 

Wendy from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania asks???

HOW DO I GET A REPLACEMENT MEDICARE CARD?

If you are on Original Medicare, your Medicare ID card is proof of your Medicare insurance. , If your Medicare card was lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible, you can ask for a replacement card by going online and logging in to your Social Security account at www.ssa.gov

If you don’t have an online social security account, you can register one on the www.ssa.gov website.

Once you’ve logged into your account, select the “Replacement Documents” tab. Then select “Mail my replacement Medicare Card.”  Your replacement Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days, at the address on file with Social Security.

If you moved and you did not update Social Security with your new address, you must update your new address into the database, or Social Security will be sending your replacement Medicare card to your old address!

If you don’t have the internet, a computer or you just want to call Social Security, here’s the number to call:

800-772-1213

You can also go to your nearest Social Security office to get a Medicare card replacement. To find the nearest social security office, get on the home page of www.ssa.gov  “click” on the social security office location tab and type in your zip code for the nearest social security office.

 

Kenny from Rio Rancho, New Mexico asks??????

WHAT INTERNET BROWSER CAN I USE TO VIEW THE MEDICARE.GOV WEBSITE?

The official Medicare.gov website states –

For optimal results, use Internet Explorer 8.0 or 9.0. You can also view in Firefox, Chrome and Opera.

 

June from San Diego – California asks????

WHAT DOES MEDICALLY NECESSARY MEAN?

Medicare will only pay for services that are considered to be medically necessary. According to Medicare.gov,  services or supplies are considered medically necessary if they:

Are needed for the diagnosis, or treatment of your medical condition. Are provided for the diagnosis, direct care, and treatment of your medical condition. Meet the standards of good medical practice in the medical community of your local area. Are not mainly for the convenience of you or your doctor.                       AN EXAMPLE of NOT “Medically Necessary,” is cosmetic surgery. Maybe you don’t like your nose because it’s too big for your face. Medicare will not pay for cosmetic surgery to make you look pretty. It must be “Medically Necessary.”  A better example would be if your face was disfigured due to a car accident, a fire or a severe dog bite. You will need treatment to stop the bleeding and to prevent infection, so Medicare will pay for the treatment of those types of injuries.

 Thanks for listening!

 Send your questions to [email protected]