SOCIAL SECURITY

MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES CAN FILE FOR REPLACEMENT CARDS

ON SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION WEB-SITE

William A. Halter, Deputy Commissioner of Social Security announced that effective today, the public can apply for replacement Medicare Cards on the Internet at www.ssa.gov, the Social Security Administration's (SSA's) web-site.

"Medicare beneficiaries will now be able to apply for a replacement Medicare Card at their convenience," said Deputy Commissioner Halter. "We are pleased to partner with the Health Care Financing Administration to make obtaining a replacement Medicare Card easy and convenient for beneficiaries."

Applicants using SSA's web-site to request a replacement card will fill out the online form and send it electronically to the agency. SSA uses the highest commercially available encryption to ensure that a beneficiary's confidential information is secure as it travels over the Internet. Requests will be forwarded each day to the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which will process the requests and mail the new cards to beneficiaries. Interested individuals can go directly to www.ssa.gov/medicarecard, the location for the replacement Medicare card application form.

Currently, Medicare beneficiaries can apply for a replacement card by calling the Social Security Administration's 800 toll-free number or visiting one of SSA's 1300 field offices. SSA processes approximately 750,000 requests annually for a replacement Medicare Card.

Beneficiaries who visit HCFA's web-site to look for information on replacement Medicare Cards will find a link to the online service on SSA's web-site.

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS: A factsheet regarding the Social Security's Online services is available. Click here for the factsheet located at http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/online-services.htm.

Note: Copies of most SSA press releases, as well as other Social Security information and statistics,
are available at SSA’s Internet site, Social Security Online, at http://www.ssa.gov.
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