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Medicare news for you! And save the date Thursday, October 25, 2018

August 15, 2018

Dear friend,

If you have Medicare, or care for someone who has Medicare, we have important news for you!

Please read below to learn more about the new Medicare Cards, and also to save the date for CCHCC’s upcoming Medicare Open Enrollment Community Meeting.

Keep an eye out for your new Medicare card, and learn what to do once you get it!

The federal government is in the process of mailing out new Medicare cards for Illinois residents. If you have not gotten yours yet, just keep an eye out for the mail – it should come to you very soon!

In fact, if your card has not arrived yet, you can request an email notification to tell you when your card will be in the mail.

Click here to go to the website and fill out the necessary information.

Your new card will have a new Medicare Number that is unique to you, instead of your Social Security Number. This is to help protect your identity.

Here is what the new cards look like:

Here is what you should do once you get your new card:

• Put the new card in your wallet;
• Take your old card out, and either destroy it (shred it), or store it somewhere safe – you will not need it again; and,
• Take your new card to any upcoming medical appointments you have so your health care providers can scan the card and put your information into their systems.
• Look out for scams, and be savvy! Medicare will not call you about your new card, and you should not give your Social Security Number from your old card, or your Medicare Number from your new card to anyone over the phone. To learn more, click here.

Get ready for Medicare Advantage and Part D Open Enrollment! Save the date – Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 10 a.m.!

Open Enrollment for 2019 Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug plans is October 15 through December 7, 2018.

To help you get ready, CCHCC will be holding our annual Medicare Open Enrollment Community Meeting on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Champaign Public Library.

Even if you like the plan you have, we still encourage everyone to review their plan every year, to make sure that your plan continues to cover the prescriptions, services, and providers you need. At the Medicare Open Enrollment Community Meeting, we will help everyone understand how to review their plans. We will also provide information about programs to help make Medicare more affordable.

Stay tuned to CCHCC for more Medicare news and information.

CCHCC will keep you updated on any important Medicare news and information! For more Medicare resources – including information about the Medicare Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs – go to our webpage.

Sincerely,

Champaign County Health Care Consumers