Common Questions
How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Medicaid Card
- January 12, 2024
- Reviewed by John Krahnert
If your Medicaid card is lost, stolen or damaged, it’s important to request a replacement card so that you don’t encounter any interruptions to your health care services.
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Why it’s important to replace your Medicaid card
Your Medicaid card has a serial number on it that is used as a billing ID number for health care providers. You will typically need to show your Medicaid card at doctor’s offices, pharmacies and other places where seeking services or items covered by Medicaid.
Your Medicaid card may be photocopied or scanned, or your Medicaid number may be recorded so that Medicaid can issue the proper reimbursement to the provider of your care.
A Medicaid card also has some personal information on it, so it’s important to keep it safe and protected to avoid instances of fraud. And it’s just as important to have a lost or stolen card replaced as soon as possible.
Because each state operates its own Medicaid program, each state Medicaid card is likely to look slightly different.
How to get a new Medicaid card if it is lost
As soon as you notice your Medicaid card is missing, you should call your state Medicaid program immediately. You can use an online directory to find the phone number for your state’s Medicaid program, or call 1-866-209-6421.
You may be given a pre-recorded prompt that includes directions to replace a lost or stolen Medicaid card. If not, ask to speak to a representative and be prepared to give your Social Security number.
Because Medicaid is run by individual states, the actual process for obtaining a replacement Medicaid card can vary by state.
- Most states will send you a new card in the mail that contains a new Medicaid number.
- Some states will make replacement cards available online that you may download and print, which is handy when you can’t afford to wait for a replacement card to come through the mail.
More information about replacement cards may be found on each respective state Medicaid program website, which may also be found in the directory linked to above.
Can I get a replacement Medicaid card online?
Yes, you can get your card replaced online through your state's Medicaid portal.
What to do if you think your Medicaid card has been compromised
A lost or stolen Medicaid card that falls into the wrong hands can lead to fraud against the Medicaid program or even against you. That’s why it’s so important to report a lost or stolen card immediately.
Medicaid employs its own fraud investigators, and filing a report with this team can establish proof that you reported the missing card at a particular time and date, which can help protect you from identity theft.
It’s important to not allow anyone else to use your Medicaid card. Not only could the person using the card encounter legal trouble for using the card, but you could be held liable for fraud as well.
If you are enrolled in a Medicaid-Medicare plan such as a Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan, you may have a separate card, and you may need to contact your insurance carrier directly to report a lost card and request a new one.
These plans are designed for people on both Medicare and Medicaid and feature a set of benefits that cater to those specific needs.
If you are eligible for Medicare, speak to a licensed insurance agent to find out if Dual-eligible Special Needs Plans are available in your area.
About the author
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
