TOMS RIVER – Ocean County residents on Medicare should have received their new benefits cards. If not, Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari assured residents the cards are on their way.
“It takes about a month for everyone in a mailing area to receive their new cards,” Vicari, who is Chairman of the Ocean County Department of Senior Services, said. “We expect all of our Ocean County seniors to have their cards by the end of the summer.”
The new cards are being accepted now by doctors, hospitals and other medical facilities, Director of Senior Services Maria La Face said.
Benefits remain exactly the same. The cards, however, no longer have clients’ Social Security numbers printed on them. Instead, the new red, white and blue cards have a unique claim number. Vicari said the new cards will help protect against identity theft.
Vicari also stressed that no legitimate organization will call asking for the claim number. Never give that information out over the phone.
“Everyone who has received a new card should immediately destroy their old card,” Vicari said.
Anyone with Medicare-related questions can call the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 800-668-4899.
