Lost Medicare Card? How to Get a Free Replacement

Reviewed September 30, 2026. If you lost your Medicare card, you can get a free replacement by logging in to (or creating) your secure account at Medicare.gov, where you can print an official copy right away or order a new card by mail. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048). If you get benefits from the Railroad Retirement Board, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772 instead.

Quick answer: Replacing a Medicare card is free, and you do not need a new Medicare number. Anyone who calls, texts or emails you offering a “new Medicare card” for a fee is running a scam.

How to get a replacement Medicare card online

1. Go to Medicare.gov and log in to your secure Medicare account. If you don’t have one, create it using your Medicare number or your Social Security number and some personal details.
2. Choose the option to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card.
3. To use it right away, print the official copy. It works just like the card you lost at a doctor’s office or pharmacy.
4. To get a new card mailed to you, choose to order a replacement and confirm your mailing address.

Medicare.gov says you can “log into (or create) your secure Medicare account to print or order an official copy of your Medicare card.” (Medicare.gov) Social Security also directs people to Medicare.gov for replacement cards. (SSA FAQ)

If you need to see a doctor before your card arrives, you can give the office your Medicare number instead. Our guide on how to find your Medicare number shows where to look, and printing your Medicare card online walks through the printing step.

Replace your Medicare card by phone

Your replacement card is mailed to the address Medicare has on file, so update your address first if you’ve moved. See how to change your address for Medicare.

Which card did you lose?

Many people carry more than one card. Replace the right one:

• Red, white and blue Medicare card: replace through Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, as described above.
• Medicare Advantage plan card: call your plan or use its member website or app. Use this card, not your Medicare card, when you get care.
• Part D drug plan card: call the plan. Your pharmacy can often look up your coverage while you wait.
• Medigap (Medicare Supplement) card: call the insurance company. Show it together with your Medicare card.

If you think your card was stolen

Your Medicare card carries your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), not your Social Security number. If you think someone is using your Medicare number:

1. Review your Medicare Summary Notices or plan statements for services you didn’t receive.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to report suspected fraud. Medicare can issue a new number if your number has been misused.
3. Never share your Medicare number with anyone who contacts you unless you contacted them first. Medicare says it “will never call you uninvited and ask you to give us personal or private information.”

For a real example of why this matters, see 612,000 notified of a Medicare data breach.

Tips to protect your new card

• Keep a photo or printed copy in a safe place at home.
• Carry the card only when you expect to need it, such as for appointments.
• If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, carry that plan card instead.
• Update your address with Social Security when you move so future mail reaches you.

Frequently asked questions

I lost my Medicare card. What do I do?

Log in to your Medicare.gov account to print an official copy or order a new card, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). If you’re a Railroad Retirement Board beneficiary, call the RRB at 1-877-772-5772.

Is there a fee to replace a Medicare card?

No. Replacement Medicare cards are free. Anyone asking you to pay for a new card is not from Medicare.

Can I get a social security replacement Medicare card?

Social Security directs people to Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to replace a lost, stolen or destroyed Medicare card.

Can I print my Medicare card?

Yes. Your secure Medicare.gov account lets you print an official copy that you can use until your mailed card arrives.

Will my Medicare number change?

Usually not. Your replacement card shows the same number unless Medicare issues a new number because the old one was misused.

How do I replace my Medicare Advantage card?

Call the member services number for your plan or log in to the plan’s website or app to request a new ID card.

This article is general information, not individual insurance advice. Medicare365 is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program.

Official sources

• Medicare.gov: Your Medicare card
• SSA: How do I get a replacement Medicare card?