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Losing Your Card Can Be Hazardous
To Your Health
A piece of advice to all Kappans from Burt Kreitlow

This is the story of my month long struggle to replace the missing Medicare Card. It began casually with a call to the local clinic and hospital to ask if I had left it there.  When they suggested that I call Social Services, that group told me they had no idea how to help.
    
Then I tried the local Veterans Service Office. There was no one there, so I left a message. A return call suggested that I phone the Social Security Office in Duluth. I placed a number of calls to them over a period of ten days and each time was answered by the busy signal. I finally tried my Medicare supplementary service provider. My "slow" ears made it difficult for me to understand the person answering, but I did get "We'll try to help. Stay on the line while I call 1-800-633-4227 which is the Medicare Beneficiary Contact Center."
This lady stayed on the line for ten minutes until the number responded. Then came a heart warming response. A sweet voice said, "We're here to help anytime, day or night. If we lose contact call 1-800-772-1213." This time they understood the needs of this old codger, responded to my dilemma and after getting pertinent data to establish my identity, said that my replacement card would arrive in four weeks.

Answering machines and folks who speak quickly on the telephone are the modern norm. I'm trying to get used to it. And now I will be careful to keep track of my new Medicare card.