Your Medicare Card

QuickSilver said:
So theroretically... someone could run up hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt in the US.. and move to Scottland and never be asked to repay it? Never have a judgement issued against them.. and never have their SS checks held in payment? wow.. that's a pretty good deal.
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Pretty much so, though. It is almost impossible to collect a judgment against someone in a foreign country. AND, your social security check can only be garnished for a very few things -- like child support and spousal support.
 

I somehow never thought that this thread would stretch to over 100 comments, but I can see where safety strategies for women alone on the street is an important topic that deserves more than ilde comment.
 

Josiah09 said:
I somehow never thought that this thread would stretch to over 100 comments, but I can see where safety strategies for women alone on the street is an important topic that deserves more than ilde comment.
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I never expected it either.. I just had a question about the wisdom of carrying your SS and Medicare card on your person. BUT of course there are things everyone can do to keep safe regarding theft out on the street. My only comment was why have something like this on you when you don't have to. If someone demanded my purse, watch or rings.. I would hand them over and pray that was all he wanted of me and would leave with his take. I'm not going to put up a fight for my purse. My life would be a different story.
 
QuickSilver said:
I don't think it's that easy... but I don't know. I find it hard to believe that someone can do that without any repercussion.
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Nevertheless, it is true. It is next to impossible to enforce a foreign judgment in the US, also. Different countries do not generally accept the judgment of foreign courts as valid in their countries. I'm talking about civil money judgments here, not criminal extradition issues. Whole 'nother animal.

I don't know about the "any repercussion" part -- for instance an American money judgment could keep a foreign national or American living abroad from getting a US credit card, but that again is wholly different from actually being able to collect on a US judgment in a foreign country.
 
Butterfly said:
Nevertheless, it is true. It is next to impossible to enforce a foreign judgment in the US, also. Different countries do not generally accept the judgment of foreign courts as valid in their countries. I'm talking about civil money judgments here, not criminal extradition issues. Whole 'nother animal.

I don't know about the "any repercussion" part -- for instance an American money judgment could keep a foreign national or American living abroad from getting a US credit card, but that again is wholly different from actually being able to collect on a US judgment in a foreign country.
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I think if someone had 100's of thousands in unpaid debt it could be seen as fraud, and there might be repercussions.

When I moved to the UK my US credit report was useless. My credit history did not count at all in UK. I couldn't even open a bank account on my own. Don't know what I would have done if I'd moved alone.
 
I laminated my card as soon as I got it. Hope that is OK. That card is supposed to last the rest of my life. Just having it in a wallet would wear it out in a year. Should I have made a copy instead?
 
Maybe we should do as the men and young female do - don't carry wallet or purse- put it in pants pockets. I do this to go for appmts, shopping, eating out, movies. So I carry a purse for dress up purposes only. Is there any other females do this? Also, I have emergency info in glove compartment of car. My ss number is not on this ,but I know any devious person could probably obtain it.
 
Haven't used my medicare card in years. They only need my insurance card. I carry my D License, and cr card in pocket with phone, keys and a tissue. Only use a hand bag for dressup outings.
 
charlotta said:
Haven't used my medicare card in years. They only need my insurance card. I carry my D License, and cr card in pocket with phone, keys and a tissue. Only use a hand bag for dressup outings.
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I never carry mine... and never will... I know that every hospital has the ability to check an online site for Medicare coverage... If I have to see a new doctor, I can pull my card out of the file drawer for that innitial visit. My regular doctor never asks to see the card.. Why temp fate having it lost of stolen?
 
Like I've already stated, I carry my Medicare card, SS card, health membership cards, a couple of credit cards, bank card and a little cash. My wife will carry her Medicare card when she gets it. She already carries her SS card, bank card and few credit cards and a little cash.

Not to be against anyone who doesn't want to carry these cards, but we simply don't/won't worry everyday about what might happen. We are cautious, but that is it. I lost my wallet once, some 10 years ago. Got a new SS card, DL and whatever else I needed to replace in my wallet. From checking our bank, nobody found my wallet and tried using anything in it.

Just a few too many other things to worry about at our age..........a big one is our HEALTH!
 
Nobody is asking for "trouble".......we simply don't worry about it as much as some do. If something is going to happen, it will happen. Believe me, we are cautious about a number of things, but when asked for my Medicare card, SS card or other medical cards, I want to have them with me so I don't have to go back home for them. I got asked for all of this when I registered at PACE for my RC surgery. If I wouldn't have had one of them, they wouldn't have registered me and I'd have to make a return trip. Nope, no thanks.

QuickSilver said:
Why ask for trouble?
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I think us "older" folks do need to be cautious, but sensible about it. I mean, all of us Senior Forum members are on this forum, and the computer period, so that means some things in our lives sure aren't being hidden from both "good and bad" folks! While some don't, a number of us, including wife and I, go on our bank account online and check it out. Some of us also have a User Name and Password to get on to different things online. I have that for the VA website and other websites. If you have an ISP, which all of us do being online, they have certain info about us. If you have a cell phone, and a contract with a cell phone provider, that company has info about you.

Ok, that's enough. I think I've got my point across.
 
If I knew I were going in for some sort of surgery.. I would bring the card with.... THEN afterward.. I would tuck it back safely away in the locked safe.. If I were rushed to a hospital in an emergency... one of two things would happen... My family would have to bring in the card the next day, OR... the hospital would look up my medicare eligibility on the computer.. They would not put me out in the parking lot.. that would be illegal
 
Ok, you are absolutely right! Not going to argue about this anymore, but wife and I will continue to carry ours.

QuickSilver said:
If I knew I were going in for some sort of surgery.. I would bring the card with.... THEN afterward.. I would tuck it back safely away in the locked safe.. If I were rushed to a hospital in an emergency... one of two things would happen... My family would have to bring in the card the next day, OR... the hospital would look up my medicare eligibility on the computer.. They would not put me out in the parking lot.. that would be illegal
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kcvet said:
unless you go to a doctors office and they ask for it. and they always do
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I hadn't thought of that, but it's true. Some offices require presentation of insurance cards every time you go in. And certainly hospitals/ambulances/etc. would need M/C information.

Seems like more than a "bit" of between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place!
 
Rocky said:
I hadn't thought of that, but it's true. Some offices require presentation of insurance cards every time you go in. And certainly hospitals/ambulances/etc. would need M/C information.

Seems like more than a "bit" of between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place!
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It's like the requirement to carry registration and insurance papers in the car, crook breaks into car, he now has your address and maybe your garage remote as well.
 
Got that RIGHT, but some folks just won't listen and that's fine also. Yes, it's said to "protect" things like this, BUT, if you don't have them on you and they are required a person is definitely out of luck.

Rocky said:
I hadn't thought of that, but it's true. Some offices require presentation of insurance cards every time you go in. And certainly hospitals/ambulances/etc. would need M/C information.

Seems like more than a "bit" of between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place!
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Yep, another RIGHT reply! Lord I love people who agree with me........LOL

AZ Jim said:
It's like the requirement to carry registration and insurance papers in the car, crook breaks into car, he now has your address and maybe your garage remote as well.
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I am on a Medicare Advantage plan, I use my insurance company card. I haven't carried my Medicare card in years. When I have needed medical treatment out of town, they took care of me.
 
Truth of the matter be known.. you don't even need your medicare card in a hospital.. All hospitals subscribe to a government website to be able to check Medicare eligibility and always do so when a patient is admitted. We have NH patients transferred in all the time without cards.. and we check on line for their Medicare status and number.
 

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