The first rule of avoiding identity theft is: do not carry your Social Security number with you. However, for millions of disabled and elderly Americans, their Medicare health insurance number is their social security number. We have to carry our health insurance number with us in case of emergency. Change Medicare numbers so they are NOT Social Security numbers!
Why is this important?
I'm disabled, and my health insurance is Medicare. I must carry my Medicare card (i.e. Social Security number) with me at all times, which greatly increases my chance of being a victim of identity theft. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should adopt different id numbers.
