YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
By DAVID BROWN

The weather has taken a turn for the better and you might be getting ready for a summer vacation. Maybe you'll be at your home away from home for a month or two. Perhaps you plan to pack your clothes and a few books you've been meaning to read. But don't forget another important item you may need: your Medicare card.

Mr. Brown is District Manager of the Social Security Administration's Downtown New York Office.

If you depend on Medicare for your regular medical services, you might need that card this summer. But what if you can't find your card? What if it's been lost or damaged and you need a new one?

The solution is simple: simply request a replacement Medicare card. And doing it is even simpler - you can request it on-line.

Our on-line Medicare card replacement page is a fast, easy and secure way to get your new Medicare card sent to your home. Just go to our Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov and select "Replace your lost, stolen or damaged Medicare card." The link is on the left side of the page, under "What you can do on-line." Simply fill out the requested information and you'll get your new Medicare card within 30 days; it will be mailed to your address on record. If you need immediate proof of your Medicare coverage, visit your local Social Security office.

If you recently changed your mailing address and haven't notified Social Security of the change, you need to change your address before requesting your replacement Medicare card.

You can report your change of address by using our on-line services as well. Simply go to www.socialsecurity.gov/coa to report a change. You'll need to provide your old address and new address, including ZIP codes. You also need to provide a phone number in case we need to contact you about the change. You'll receive a confirmation notice on your computer screen telling you the effective date of the address change. Be sure to wait until the effective date to request your replacement Medicare card.

You can always rest assured that doing business with Social Security on-line is easy, fast and secure. To learn more about other things you can do on our Web site, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. You're also welcome to call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.