Follow up if you haven’t received Medicare card yet

Question: Have all the new Medicare cards been mailed to Hawaii residents?

Answer: Yes. You are one of several Kokua Line readers who have called or emailed wondering where your new card is, and what to do if it never arrives, so we sought an update from Jack Cheevers, a San Francisco-based spokesman for the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Here is his response:

“Yes, Medicare has finished mailing new cards to Hawaii beneficiaries. If someone didn’t get their new card, here’s what to do:

“Remember that your new Medicare card will come in a plain white envelope from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“If the card didn’t arrive, call us at 1-800-MEDICARE. Our call center representatives can check the status and help you get your new card.

“In the meantime, use your current Medicare card to get health care services.”

The Hawaii mailing wrapped up in July, said Cheevers. Newly enrolled Medicare beneficiaries received the cards first (beginning in April), followed by existing beneficiaries, whose new cards were mailed starting on May 29.

CMS is issuing new cards on a rolling schedule across the country. “The new Medicare cards no longer contain a person’s Social Security number, but rather a unique, randomly-assigned Medicare number that protects the identities of people with Medicare, reduces fraud, and offers better safeguards of important health and financial information,” according to the agency.

Q: In Hawaii during the primary election a voter is forced to choose a party. Is this a nationwide occurrence? Or does each state decide on the format of the vote?

A: “The manner in which party primary elections are conducted varies widely from state to state,” according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, which categorizes state primaries as either closed, partially closed, partially open, open to unaffiliated voters, open or top-two.

Hawaii is among 15 states with open primaries, meaning that a voter may choose privately in which primary to vote; which ballot a voter pulls is not registered with the political party. “This permits a voter to cast a vote across party lines for the primary election. Critics argue that the open primary dilutes the parties’ ability to nominate. Supporters say this system gives voters maximal flexibility — allowing them to cross party lines — and maintains their privacy,” the NCSL explains on its website.

Nationally, open primaries are the most common. Nine states have closed primaries, seven have partially closed, six have partially open and nine are open to unaffiliated voters. Only four use the top-two format, which you may prefer. That format lists all primary candidates on a common ballot. The top two vote-getters in each race advance to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

Read more about the types of state primaries at 808ne.ws/primtype.

Hawaii’s primary election officially is Aug. 11, although early voting is underway by mail and at walk-in locations around the state.

Mahalo

Mahalo to the gentleman who made room on the bench in front of Straub Medical Center. He had bandages on his knees. I was almost ready to pass out while my son was getting me a wheelchair to take me to my doctor’s appointment on the second floor. To the gentleman I say: that was most kind of you. — Sincerely, a senior

Mahalo

Mahalo to the businesses that clearly post a sign to inform patrons “no pets — service dogs only.” This situation of non-service animals in stores, restaurants, malls, etc. has gotten out of hand. Kudos to businesses and pet owners that follow the laws. — P.K.

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