Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (TX-03), who reintroduced his Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act earlier this year, released the following statement after the Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 1021, which included Johnson’s measure:

“Our seniors are some of the most vulnerable targets for identity theft, and there are some very common-sense solutions we can take to help them!  One of the easiest ways we can do this is by removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards once and for all – and that’s exactly what my Medicare Identity Theft Prevention Act does. 

“You see, the Social Security number is the key to identity theft and the thieves know that.  Well here’s the problem:  seniors’ Medicare cards include their Social Security numbers.  And while Americans are told not to carry their Social Security cards in order to protect their identities in case their wallet is lost or stolen, at the same time seniors are told they must carry their Medicare cards!  This makes no sense, and it puts Medicare beneficiaries – including Collin County’s over 80,000 beneficiaries I represent – at risk!

“This is a problem that has gone on for far too long.  Our seniors want, need, and deserve this common-sense consumer protection.”

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