Social Security Theft Risk for ID Card in Medicare

Medicare continues to use social security numbers on ID cards, and yet Social Security sees this as an issue for potential identity theft.  The private insurers have banned the use of social security numbers for quite a few years now.  Is it privacy issues or the cost of issuing new cards at the crux of the matter here.  We all know the social security number is perhaps the grand daddy of all when it comes to being linked to confidential information, even the IRS uses the number for tax payer identify as well.  Can the 2 government agencies come together on this?  BD

WASHINGTON — Social Security officials, concerned about the risk of identity theft, are calling for immediate action to remove Social Security numbers from the Medicare cards used by millions of Americans.

But Medicare officials have resisted the proposal, saying it would be costly and impractical.In a new report, the inspector general of Social Security, Patrick P. O’Carroll Jr., says “immediate action is needed.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/washington/22medicare.html?_r=1&oref=slogin