What do a U.S. Social Security card and a Medicare card have in common? Both have the cardholder's Social Security number emblazoned on the front in all its 9-digit glory!

The Social Security Administration warns: "Keep your Social Security card in a safe place with your other important papers. Don't carry it with you unless you need to show it to an employer or service provider." But Medicare instructs seniors, "Be sure to carry your card with you when you're away from home." Say what?

Dear Mary: You encouraged me to write in with my question, so here it is: On the back of my Medicare card it says, "Carry your card with you when you are away from home." I am uneasy with that because it has my Social Security number printed right on it.

Doesn't this expose me to identity theft if my wallet or purse were to be lost or stolen? But on the other hand, wouldn't I need it in my possession in the event that I need emergency medical treatment or go to a doctor appointment? — Boe

Dear Boe: You're right! Medicare advises seniors to carry their card at all times, but doing so makes them more vulnerable to identity theft if their wallet or purse were to be lost or stolen. A new Medicare card is coming, one that will no longer display the Social Security number. The agency has been working on it since 2015 (seriously), but as of this writing, no date has been announced for when new cards will be issued. The wheels of government grind slowly.

In the meantime, AARP suggests that Medicare beneficiaries ignore the carry directive and instead carry a photocopy of the card with the first five digits of the Social Security number completely blocked out, leaving only the last 4 digits visible.

While emergency personnel can't refuse to provide care until you show an insurance card, it is true that you'd need to come up with billing information before leaving a hospital or treatment facility.

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Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.