A recent caller took Clark to task for telling seniors not to carry their Social Security cards around. This disgruntled listener complained that seniors have to carry their Medicare cards, which contain their Social Security numbers.

For the record, Clark believes seniors shouldn't routinely carry their Medicare cards -- unless they know they have a doctor's appointment on a given day.

Years ago, the government ordered private insurers to start using MRNs (medical record numbers) instead of Social Security numbers to minimize the risk of ID theft. The insurers kicked and screamed, but they ultimately complied.

Now, behind the scenes, the government is trying to force Medicare to do the same. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the Social Security Administration itself is trying to pressure Medicare -- and they're not complying.

Seniors are prime targets for ID thieves because they're the ones with all the assets. 31 states have laws that prohibit or restrict the display of your Social Security number. Why don't the arrogant folks at Medicare care? Why must they aid and abet the ID thieves?