The
VA ID cards issued to veterans when they enroll in the VA health care system
contain their Social Security numbers embedded in the bar code. The code
can be read by many bar code readers.
The
VA has known about this security problem for quite some time. See: https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/access/veteran_identification_card.asp
The
VFW has learned that the VA will begin mailing veterans new cards
beginning in January or February 2014. It is not known how long it will
take to mail new cards to the millions of veterans who are currently enrolled
in the VA health care system.
Until
a new card is received, veterans should protect their VA ID card and only use
it when attending an appointment at VA medical facilities. Once the new
card is received, veterans are advised to destroy the old card by shredding or
cutting it up (cutting between the lines of the bar code, not through them).