ALERT: C-SNAP Password Requirement Changes - Details

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is concerned with protecting the health information of Medicare beneficiaries. As a result, WPS Medicare is required to enhance the password rules for accessing the C-SNAP Website effective December 20, 2009.

Please take the time today to read the new requirements outlined below. We strongly encourage you to act now and change your password in order to comply with the new rules. To change your password, log into the C-SNAP Website and click on left-hand navigation link titled "Update My Account."

The new C-SNAP password requirements are as follows:

Passwords must be 15 - 20 characters in length.
Passwords must contain:
Two upper case alphabetic letters: A - Z
Two lower case alphabetic letters: a - z
Two numeric digits: 0 - 9
Two special characters (only the six listed below are valid):
Pound sign (#)
Dollar sign ($)
Percent sign (%)
Ampersand (&)
Underscore (_)
Hyphen (-)
Passwords must not contain personal information which includes:
First name
Last name
User Login ID
Dictionary words (words consisting of three or more letters)
Passwords automatically expire after 60 days and must be changed.
Newly created passwords must be different than the previous 24 passwords used.
Newly created passwords must differ from the previous password by at least four characters.
Passwords can only be changed once in a 24 hour period.

While the more stringent password requirements may seem challenging, some helpful suggestions to assist you in the creation of your new password are listed below.

Choose a smaller password and repeat it: Qaz123##Qaz123##
Use the $ sign instead of the letter "S": Pa$sw0rdPa$sw0rd
Use the number zero instead of the letter "O": pa$$W0rdpa$$W0rd
Use the number one instead of the letter "I": Wh1te$t#Wh1te$t#

As always, WPS Medicare remains committed to meeting CMS requirements to secure the protected health insurance information of Medicare beneficiaries. We believe you understand and share this same commitment. We strongly encourage you to change your password today to comply with the new guidelines.

Should you require any further assistance, please contact the WPS C-SNAP Technical Support staff at (866) 886-2891.

Page Last Updated: Monday, 14-Dec-2009 14:11:58 CST