
How many characters are there in a Medicare number?
The Medicare number displayed on Medicare cards (known as an MBI, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier) is 11 characters long: The 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th characters are always a letter, and the 3rd and 6th characters are sometimes a letter. All other characters will be numbers, and the letters S, L, O, I, B and Z will never be used.
How long is a Medicare number on a card?
The Medicare number displayed on Medicare cards (known as an MBI, or Medicare Beneficiary Identifier) is 11 characters long: The 2nd, 5th, 8th and 9th characters are always a letter, and the 3rd and 6th characters are sometimes a letter.
What are the 4 letters on a Medicare card?
The four different parts of Medicare are each identified by a letter: A, B, C and D. The number displayed on your Medicare card, however, is known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier and is randomly generated for you. What is the meaning of these Medicare letters?
Who can I give my new Medicare number to?
3.uard your card: GOnly give your new Medicare Number to doctors, pharmacists, other health care providers, your insurers, or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf. 4.our Medicare Number is unique: YYour card has a new number instead of your Social Security Number. This new number is unique to you.

How many digits is the new Medicare ID?
11 charactersHow many characters will the MBI have? The MBI has 11 characters, like the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), which can have up to 11.
What do the new Medicare ID numbers look like?
On a Medicare card, an MBI will appear similar to this: 1EG4-TE5-MK73. The second, fifth, eighth, and ninth characters are always letters while the first, fourth, seventh, tenth, and eleventh characters are always numbers. You can visit cms.gov for more information on the format of an MBI.
How many numbers are on your Medicare card?
10 digitYour 10 digit Medicare Card Number.
Do the new Medicare numbers have zeros?
The only difference is the “Medicare number,” which is unique to you and is a combination of 11 letters and numbers. According to the Medicare.gov website, your new number uses numbers zero through nine. Another interesting tidbit: the letters B, I, L, O, S and Z are never used.
Do Medicare numbers start with a letter or number?
What kinds of characters are in the MBI? MBIs are numbers and upper-case letters. We use numbers 1-9 and all letters from A to Z, except for S, L, O, I, B, and Z. If you use lowercase letters, our system will convert them to uppercase letters.
What letters are not used in the new Medicare cards?
The new Medicare card format is actually designed to cut down on confusion, which is why your MBI will not include the letters S, L, O, I, B, or Z, as they can easy to be confused with numbers 5, 1, 0, 1, 8, and 2.
How many digits is an Australian Medicare card?
10 digitThis identifier profile defines a Medicare card number in an Australian context. This definition supports sending either the 10 digit Medicare card number or the 11 digit number (includes the individual reference number (IRN)).
Is Medicare number 11 digits?
When entering Medicare Numbers on the Claim form, please ensure the numbers are correct and there are 11 digits in total with no spaces.
What is the last digit on Medicare card?
While your Individual Reference Number is the number to the left of your name on your card, your Medicare Card Number is the 10 digit number that appears above your name, across the top section of the card. When providing your number, you must include the last digit.
When did New Medicare ID numbers change?
You asked, and we listened. You're getting a new Medicare card! Between April 2018 and April 2019, we'll be removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards and mailing each person a new card. This will help keep your information more secure and help protect your identity.
What do the letters mean on your Medicare card?
All “F” codes are followed by a number to signify the relationship. Code H — indicates Medicare eligibility due to disability. HA means you are a disabled claimant. HB means you are the wife of a disabled claimant. HC means you are the child of a disabled claimant.
Why was the original Medicare card modified?
The original card was modified to make it more secure and to protect the identity of all Medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent use. The initial transition period that took place from 2018 to 2019 provided scammers with a perfect opportunity to get personal information, and even money, from unsuspecting Medicare enrollees.
What is the Medicare beneficiary identifier?
Your new card uses a unique number called your Medicare beneficiary identifier (MBI). This identifier is a combination of letters and numbers. You use this number whenever you visit a health care provider, hospital, or other medical facility. The information that is printed on the face of your new card is: your full name, your MBI, ...
When will Medicare cards be sent out?
New Medicare cards are sent out three months before the month of a person’s 65th birthday. If you are waiting to get your Medicare benefits card but have not received it before your 65th birthday, be sure to contact your local Social Security Administration office or call a local CMS office.
Protect your Medicare Number like a credit card
Only give personal information, like your Medicare Number, to health care providers, your insurance companies or health plans (and their licensed agents or brokers), or people you trust that work with Medicare, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) A state program that gets money from the federal government to give free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare. ..
Carrying your card
You’ll need the information on your Medicare card to join a Medicare health or drug plan or buy Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) An insurance policy you can buy to help lower your share of certain costs for Part A and Part B services (Original Medicare). so keep your Medicare card in a safe place.
How do you get another Medicare card?
My card is lost or damaged — Log into (or create) your Medicare account to print an official copy of your Medicare card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to order a replacement card. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
