Medicare Blog

in medicare what does the letters hicn stand for

by Charlie Pacocha Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Full Answer

What is a hicn number for Medicare?

Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN)—This is the number used by Social Security and Medicare to identify a beneficiary. Social Security is responsible for all eligibility assignment and enrollment into Medicare while Medicare is responsible for oversight and fulfillment of the health benefits.

What is the difference between a Medicare HIC and RRB number?

Both CMS and the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) issue Medicare HIC numbers. The format of a HIC number issued by CMS is a Social Security number followed by an alpha or alphanumeric Beneficiary Identification Code (BIC). RRB numbers issued before 1964 are six-digit numbers preceded by an alpha character.

What does a hicn number look like?

The HICN may look similar to a beneficiary’s social security number, or that of their spouse or parent or child. This number shows the relationship of the recipient to that of the qualifying individual. For a beneficiary qualifying under their own work history status, the HICN will show their SSN and have a suffix of the letter “A”.

What is the 11th position on a hicn number?

If there is an eleventh position, it may be either a letter or number e.g. 123-45-6789A or 987-65-4321D4. The HICN issued by the RRB, may contain either 6 or 9 digit numbers with up to a 3-position letter prefix e.g., A123456 or MA123-45-6789.

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What is Hicn on Medicare card?

Slide 1. The Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) is a Medicare beneficiary's identification number, used for paying claims and for determining eligibility for services across multiple entities (e.g. Social Security Administration (SSA), Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), States, Medicare providers and health plans, etc. ...

Is Hicn same as Medicare number?

A HIC number (HICN) is a Medicare beneficiary's identification number. Also, remember when billing, ALWAYS use the name as it appears on the patient's Medicare card. Both CMS and the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) issue Medicare HIC numbers.

What is the difference between MBI and Hicn?

The MBI has 11 characters, like the Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), which can have up to 11. Will the MBI's characters have any meaning? Each MBI is randomly generated. This makes MBIs different than HICNs, which are based on the Social Security Numbers (SSNs) of people with Medicare.

Where do I find the Hicn?

HICN will be shown in the beneficiary's insurance card and it is on the basis of this number that a beneficiary's medicare claims are processed. HICN is comprised of two parts namely claim account number (CAN) and beneficiary identification code number (BIC).

What does a Hicn look like?

Health Insurance Claims Numbers (HICNs) The HICN issued by the RRB, may contain either 6 or 9 digit numbers with up to a 3-position letter prefix e.g., A123456 or MA123-45-6789. If a beneficiary's entitlement changes, it is possible for the 9-digit number, the prefix, the suffix or all three to change.

When did Hicn change to MBI?

The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) required CMS to remove Social Security numbers (SSN) from all Medicare cards by April 2019. CMS replaced the HICN with a new, randomly generated MBI.

When did Medicare stop using Social Security numbers?

April 2019With the increased risk of identity theft posed by the use of Social Security numbers (SSNs) on Medicare cards, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, mandating the removal of SSNs from all Medicare cards by April 2019.

What does BNC number stand for?

Beneficiary Notice CodeA BNC number is a Beneficiary Notice Code used by the Social Security Administration to identify documents and notices. Learn more about BNC codes and other numbers related to Social Security and Medicare.

When did MBI numbers start?

August 19, 2019 We reissued this article to show that all new Medicare cards have been mailed, to encourage providers to use MBIs now to protect patients' identities, to emphasize that providers must use MBIs beginning January 1, 2020, and to explain the rejection codes providers will get if they submit a HICN after ...

Does Medicare ask for social security number?

Medicare plans and people who represent them can't do any of these things: Ask for your Social Security Number, bank account number, or credit card information unless it's needed to verify membership, determine enrollment eligibility, or process an enrollment request.

Why is my Medicare number the same as my Social Security number?

Social Security Numbers Continue to be used for Medicare ID purposes. While the letter codes do not appear on your Social Security card, they are used on your Medicare card. Your Medicare claim number is the Social Security number of the primary wage earner on which benefits are based, plus your appropriate letter code ...

Does Medicare use Social Security numbers?

Instead of your Social Security Number (SSN), your new Medicare card will include a new number unique to you. This will help to protect you against identity theft and protect Medicare from fraud. Medicare will automatically mail your new card to the address you have on file with Social Security.

What is a HICN number?

Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN)—This is the number used by Social Security and Medicare to identify a beneficiary. Social Security is responsible for all eligibility assignment and enrollment into Medicare while Medicare is responsible for oversight and fulfillment of the health benefits. The HICN may look similar to a beneficiary’s social ...

How many letters are there on a Medicare card?

There are more than 30 different letters that could be used for various reasons. A new recipient may have a “T” until his benefit is activated at the initial enrollment. When completing an enrollment form, always list the number as it is shown on the Medicare ID card even if you know the number will be changing.

What is the suffix for child benefits?

For a spouse, it will have a suffix letter “B” and for a child it will have a suffix letter of “C”. Both spousal and child benefits could be provided to more than one recipient so in that case the suffix letter will be followed by a number such as: (B2) or (C3).

What is a HIC number?

A HIC number (HICN) is a Medicare beneficiary’s identification number. Also, remember when billing, ALWAYS use the name as it appears on the patient's Medicare card. Both CMS and the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) issue Medicare HIC numbers.

What is the format of a HIC number?

The format of a HIC number issued by CMS is a Social Security number followed by an alpha or alphanumeric Beneficiary Identification Code (BIC). RRB numbers issued before 1964 are six-digit numbers preceded by an alpha character.

What is a 9 digit HICN?

All HICNs issued by SSA are 9-digit numbers with at least one letter suffix (called a beneficiary identification code or BIC) in the tenth position. If there is an eleventh position, it may be either a letter or number e.g. 123-45-6789A or 987-65-4321D4. The HICN issued by the RRB, may contain either 6 or 9 digit numbers with up to a 3-position letter prefix e.g., A123456 or MA123-45-6789. If a beneficiary’s entitlement changes, it is possible for the 9-digit number, the prefix, the suffix or all three to change. It is also possible to go from an SSA issued HICN to a RRB HICN or vise versa. The numeric portion of a 9-digit HICN consists of a Social Security Number (SSN). If the BIC is A, T, TA, M, M1, J1, J2, J3, J4 or the RRB prefix is A or H the number is the beneficiary’s own SSN. If the BIC or RRB prefix is other than one of the above, the SSN belongs to a number holder and the beneficiary is entitled as an auxiliary or survivor on that SSN.

What is the correct HIC number?

HIC Format – A correct HIC number consists of 9 numbers immediately followed by an alpha suffix. Take special care when entering the HIC number for members of the same family who are Medicare beneficiaries. A husband and wife may have a HIC number that share the same Social Security numerics.

What is a HIC?

A HIC is sometimes called a HICAN or HICBIC. It has recently been replaced with a randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, or MBI, which serve s the same purpose. Advertisement.

What is a HIC card?

Medicare beneficiaries used to receive a plastic Medicare card with a Health Insurance Claims, HIC, number. The HIC number identifies the Medicare beneficiary in the Medicare system, allowing for the smooth processing of claims and ensuring benefits are routed to the correct places. A HIC is sometimes called a HICAN or HICBIC.

What is Medicare insurance?

Definition of Medicare. Medicare is a health insurance program that is a combination of public funds and private health care providers. Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services. There are two parts to the Medicare Program: Part A, hospital insurance, and Part B, ...

Is Medicare removing Social Security numbers?

The Move to MBIs. To fight medical identity theft, Medicare is removing social security numbers from all Medicare cards. As a result, the HIC is being phased out and replaced with a new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier on cards for the purpose of eligibility, claims and billing.

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