Medicare Blog

what do letters on medicare card mean

by Breanne Schaden Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Some other common letters for Medicare beneficiaries:

  • “A” identifies the primary claimant (wage earner) who has qualified for the benefits.
  • “B” identifies a wife, age 62 or over, whose benefits are related to her husband’s record. ...
  • “D” is a widow and "D1" is a widower, aged 60 or over.
  • "E1" is a surviving divorced mother and "E5" is a surviving divorced father.

HB = wife of disabled worker. HC = child of disabled worker. *J1 = special “over 72” benefit, has A and B. K1 = wife of “over 72” benefit, has A and B. *M = has Part B Medicare only, no SSA benefit.

Full Answer

What is a Medicare letter?

 · What do the Medicare letters mean? 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 do those extra letters on your Medicare card mean?

 · Letter codes following the Social Security number on Medicare cards do not indicate the type of insurance. Letter code “A” is the most prevalent code and denotes a retiree has 40 quarters of work history. Medicare will eventually be changing their claim numbers to use something other than the claimant’s Social Security number.

What are the suffixes for Medicare?

The letter A, B, C, or D following the numerical part of your Medicare number does not refer in any way to Medicare Part A, B, C, or D. Following are descriptions of what the primary letter codes in all Medicare Claim Numbers indicate. Code A “A” at the end of your Medicare number indicates you are a retired wage earner and primary claimant.

How to properly compose Medicare appeal letter and its sample?

 · Following are the meanings of the primary letter codes on every Medicare card. Code “A” “A” means you are a retired wage earner and the primary claimant. Typically, you paid into the Medicare system during your working years over a period of at least 40 quarters. Code “B” “B” alone means you are the wife (62 years or older) of the primary claimant.

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What does the letter B after the Social Security number on a Medicare card mean?

wife's benefits“B” is the symbol the Social Security Administration uses to denote wife's benefits. When you die, your wife will be claiming widow's benefits on your record. And “D” is the symbol SSA uses for widow's benefits.

What does C1 mean at the end of a Medicare number?

Their SSN will be the first nine digits on your Medicare card. When you are the child of a primary claimant, code “C” will appear. Suffixes following “C” indicate your relationship to the primary claimant. “C1” means you are the first child, “C2” means you are the second child and so forth.

What are the letters after the Medicare number?

“A” identifies the primary claimant (wage earner) who has qualified for the benefits. “B” identifies a wife, age 62 or over, whose benefits are related to her husband's record. Adding a 1 (B1) identifies a husband receiving benefits based on the wife's record. “D” is a widow and "D1" is a widower, aged 60 or over.

What does the M at the end of a Medicare number mean?

*M = has Part B Medicare only, no SSA benefit. *T = has A and B Medicare, no SSA benefit. W = disabled widow. WA = railroad retirement.

How do I read my Medicare card number?

The IRN appears to the left of the patient's name on their Medicare card. This is not a unique identifier. 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.

What does the letter mean after my Social Security number?

The letters at the end of a SSN indicate the claim number for a SSI or Social Security beneficiary. Per the SSA: "If you are an SSI beneficiary, your claim number is your nine-digit Social Security Number (SSN) (000-00-0000) followed by two letters such as EI, DI, DS, DC.

What is Medicare Part B ID number?

Your Medicare identification number is located on your red, white, and blue Medicare card. Additionally, paperwork and documentation from the Social Security Administration and Medicare shows the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.

What does the letter code A mean on Medicare?

Rick’s Tips: Letter codes following the Social Security number on Medicare cards do not indicate the type of insurance. Letter code “A” is the most prevalent code and denotes a retiree has 40 quarters of work history. Medicare will eventually be changing their claim numbers to use something other than the claimant’s Social Security number.

How many letters are there in Medicare?

In all, there are 12 letters that may follow the numerical part of the number. A letter code can be followed by additional number suffix letters. Letter code “A” is the most prevalent code. It denotes a primary claimant who is retired and has paid into the Medicare system as a wage earner for at least 40 quarters.

What does HB mean in Medicare?

HB means you are the wife of a disabled claimant. HC means you are the child of a disabled claimant. Codes J & K – these categories are for workers and spouses respec­tively who become eligible for special Medicare benefits without drawing Social Security.

How long does Medicare have to issue new cards?

Medicare has four years to start issuing cards with new identi­fiers. The details have yet to be worked out but it is generally believed that Medicare will replace the Social Security number with a randomly generated benefi­ciary identi­fi­cation number.

What is Medicare number?

Your Medicare number (also called Medicare Claim Number) is usually your Social Security number followed by a code. The code may only appear on your Medicare card but it is assigned by the Social Security Admin­is­tration to identify the category you qualify under to claim benefits. The number portion could be your spouse’s Social Security number ...

Will Medicare replace Social Security numbers?

The details have yet to be worked out but it is generally believed that Medicare will replace the Social Security number with a randomly generated benefi­ciary identi­fi­cation number. Changing numbers is a huge under­taking and has not been a priority due to the imple­men­tation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

What is Medicare Part A code M1?

Code M – is used for someone who is enrolled in Medicare Part B but is not yet eligible for Medicare Part A coverage. M1 indicates you are enrolled in Part B and are also eligible for coverage under Medicare Part A but have refused Part A coverage. Code T – indicates the retiree is eligible for Medicare Part A benefits but not eligible ...

How many letters are there in Medicare?

In all, there are 12 letters that may follow the numerical part of a Medicare Claim Number. Another number can follow most of those 12 Medicare number suffix letters. Besides the letter A, which indicates you are a primary claimant who has paid into the Medicare system as a wage earner, there are 33 other common codes that appear at the end ...

What does the A on Medicare number mean?

“A” at the end of your Medicare number indicates you are a retired wage earner and primary claimant. The numerical part of your Medicare number matches your Social Security Number.

Where is the Medicare claim number located?

Some Medicare recipients, however, are confused about letter coding appearing at the end of a Medicare number, or Medicare Claim Number, which is located on the front of every Medicare card right under the name of the beneficiary. Most people will recognize the numerical part of their Medicare number immediately.

How many digits should be in a Medicare claim?

The first nine digits of a Medicare Claim Number should match the nine digits of the cardholder’s Social Security Number or, often, the nine digits of the cardholder’s spouse’s, parent’s, or child’s Social Security Number. Whether the nine digits of your Medicare number match your Social Security Number or another person’s Social Security Number ...

What does the suffix A mean on Medicare?

Besides the letter A, which indicates you are a primary claimant who has paid into the Medicare system as a wage earner, there are 33 other common codes that appear at the end of Medicare Claim Numbers to identify the nature of eligibility.

What is the front of a Medicare card?

The front of your Medicare card indicates whether you are enrolled in Part A and/or Part B under the heading “IS ENTITLED TO.”. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan or Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan, that information appears on a separate card and not on your Medicare card.

Does Medicare Part C have a D?

If you are enrolled in a Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) plan or Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan, that information appears on a separate card and not on your Medicare card. The letter A, B, C, or D following the numerical part of your Medicare number does not refer in any way to Medicare Part A, B, C, or D.

What does "A" mean in Medicare?

“A” means you are a retired wage earner and the primary claimant. Typically, you paid into the Medicare system during your working years over a period of at least 40 quarters.

What is the suffix C in Medicare?

“C” indicates you are the child of a primary claimant. Numerical suffixes following “C” indicate which child you are in relation to the primary claimant. If you are the first child, your suffix is C1; if you are the second child, your suffix is C2; if you are the third child, your suffix is C3; and so on. In all, numerical suffixes following C go all the way to number 9, depending on the order of birth of siblings. If your suffix code is anything in the “C” category, your primary claimant parent’s Social Security Number, and not your own, will constitute the first nine numbers of your Medicare Claim Number.

What does E mean in Social Security?

“E” alone indicates you are the widowed mother of a primary claimant. Other suffixes in the “E” category include E1 for the surviving divorced mother of a primary claimant; E2 for the second widowed mother of a primary claimant; E3 for the second divorced mother of the primary claimant; E4 for the primary claimant’s widowed father; and E5 for the primary claimant’s surviving divorced father. “E” may be a particularly complicated category given these convoluted variations. In all cases, the primary claimant’s Social Security Number will constitute the first nine digits of a Code “E” claimant’s Medicare number.

What does the suffix "E" mean in a claim?

“E” alone indicates you are the widowed mother of a primary claimant. Other suffixes in the “E” category include E1 for the surviving divorced mother of a primary claimant; E2 for the second widowed mother of a primary claimant; E3 for the second divorced mother of the primary claimant; E4 for the primary claimant’s widowed father; and E5 for the primary claimant’s surviving divorced father. “E” may be a particularly complicated category given these convoluted variations. In all cases, the primary claimant’s Social Security Number will constitute the first nine digits of a Code “E” claimant’s Medicare number.

What is the letter for Medicare?

Some other common letters for Medicare beneficiaries: “A” identifies the primary claimant (wage earner) who has qualified for the benefits. “B” identifies a wife, age 62 or over, whose benefits are related to her husband’s record. Adding a 1 (B1) identifies a husband receiving benefits based on the wife’s record.

How many numbers are in Medicare card?

The nine numerals in your Medicare number identify the Social Security record serving as the basis of Medicare. The letter or letters following that number describe the relationship between the person with that record and the person whose name is on the card.

Do Medicare beneficiaries have to show their card?

Remember, beneficiaries who have elected Medicare Advantage have Medicare cards and numbers. However, when receiving healthcare services or prescription medications, they must show their subscriber or identification card, not the Medicare card.

Do you have to show your Medicare card when receiving a prescription?

However, when receiving healthcare services or prescription medications, they must show their subscriber or identification card, not the Medicare card. Important: This information applies to existing Medicare beneficiaries whose cards still have Social Security numbers.

What does "T" mean in Medicare?

According to Social Security’s code list, “T” means the person has elected to receive only health insurance benefits (no Social Security) and is entitled to Medicare Part A under deemed or real provisions or fully insured.

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