Medicare Blog

what do the letter withthe medicare number mean

by Lauryn Hickle Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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.Jun 25, 2018

What do the letters after a Medicare number mean?

The most common letter at the end of a Medicare number is “A”. If you have the letter “A” at the end of your Medicare Number this means you have worked and paid into Social Security for at least 10 years to be entitled to receive Medicare. Government employees will see a “TA”. Disabled individuals will see a “HA” after their Medicare Number.

What are some of the letters following a Medicare number?

Other Medicare suffixes in the “W” category include:

  • WI for a primary claimant’s disabled widower
  • W2 for a second widow
  • W3 for a second widower
  • W6 for a surviving disabled second wife
  • W7 for a second disabled surviving second wife

How to find your Medicare number easily?

Just the essentials...

  • Your Medicare number, also known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), contains eleven random letters and numbers. ...
  • You can also find it on paperwork you receive from the Social Security Administration. ...
  • Formerly, the Medicare number consisted of a person’s Social Security Number along with an identifying letter at the end. ...

More items...

How do you verify a Medicare number?

Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Lookup through Novitasphere. Effective January 1, 2020, all claims and eligibility inquiries submitted to Medicare must use the new Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). If your patients are unable to provide you with their updated card, the MBI Lookup tool is available in Novitasphere, our free, secure internet portal!

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What does the letter mean at the end of Medicare number?

After the numerical sequence, there will be a letter or a letter followed by another number. These codes indicate Medicare eligibility. For example, assume you are the wife (62 years or older) of the primary claimant, and your husband's SSN is 555-55-5555. Your Medicare number would be 555-55-5555-B.

What do all the Medicare letters mean?

There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D. Part A provides inpatient/hospital coverage. Part B provides outpatient/medical coverage. Part C offers an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits (see below for more information). Part D provides prescription drug coverage.

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

wifeThe Medicare people simply use the Social Security claim number as your Medicare number. Currently, your wife is claiming benefits on your account. “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.

Why am I getting letters about Medicare?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) mails letters each spring to people who might be able to save money on Medicare costs. Get help from a local Medicare or benefits counselor to see whether you're eligible for these cost savings.

What is the difference between Medicare A and B?

Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B are two aspects of healthcare coverage the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide. Part A is hospital coverage, while Part B is more for doctor's visits and other aspects of outpatient medical care.

What is plan B Medicare?

Medicare Part B helps cover medically-necessary services like doctors' services and tests, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services. Look at your Medicare card to find out if you have Part B.

What does B mean after Social Security number?

Aged wife, age 62 or overB. Aged wife, age 62 or over. B1. Aged husband, age 62 or over.

Do you automatically receive a Medicare card when you turn 65?

You should receive your Medicare card in the mail three months before your 65th birthday. If you are NOT receiving benefits from Social Security or the RRB at least four months before you turn 65, you will need to sign up with Social Security to get Parts A and B.

Does Social Security automatically enroll you in Medicare?

Yes. If you are receiving benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically sign you up at age 65 for parts A and B of Medicare. (Medicare is operated by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, but Social Security handles enrollment.)

What is the purple letter from Medicare?

Medicare will mail you a purple letter to let you know you automatically qualify for Extra Help. Keep this for your records. You don't need to apply for Extra Help if you get this letter. If you don't already have Medicare drug coverage, you must get it to use this Extra Help.

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 the letters on my Medicare card mean?

What do the letters on your Medicare card mean? 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, ...

What is Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Medicare Supplement Insurance, also called Medigap, uses a letter system to identify its plans. Medicare Supplement Insurance is used in conjunction with Part A and Part B of Medicare to provide coverage for certain out-of-pocket expenses like some Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.

How many Medicare Supplement Plans are there?

There are 10 Medicare Supplement Plans to choose from, identified by letters: Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N. Note that Medigap coverage options are referred to as “plan” (e.g., Medigap Plan A) as opposed to “part” (Medicare Part A hospital insurance).

What is Medicare Part B?

Medicare Part B is medical insurance and provides coverage for outpatient doctor’s appointments and medical devices. Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, provides coverage for everything found in Part A and Part B through one plan provided by a private insurer.

How many parts of Medicare are there?

The four different parts of Medicare are each identified by a letter.

What is the meaning of MBI?

All other characters will be numbers, and the letters S, L, O, I, B and Z will never be used. The MBI is randomly generated and is “non-intelligent,” which means it contains no hidden or special meaning and is therefore more difficult for someone to use to steal your identity or commit fraud.

What is the C code for Medicare?

Code C – this category applies to child Medicare benefi­ciaries. Numerical suffixes following “C” indicate the child’s relationship to the primary claimant. The youngest child gets code C1, the next youngest gets C2, and so on through C9 and then from CA to CZ.

What does the number portion of a spouse's Social Security number mean?

The number portion could be your spouse’s Social Security number to indicate you qualify for benefits because of your relationship to them. The nature of your eligi­bility is then indicated by the letter code that follows.

What is a J and K code?

Codes J & K – these categories are for workers and spouses respec­tively who become eligible for special Medicare benefits without drawing Social Security. Varying codes apply depending on whether the worker has enough quarters of employment to earn Part A coverage or if they have to pay for it separately.

What is a W1 card?

W is for widows and W1 is for widowers, while those who’ve been previ­ously married may have different W‑category codes. Most retiree’s Medicare cards currently begin with their Social Security number, which is the most valuable piece of infor­mation for an identity thief.

What is the code for widows?

Code E – this category applies to widows and widowers who are also parents of quali­fying children. “E” is a partic­u­larly compli­cated category given the many varia­tions.

When did Obama end Medicare cards?

President Obama signed a bill in 2015 that will end the use of these numbers on Medicare cards. Medicare has four years to start issuing cards with new identi­fiers.

Does Medicare card have a letter code?

Letter codes following the Social Security number on Medicare cards do not indicate the type of insurance.

What is the claim number for Medicare?

These letter codes may appear on correspondence you receive from Social Security or on your Medicare card. They will never appear on a Social Security card. For example, if the wage earner applying for benefits and your number is 123-45-6789, then your claim number is 123-45-6789 A . This number will also be used as your Medicare claim number, ...

What do the letters after a Social Security number mean?

What do the letters after a Social Security or Medicare number mean? The Social Security number followed by one of these codes is often referred to as a claim number. We assign these codes once you apply for benefits.

How many digits are in Medicare?

The first nine digits of your medicare number should look familiar to you. Most times, they match your social security number. However, there are some cases where it will be the SSN of your spouse, parent or child instead.

Where is my Medicare claim number?

Your Medicare Claim Number is located on your Medicare card underneath the beneficiary name. Providers use this number to provide Medicare covered services. It is also the number you will provide to the Social Security Administration when discussing your Medicare account and terms. The first nine digits of your medicare number should look familiar ...

What is the Medicare code for a wife?

These codes indicate Medicare eligibility. For example, assume you are the wife (62 years or older) of the primary claimant, and your husband’s SSN is 555-55-5555. Your Medicare number would be 555-55-5555-B.

What is the Medicare code for primary beneficiary?

Relationships to the Primary Beneficiary Codes. The most common code is code “A”. This simply means you are the primary claimant who has become eligible for Medicare through paying into the Medicare system for over 40 quarters.

What is the code for Medicare if you are married?

If you are married to or divorced from the living primary claimant, Code “B” will appear on your card. Their SSN will be the first nine digits on your Medicare card.

What does HC mean in Medicare?

“HA” will appear for the disabled claimant, while HB means you are the wife of a disabled claimant (62 or over). “HC” is for the child of a disabled claimant .

What does the M1 suffix mean on Medicare?

If a person is not eligible for Part B coverage but not Part A, Code “M” will appear on their card. If you are eligible for Part A but have refused it, the “M1” suffix will appear. Medicare Claim Numbers ending in “T” mean you are eligible for for Medicare Part A, but not for retirement benefits. This could be because you suffer from chronic kidney ...

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