What does the letter at the end of my Medicare number stand for?
You may have noticed a letter at the end of your Medicare number and wondered what it stands for. Your Medicare Claim Number is located on your Medicare card underneath the beneficiary name. Providers use this number to provide Medicare covered services.
What do the numbers on a Medicare claim mean?
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. There are also many less common codes, a list of which can be found in Section 50.
What does the letter “B” mean on my Medicare number?
It’s important to understand that the letter codes in your Medicare number have nothing to do with enrollment in the various parts of Medicare that are also identified by a letter A, B, C, or D. In other words, it does not mean you are enrolled in Medicare Part B if your number ends with the code “B”.
What are the letters for Medicare beneficiaries?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Does Medicare cover dental insurance?
Many Medicare Advantage plans may also cover additional benefits not covered by Part A and Part B, such as prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing, wellness programs like SilverSneakers and more. Medicare Part D provides coverage exclusively for prescription drugs.
Who is Christian Worstell?
Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent and a Senior Staff Writer for MedicareAdvantage.com. He is passionate about helping people navigate the complexities of Medicare and understand their coverage options. .. Read full bio
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.
What does a T in Medicare claim mean?
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 disease, or have eligibility due to Medicare Qualified Government Employment (MQGE), or the spouse of a MQGE.
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 does C1 mean on Medicare?
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.
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 ...
Does Medicare Part C appear on your card?
If you have enrolled in Medicare Part C ( Medicare Advantage) or Part D ( prescription drug coverage ), this information will not appear anywhere on your Medicare card, but on a separate membership card that you receive after enrollment.
Why Medicare uses a claim number
Medicare once used a beneficiary’s Social Security number to file claims. But the Medicare program loses billions of dollars to fraud every year, and using a person’s Social Security number makes it easier for people who commit fraud to steal identities and abuse Medicare benefits.
How your Medicare claim number is used
Medicare beneficiaries generally do not have to file claims on their own. When you receive care, your health care provider will take your Medicare card and use the claim number on the front of your card to file a claim on your behalf. According to Medicare rules, health care providers have one year from the date of service to file a claim.
How to replace your Medicare card
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and follow the automated prompts for reporting and replacing a lost or stolen card. You may also print a temporary copy of your card through your MyMedicare.gov account.
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.
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.
