Medicare Blog

what does ma mean in front of a medicare number

by Branson Schmidt Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What does the letter a mean in my Medicare number?

It denotes a primary claimant who is retired and has paid into the Medicare system as a wage earner for at least 40 quarters. 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.

What does the suffix B mean on a Medicare number?

Numerical suffixes in the “B” category continue all the way to 9 (with B9 being the Medicare number suffix for a third husband). If your suffix code is anything in the “B” category, your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s Social Security Number, and not your own, will constitute the first nine numbers of your Medicare Claim Number.

What is the meaning of the suffix F in Medicare?

There is no “F” suffix without a number following the letter F. “H” indicates Medicare eligibility is due to disability. HA means you are a disabled claimant, HB means you are the wife of a disabled claimant, and HC means you are the child of a disabled claimant.

What does the suffix code “D” mean on a Medicare claim number?

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. “D” alone indicates you are the widow of a primary claimant.

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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.

What do the letters at the end of Medicare numbers mean?

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 the letters in Medicare 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 MBI mean for Medicare?

Medicare Beneficiary IdentifierUnderstanding the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Format.

How do I read my Medicare 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.

Is MBI the same as Medicare number?

Your MBI is your 11-character Medicare Beneficiary Identifier - or new Medicare Number (starting April 2018). From April 2018 through January 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sent new Medicare cards with new MBIs to all of the 57.7 million Medicare beneficiaries.

Where is the MBI number located?

On the front of your Medicare card is a number that is 11 characters long, consisting of numbers and uppercase letters. This is your Medicare claim number, also referred to as a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).

What does a Medicare ID number look like?

How does the MBI look on the card? The MBI's 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th characters are always letters. Characters 1, 4, 7, 10, and 11 are always numbers. The 3rd and 6th characters are letters or numbers.

What does a MBI 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.

When did MBI numbers start?

April 2018Beginning in April 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began issuing new Medicare identification (ID) cards.

Why do I have two Medicare numbers?

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 the 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.

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.

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 does HA code mean?

Code H. “H” indicates Medicare eligibility is due to disability. HA means you are a disabled claimant, HB means you are the wife of a disabled claimant, and HC means you are the child of a disabled claimant. If your Medicare number includes the HA code, your Social Security appears in your Medicare number. If your Medicare number includes the HB ...

What is the HA code on my Medicare card?

If your Medicare number includes the HA code, your Social Security appears in your Medicare number. If your Medicare number includes the HB or HC code, your disabled spouse’s or parent’s Social Security number represents the first nine digits of your Medicare number.

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 "E" mean in a divorce?

“E” by itself 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.

What does C mean in a claim?

Code C. “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. For example, if you are the first child, your suffix is C1; if you are the second child, your suffix is C2; and so on. If your suffix code is in the “C” category, ...

What does it mean when a medicare card ends in A?

Most medicare identification numbers you will see end in A. This means that that person has medicare under their own social security number. However there are other ways a person can have medicare and those are reflected in the letter after the social security number on the medicare card. For example if the letter is B or D ...

What is a M1?

M1 An individual enrolled in Part B who meets the requirements for Part A but has not applied. T An individual entitled to Part A benefits but not to retirement and survivor’s or Railroad Retirement insurance or who is entitled to Medicare based on chronic renal disease.

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 "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 is the suffix for a parent?

“F” is the parent category, with suffixes for a primary claimant’s father (F1), mother (F2), stepfather (F3), stepmother (F4), adoptive father (F5), and adoptive mother (F6). There is no “F” suffix without a number following it. The primary claimant child’s Social Security Number will constitute the first nine digits of a Code “F” claimant’s Medicare 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.

Things to note

The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), often known as your Medicare number, comprises eleven random letters and digits. The red, white, and blue Medicare card reflects this.

Where can I find my Medicare number?

The red, white, and blue Medicare card has your Medicare number on it.

When will my Medicare card arrive?

If you are enrolled in Medicare automatically, you will get your card three months before your 65th

What is the purpose of my Medicare number and card?

Bring your Medicare card with you to any doctor’s appointment or hospital visit with any healthcare

What should I do if my Medicare card is lost?

If you misplace your Medicare card, you can request a replacement. You can request a replacement card in many ways.

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