Medicare Blog

what is a medicare nicn number

by Trey Waelchi Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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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.)

What is the new Medicare number?

The new Medicare number is a new number that doesn't include your Social Security number. New cards with the new numbers are being mailed out now. The BNC (Beneficiary Notice Code) is unique to every document.

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.

Is a BNC number the new Medicare number?

See the answer to the question "Is a BNC number the new Medicare number?" below: No, although both have the same purpose: to reduce the visibility of your Social Security number on government documents.

What is a Medicare claim number and what does it mean?

On a Medicare card received before 2015, your Medicare Claim Number consisted of your Social Security number followed by a code of letters and sometimes numbers that have a specific meaning. In more recent years, a randomly-generated combination of letters and numbers replaced this Medicare Claim number.

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How do I find my Hicn number?

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 Medicare HIC number look like?

The format of this new identifier will look like this 1EG4-TE5-MK73. The 2nd, 5th, 8th, and 9th character will always be a letter and the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, and 11th characters will always be a number. The 3rd and 6th character will be a letter or a number.

How many digits are in an HIC?

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.

Is Hicn same as MBI?

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.

What is a HIC code?

The HIC is a number identifying each Medicare participant. The number is most often a combination of the beneficiary's nine-digit social security number and two-digit Beneficiary Identity Code, BIC. The BIC identifies the relationship between the beneficiary and the Medicare primary cardholder.

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.

Where do I find my Medicare beneficiary identifier?

You can identify them by the RRB logo on their card, and we return a “Railroad Retirement Medicare Beneficiary” message on the Fee-For-Service (FFS) MBI eligibility transaction response. The beneficiary or their authorized representative can request an MBI change. CMS can also change an MBI.

When did Medicare ID numbers change?

New Medicare ID System Goes Fully Operational on January 1, 2020 | APTA.

Where is Medicare HIC number located?

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. The format of a HIC number issued by CMS is a Social Security number followed by an alpha or alphanumeric Beneficiary Identification Code (BIC).

What is the 11 digit Medicare number?

A complete Medicare number requires 11 digits in total. This includes your 10-digit Medicare number on your card followed by the unique reference number that appears next to your name. Please take extra care when entering you Medicare Number, it is extremely important to ensure it is 100% correct.

Is Medicare number same as member ID?

Your card has a Medicare Number that's unique to you — it's not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity.

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).

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 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 ...

What information is on my Medicare card?

There is additional important information located on your Medicare card for you and your doctor. This includes your name and sex. Additionally, it states whether you have Medicare Part A (inpatient hospital) and Medicare Part B (outpatient medical), and lists the dates that Part A and B first started.

What do the codes after my Social Security number mean?

After the Social Security number, there is a letter and sometimes a number. These codes all have different meanings.

What happens if you lose your Medicare card?

If you lose your Medicare card with your number on it, you can request that the Social Security Administration replace your card at no charge. The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier is for claims, billing and identification purposes.

What does it mean when you have an A on your Social Security card?

If you have an A on your card, it means that you are the primary beneficiary. That means you earned Medicare insurance based on your working history and tax credits.

How long does it take for Medicare to arrive in the mail?

After your replacement request, the card typically arrives in the mail in about 30 days, at no cost to the beneficiary. Social Security will mail your Medicare card to the address they have on file for you, so it is important to keep your information with them up to date.

What is a B1 on Medicare?

There are several variations to the B code: B1 is for a husband of a primary beneficiary at age 62 or over. B2 is for a young wife with a child in her care,

Can I use my Social Security number on my Medicare card?

Removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards further protects the identities of Medicare beneficiaries. The replacement number is called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, or MBI number. Moreover, if you still have a Medicare card with your Social Security number on it, you can still use it. Nonetheless, getting a new Medicare card is ...

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 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.

When did Medicare use Social Security numbers?

After 1964 , the RRB began using Social Security numbers as Medicare beneficiary identification numbers preceded by an alpha character. Below are the characteristics for each HIC type. “A” beneficiary (retired worker or disabled worker) “C” children (child or grandchild of a retiree)

What is an MPN number?

MPN is also known as an OSCAR (Online Survey, Certification and Reporting) Number, Medicare Identification Number, and Provider Number . Though no longer the primary identification method, the MPN was once the primary identifier for Medicare and Medicaid providers.

What is Medicare provider number?

A Medicare/Medicaid Provider Number (MPN) verifies that a provider has been Medicare certified and establishes the type of care the provider can perform. This identifier is a six-digit number. The first two digits specify the state in which the provider is located, and the last four digits indicate the type of facility.

How many digits are in an MPN?

For Ambulatory Surgery Centers, the MPN is 10 digits — with the first two digits representing the state where the surgery center is located. MPN is also known as an OSCAR (Online Survey, Certification and Reporting) Number, Medicare Identification Number, and Provider Number.

Why are MPNs important?

Why are MPNs an important metric for healthcare? An MPN is issued by CMS and used by Medicare for surveys, certification, and patient assessments. A facility must pass a Medicare survey/inspection to obtain an MPN. Providers that do not participate in the Medicare program will not have an MPN.

What is a CCN in healthcare?

The MPN (or CCN), however, continues to be issued to providers to confirm Medicare/Medicaid certification for certifications, surveys, and patient assessments.

What does a letter from Medicare tell you?

When you enroll in Medicare, a letter generates to inform you that your application is being processed. That letter contains a number that some people misinterpret as their Medicare number.

Does Medicare have a new Social Security number?

No, although both have the same purpose: to reduce the visibility of your Social Security number on government documents. The new Medicare number is a new number that doesn't include your Social Security number. New cards with the new numbers are being mailed out now.

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 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.

Why does my spouse's BIC change?

The spouse's BIC identifier changes to identify the person as a widow instead of a spouse. Another common reason for a HIC to change is if a widow finds out they could receive better Medicare benefits if she used her deceased husband's work record instead of her own.

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, ...

When does the MBI expire?

The MBI is clearly different from the old HIC, comprising 11 characters made up of numbers and uppercase letters. The transition period will expire in 2020, by which time all Medicare participants should have received a new card containing their MBI. The eligibility for benefits will not change. Advertisement.

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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