Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs)We removed Social Security Number (SSN)-based Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) from Medicare cards and are now using Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) for Medicare transactions like billing, eligibility status, and claim status. We worked closely with our business partners: Show
Every person with Medicare has been assigned an MBI. The MBI is confidential like the SSN and should be protected as Personally Identifiable Information. You MUST submit claims using MBIs, no matter what date you performed the service, with a few exceptions. Medicare plan exceptions:
Fee-for-Service claim exceptions:
What do MBIs look like?The MBIs are:
The MBI doesn’t use the letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z to avoid confusion between some letters and numbers (e.g., between “0” and “O”). Learn about and use our MBI format specifications (PDF) to make changes to your systems. Do the MBI's characters have any meaning?Each MBI is unique, randomly generated, and the characters are "non-intelligent," which means they don't have any hidden or special meaning. What do MBIs mean for people with Medicare?The MBI doesn't change Medicare benefits. People with Medicare who belong to a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare drug plan (Part D) should keep using their Medicare Advantage and/or Medicare drug plan cards like they always have when they get health care services or fill a prescription. People with Medicare will also need their MBIs when they change plans or are admitted to the hospital. Where can I get more information about MBIs?You can:
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