What does an MBI number look like?

Asked by: Octavia Macejkovic  |  Last update: October 5, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (63 votes)

An MBI uses numbers 0–9 and all uppercase letters except for S, L, O, I, B and Z. Those letters are excluded to avoid confusion when differentiating some letters and numbers (for example, between the number “0” and the letter “O”). The dashes aren't used as part of the MBI.

How many digits is an MBI number?

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.

What is MBI number format?

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.

Is Medicare number 10 or 11 digits?

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). To avoid confusion between letters and numbers, Medicare does not use the letters S, L, O, I, B or Z.

How do I find my MBI number?

myCGS MBI Lookup Tool. Use myCGS to look up any Medicare beneficiary's MBI, regardless of where they live. To find MBIs in the portal, your Medicare beneficiaries must provide their first and last name, date of birth an SSN.

Noridian Medicare Portal: Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Lookup Tool

40 related questions found

What is the format of Medicare ID number MBI?

An MBI uses numbers 0–9 and all uppercase letters except for S, L, O, I, B and Z. Those letters are excluded to avoid confusion when differentiating some letters and numbers (for example, between the number “0” and the letter “O”). The dashes aren't used as part of the MBI.

How do I find my 11 digit Medicare number?

If you have your card, your Medicare number will be the unique 11-digit number on the front of the card. If you don't have your card and you need your Medicare number right away, it is easy to find by logging into your MyMedicare.gov account.

What does a valid Medicare 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.

How many digits is a Medicare provider number?

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. For Ambulatory Surgery Centers, the MPN is 10 digits — with the first two digits representing the state where the surgery center is located.

What is the unique 10 digit identifier for covered health care providers?

The NPI is a 10-position, intelligence-free numeric identifier (10-digit number). This means that the numbers do not carry other information about healthcare providers, such as the state in which they live or their medical specialty.

Is the MBI number the Medicare number?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a new number called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), which replaces the SSN-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) on the Medicare card.

Do MBI numbers change?

CMS can also change an MBI. It's possible for your patient to seek care before getting a new card with the new MBI. If you get a HETS eligibility transaction error code (AAA 72) of “invalid member ID,” your patient's MBI may have changed.

What patient information do you need to lookup the MBI number?

Portal User Manual – Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Lookup
  1. Social Security number.
  2. First name.
  3. Last name.
  4. Suffix, if applicable (e.g., Jr., Sr., III, etc.)
  5. Date of birth.

Is MBI the same as Medicare ID?

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.

How can I find out my Medicare number without my card?

Sign in to your MyMedicare.gov account. If you don't have an account yet, visit MyMedicare.gov to create one. You can sign in to see your Medicare Number or print an official copy of your card. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

What is beneficiary identification code?

The current beneficiary identification code (BIC) specifies the basis of the beneficiary's elgibility for cash payment programs, mainly Social Security.

What is a unique 10 digit identification number for covered health care providers that is issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid?

An NPI is a 10-digit numeric identifier. It doesn't have information about you, like the state where you practice, your provider type, or your specialization. Your NPI won't change, even if your name, address, taxonomy, or other information changes.

What are Medicare numbers?

Your card has a Medicare Number that's unique to you — it's not your Social Security Number. This helps protect your identity. The card shows: You have Medicare Part A (listed as HOSPITAL), Part B (listed as MEDICAL), or both. The date your coverage begins.

Why would a provider have 2 Medicare numbers?

While a provider has only one NPI, the provider may have multiple PTAN numbers, representing enrollment through multiple practices or with multiple Medicare contractors. An approved provider should use the NPI to bill the Medicare program and the PTAN to authenticate the provider when using MAC self-help tools.

Should you ever give out your Medicare number?

Don't ever give it out except to your doctor or other Medicare provider. Never give your Medicare Number in exchange for free medical equipment or any other free offer. Dishonest providers will use your numbers to get payment for services they never delivered.

Are Medicare numbers random?

Keep Your Medicare Information Safe and Secure

Today's Medicare numbers have no hidden codes or sequences at all. They are purely random. Even so, your Medicare number is still considered to be personal and private.

What do the letters and numbers mean on a Medicare card?

Medicare Letter and What Does It Mean:

A – Primary Claimant (wage earner) B – Spouse (spouse of retired worker) B1 – Aged Husband, age 62 or over. B2 – Young Wife, with a child in her care. B3 – Aged Wife, age 62 or over, second wife.

How many digits does the new Medicare number have?

Social security numbers on cards, which are part of the 10 digit Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN), have been replaced with an 11-digit Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number.

How do I verify a Medicare number?

Members can check their Medicare ID number by signing into myMedicare.gov. If a member doesn't have a myMedicare.gov account yet, they can 'create an account' and follow the instructions. For questions, members can call 1-800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227 TTY 877-486-2048).

Why did my Medicare number change?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made the number change to protect people using Medicare from identity theft or illegal use of Medicare benefits. Your new MBI has 11 characters that consist of numbers and capital letters.