A person can find their Medicare number on their Medicare card or on the Social Security website. With their Medicare number, a person can enroll in a Medicare plan or purchase a Medigap policy.
The Medicare number is a unique 11-character combination of letters and numbers. It is also known as the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).
The MBI is different from a person’s Social Security number. An individual’s Medicare number is confidential, and they should take it with them to every medical appointment, as it is necessary for submitting claims.
Read on to learn more about where to find the Medicare number and what it means.
Each person’s Medicare number is printed on their Medicare card.
The Medicare number is 11 characters long and contains numbers and letters. It is located underneath a person’s name.
The card also contains information about the plans in which someone is enrolled and when the coverage begins.
MBIs replaced the Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs), which derive from a person’s Social Security number. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) needed to replace all Medicare cards that contained HICNs with new cards containing MBIs by April 2019.
A person can visit the Medicare website and log into their account to print off or order a copy of their Medicare card.
Learn about signing up for Medicare online.
A person can find their Medicare number by logging into the Social Security site.
The number will be located in the benefit verification letter.
Learn more about Medicare and Social Security.
Medicare will send the card out in the mail once a person signs up for a Medicare plan. It typically takes around 2 weeks to arrive.
If a person is already receiving Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits at least 4 months before their 65th birthday, Medicare will send out the card around 3 months before their birthday. This is because they will automatically be enrolled in Medicare.
They will send it to the address someone has listed with Social Security. It is important to make sure the address is the individual’s Social Security account.
If a person does not receive the card in the mail, they can access it by logging into their Social Security or Medicare account.
Learn about enrolling in Medicare.
Each Medicare number is unique, and a person should carry it with them at all times. The National Council on Aging recommends photocopying the card or writing down the number to store it safely in case it becomes lost.
It is important not to give out the Medicare number to anyone other than medical professionals, pharmacists, or anyone else working with Medicare.
A person can call Medicare on 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) if they believe somebody is using their Medicare information. Teletypewriter (TTY) users can contact 1-877-486-2048.
They should also call Medicare straight away if somebody contacts them unexpectedly to ask for their personal information.
Medicare resources
For more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
The Medicare number, also called the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), is on a person’s Medicare card. Each Medicare number is unique to the individual.
A person can also find their Medicare number in their benefit verification letter if they log into the Social Security site.
They can also print or order a new Medicare card by logging into the Medicare website.
It is important for a person to carry their Medicare card with them, particularly to medical appointments. They may wish to photocopy or write down their Medicare number and store it in a safe place in case they lose their card.
A person should not share their Medicare number with anyone other than medical professionals and those working with Medicare.