Health insurance cards contain several numbers and codes that identify you as a member and provide important details about your coverage. Two common ID numbers on insurance cards are policy numbers and member ID numbers. Are they the same thing? Or do these numbers serve different purposes?
Understanding how to read your insurance card is key to getting the most out of your benefits. This guide explains the difference between policy numbers and member IDs, along with other key items on insurance cards.
The policy number on your health insurance card is a unique identifier assigned to your specific insurance plan. This number allows your insurance company to access your account information and coverage details.
Your policy number is the key piece of information your health providers need to submit claims and receive payment from your insurer. It links the care you receive back to your plan’s contracted rates and benefits.
Some key facts about policy numbers:
Your policy number is the critical identifier your providers use for filing claims. So it is important to verify it is correct on your insurance card. Contact your insurer immediately if you find any errors.
In addition to your policy number, you may also have a member ID or subscriber ID number on your insurance card. This is a unique number identifying you as an individual member on the plan.
While the policy number is tied to the plan itself, your member ID number is specific to your identity as an insured member.
Key details on member ID numbers:
Your member ID number helps insurers match services you receive to your identity as a member on the plan. But it is not usually required by your healthcare providers for submitting claims.
Whether policy numbers and member ID numbers are the same depends on the specific insurance company and how they format member identification numbers. There are a few possibilities:
Same Number – Some insurers use an identical policy number and member ID number for each insured member. In this case, the numbers serve dual purposes of identifying the plan benefits and the individual member together.
Different Numbers – Other insurance companies assign unique member ID numbers that are completely separate from the overarching policy number. The numbers will be different on your insurance card.
Variations of the Same Number – In some cases, the member ID may be your policy number plus an additional digit or characters indicating your place in the family. For example, your policy number might be 123456. Your member ID could be 1234567, with the extra digit specifying you as the first family member on the plan.
Group Policy Number – For employer group health plans, insurance cards may pair the group policy number from your employer with your personal member ID number.
The best way to clear up any confusion is to check your insurance card or contact your health plan administrator. Ask whether your policy number and member ID are the same or different.
You may wonder why insurance cards need separate numbers to identify the policy, group plan, and individual member. There are a few reasons multiple numbers are useful:
While it may seem redundant, each number actually serves a distinct purpose for insurers and healthcare providers.
The fastest way to identify your policy number and member ID is to check your insurance card. These numbers are almost always printed on your card for easy reference.
typically find your policy number on the front of the insurance card. It may be labeled as “Policy #”, “Policy ID”, “Subscriber #”, or similar terms.
Your member ID number, if different from your policy number, is also usually on the front of the card. It may be labeled as “Member ID”, “Member #”, “Subscriber ID”, or other similar language.
If your insurance card only lists one ID number without clarifying if it is a policy or member number, you can contact your insurer for clarification. Their customer service team can identify which type of number is printed on your card.
Now that you know the difference between your policy number and member ID number, you may be wondering why healthcare providers focus on collecting your policy number.
When you visit the doctor’s office, hospital, or other healthcare facility, they need to properly bill services to your insurance plan to get paid. To do this, they submit a claim using your policy number.
This links the medical services you received to the contracted payment rates established between the provider and your insurer. Your policy number tells the insurer what benefits you are entitled to under your specific plan.
While your member ID number also helps identify you as the patient, the policy number does the heavy lifting to direct payment. The provider relies on your correct policy number to receive maximum reimbursement from your health plan.
Knowing your insurance numbers makes getting healthcare easier. You can verify you receive all the coverage entitled to you when providers have the right information. Taking the time to understand the numbers on your insurance card pays off when you need care.
Is insurance ID and policy number the same?
Insurance cards will have a policy number, usually on the front of the card. Each health insurance policy has an associated policy number. On your card, it is often marked “Policy ID” or “Policy #.” The insurance company uses this number to keep track of your medical bills.
How many numbers is an insurance policy number?
A car insurance policy number is typically an eight- to 10-digit number on your car insurance card.Where do I find group ID number?
Look for a section on the front of the card labeled “Group Number” or “Group ID.” This is typically located near the member ID number and other identifying information.
How do I identify an insurance company by the policy number?
Unfortunately, the best option to find an insurance company with just a policy number is to call various providers in your area . You can give the company the number and ask if it matches one of its insured drivers. You will not find this information on any insurance company’s website.