Alpha-numeric prefixes will appear on member ID cards next year

Most Blue Cross Blue Shield ID cards display a three-character alpha prefix in the first three positions of the ID number. However, with the ongoing development of new products and networks, the need for new prefixes for member ID cards is growing. To accommodate this need, alpha-numeric prefixes may be issued as early as April 15, 2018. Numeric values may be assigned in any of the three positions of the prefix, but the prefix will never consist of numbers only. Existing prefixes on member ID cards will remain active and aren’t affected by this change. In the future, you’ll not only see the three-character alpha-only prefixes but also prefixes with a mix of letters and numbers. As a result, all health care providers and billers must ensure that their systems are able to accept both alpha and numeric characters in the prefix field prior to April 15, 2018.