CMS 1500 form Field 11 - Insured's Policy, Group or FECA Number

Field 11 - Insured's Policy, Group or FECA Number


The “Insured’s Policy, Group, or FECA Number” is the alphanumeric identifier for the health, auto, or other insurance plan coverage. The FECA number is the 9-character alphanumeric identifier assigned to a patient claiming work-related condition(s) under the Federal Employees Compensation Act 5 USC 8101.

NUCC INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the insured’s policy or group number as it appears on the insured’s health care identification card. If Item Number 4 is completed, then this field should be completed.

MEDICARE INSTRUCTIONS - THIS ITEM MUST BE COMPLETED, IT IS A REQUIRED FIELD. BY COMPLETING THIS ITEM, THE PHYSICIAN/SUPPLIER ACKNOWLEDGES HAVING MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO DETERMINE WHETHER MEDICARE INSTRUCTIONS IS THE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY PAYER.

If there is insurance primary to Medicare, enter the insured's policy or group number and proceed to items 11a - 11c. Items 4, 6, and 7 must also be completed.

NOTE: Enter the appropriate information in item 11c if insurance primary to Medicare is indicated in item 11.
If there is no insurance primary to Medicare, enter the word "NONE" and proceed to item 12.

If the insured reports a terminating event with regard to insurance which had been primary to Medicare (e.g., insured retired), enter the word "NONE" and proceed to item 11b.

If a lab has collected previously and retained Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) information for a beneficiary, the lab may use that information for billing purposes of the non-face-to-face lab service. If the lab has no MSP information for the beneficiary, the
lab will enter the word “None” in Block 11, when submitting a claim for payment of a reference lab service. Where there has been no face-to-face encounter with the beneficiary, the claim will then follow the normal claims process. When a lab has a face-to-face encounter with a beneficiary, the lab is expected to collect the MSP information and bill accordingly.

Insurance Primary to Medicare - Circumstances under which Medicare payment may be secondary to other insurance include:

  • Group Health Plan Coverage
    • Working Aged;
    • Disability (Large Group Health Plan); and
    • End Stage Renal Disease;
  • No Fault and/or Other Liability; and
  • Work-Related Illness/Injury:
    • Workers' Compensation;
    • Black Lung; and
    • Veterans Benefits.

NOTE: For a paper claim to be considered for MSP benefits, a copy of the primary payer's explanation of benefits (EOB) notice must be forwarded along with the claim form.

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