04-08-2025
- Business
- Medical News Today
What to know about beneficiary notice codes (BNCs)
Historically, the Social Security Administration (SSA), Medicare, and other organizations have used Social Security numbers (SSNs) as personal identifiers. However, in recent years, some people have raised concerns about individual privacy and identity concerns have led many organizations to discontinue using SSNs as personal identifiers on statements and other is a BNC? A beneficiary notice code or beneficiary notice control number (BNC) is a 13-character encrypted alphanumeric code that helps organizations like the SSA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identify the notice and the beneficiary, helping to eliminate the use of 2018, the SSA and other agencies began replacing SSNs with BNCs on notices and mailings. The CMS also began using BNCs on benefit verification letters. »Learn more: How Medicare and Social Security work togetherWhere can I find my BNC?The SSA may request a person's BNC if the person contacts the SSA for specific reasons, such as a change in estimated earnings or a change to direct deposit can find their BNC on any letter the SSA sends them about their when a person contacts Medicare, they may need their Medicare number, not their BNC. However, any statements or mailings that used to have SSNs on them may now have BNCs instead.»Learn more: How to find your Medicare number Medicare resourcesFor more resources to help guide you through the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub.
