Find any Blue Cross Blue Shield plan by prefix code. Get provider phone numbers, payer IDs, claims addresses, and timely filing limits instantly.
Covering 20,095 prefixes across 65 BCBS plans in 53 states.
Look at the patient’s Blue Cross Blue Shield member ID card. The alpha prefix is the first three characters at the beginning of the member ID. It’s always three letters (for example, EXM or YRC) and appears before the numeric portion of the policy number.
Enter the three character prefix into the search bar above. Results appear instantly as you type. You can also search by plan name, state, or BCBS company to find the correct prefix.
Click any result to see the complete billing reference for that prefix, including the provider phone number, electronic payer ID, claims mailing address, timely filing limit, and prior authorization contact.
A BCBS alpha prefix is a three character code at the beginning of every Blue Cross Blue Shield member ID. It identifies which of the 60+ independent BCBS companies holds the member’s coverage and tells providers where to route claims for processing.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield is not a single insurance company. It’s an association of more than 60 independent companies, each operating in different states with their own claims processes, payer IDs, billing addresses, and filing deadlines. The alpha prefix is the key to identifying which BCBS company is the correct payer. Without the correct prefix identification, claims can be submitted to the wrong company, denied outright, or delayed in processing.
The prefix appears at the very beginning of the member ID number on the front of the insurance card. It is always three letters, followed by the numeric portion of the policy number. For example, if a member ID reads “EXM123456789”, the prefix is “EXM”.
Some cards display the prefix separately from the rest of the member ID. Others run it together as one continuous string. Either way, it’s always the first three characters. The prefix identifies the BCBS company, while the remaining numbers identify the individual member’s coverage and plan type.
This is a free, searchable database that maps every known Blue Cross Blue Shield alpha prefix to its home plan. For each prefix, it shows the BCBS company name, state, provider phone number, electronic payer ID, claims mailing address, timely filing limit, and prior authorization contact.
Each three character prefix identifies a specific Blue Cross Blue Shield company and plan. The prefix tells you which of the 60+ independent BCBS companies is the payer, which state the plan operates in, and often which plan type (PPO, HMO, EPO) the member is enrolled in.
The three letter prefix on a Blue Cross Blue Shield member ID card is the alpha prefix. It appears at the very beginning of the member ID number, before the numeric policy number. This prefix identifies the member’s home BCBS plan and is used by providers and billing teams to determine where to submit claims and which payer ID to use.
Enter any three character combination into the search bar above. If the prefix exists in our database, you’ll see the associated plan name, state, and plan type instantly. You can also search by plan name or state to find all prefixes associated with a particular BCBS company.
The Federal Employee Program is a nationwide BCBS plan that provides health insurance to federal employees, retirees, and their families. FEP prefixes typically begin with the letter “R” and follow a different billing process than standard BCBS commercial plans. FEP claims are processed centrally rather than by individual state BCBS companies.
Yes. BCBS companies can reassign, add, or retire prefixes over time. Plan mergers, acquisitions, and administrative changes can result in prefix updates. If you encounter a prefix that returns unexpected results or no results, contact the BCBS company directly or check back as this database is updated regularly.