What is My Rx Bin Number?: Understanding Prescription Insurance

• An Rx Bin Number is a number that helps pharmacies file your drug coverage claims with the correct payer or insurance company, and is typically located on the front of your prescription card.
• If an Rx Bin Number isn't input correctly, it can result in costly mistakes such as claim denials, which can impact your ability to receive medications or result in beneficiaries overpaying for medications.
• It's important to know your Rx Bin Number, so keep your prescription insurance card with you to ensure you have essential information about your coverage on hand.

Prescription insurance is a type of health coverage that helps beneficiaries pay for their prescription medications. It's also referred to as ​'pharmacy insurance' or ​'prescription drug coverage.'

Insurance plans vary greatly from provider to provider. Most employer plans include prescription drug coverage and insurance, but not all of them do, such as Original Medicare plans. It's important to speak with your insurance provider to understand what's covered under your specific plan."

In most prescription drug coverage plans, there are multiple levels, referred to as tiers. These tiers are organized by their preference for use, and are typically grouped in three categories:

• Generic brands
• A mix of brand-name and generic
• Brand-name drugs

Tiers can range from 4 to 6 different levels, based on the specific plan and provider.

Prescription insurance plans will cover certain costs based on the tier that your drugs come from, leaving you with a co-pay that is either a set amount or a percentage of the drug's price. Each plan comes with its own deductibles, co-pays, and coverage details.

Note: Learn more information about prescription drug plans and coverage here .

Prescription insurance plans come with a prescription insurance card that contains important information about your coverage. These cards include important pieces of information such as your name, your member ID number, your plan type, and more.

In most cases, you will be mailed a copy of your prescription insurance card to keep with you, though some providers may also give the option to use a digital ID.

Prescription insurance cards are important to both clients and healthcare providers, as the information on the card helps ensure that medical claims are sent to the right providers for processing. This means clients won't have their pharmacy claims denied or be overcharged for prescriptions.

Prescription Insurance Card vs. Medical Insurance Card: What is the Difference?

It's common to assume that if you have a medical card, it automatically covers prescriptions, but that isn't necessarily the case. While prescription insurance is specifically meant to cover prescription costs, medical insurance is meant to cover costs related to hospital stays, doctors' appointments, and more.

Some health plans, such as Medicaid , have one health insurance card that provides information for both medical expenses and prescription coverage. However, this isn't always the case, depending on your insurance.

You may have separate prescription insurance and medical insurance cards in cases such as:

• If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan with no medication coverage, and then enroll in a Part D plan for prescription coverage.
• If you are enrolled in a health insurance plan, but choose to enroll in a separate prescription drug coverage plan for better overall coverage.

If you have both prescription insurance and medical insurance cards, it's wise to keep both cards on your person.

Prescription insurance cards contain four pieces of necessary information on the type of prescription insurance you have, each in the form of a unique number. At first glance, these four numbers can seem intimidating, but each number ID has a specific purpose.

One important number on each card is the Rx Bin number. Rx stands for ​"medical prescription", and BIN stands for ​"Bank Identification Number." This is a six-digit number that is a code used to process electronic pharmacy claims correctly. If this number isn't entered correctly, your prescription claims may not be sent to the right insurance company, the claim may be denied, and you won't receive reimbursement for your drug coverage.

Rx Bin numbers aren't the only important information on your card. Other numbers on the card that help determine your eligibility for certain coverage include:

• Member ID Number: This is a unique identifier assigned to the individual on the plan.
• RxPCN Number (Processor Control Number): The Rx PCN number helps identify the pharmacy benefit processor for prescription drug claims and ensures claims are covered under the plan and directed to the right place.
• RxGroup Number/​Group ID: Under employer plans, your group number identifies the specific coverage you have under your work-provided insurance.

Knowing, locating, and correctly inputting these numbers is crucial for providers, pharmacists, and patients to ensure accurate data and to prevent claim denials.

Your pharmacy will require your Rx Bin Number to process claims correctly. Knowing where to find it is important.

To find your RX Bin Number, here are a few ways you can locate it:

1: Check Your Insurance Card

In most cases, you can typically find your Rx Bin Number on the front of your prescription insurance card, labeled as ​"Rx BIN."

Sometimes cards may have different ways they spell or capitalize this name, such as RxBIN, RX BIN, or RxBin. In some cases, this number may be listed under the name ​"Bank Identification Number." All of these variations are the same as your Rx Bin Number.

2: Call Your Pharmacy

If there isn't a listed RX Bin Number on your card, call your pharmacy for assistance. They should be able to look up your information, though you'll need to have other pieces of information about your coverage details to prove your identity, such as your membership ID.

3: Use An Online Lookup Tool or Provider Website

Some providers may have online lookup tools or a website where you can create an account to access your information. This can vary by provider, and will also likely require you to provide other insurance information to access your RX Bin Number.

4: Contact Your Insurance Provider

If you are still unable to find your RX Bin Number, contact your insurance provider's customer service number for assistance with locating your information.

Your Rx Bin Number is a crucial piece of information that is needed to ensure your prescription drug claims are processed smoothly. Here are a few tips on keeping this information handy.

#1 Keep Your Card On Your Person

While it seems obvious, keeping your prescription insurance card on your person when you leave the house is always recommended so you are never without the info. This means keeping it tucked away in a purse pocket, wallet, or other secure place similar to where you keep your driver's license or ID cards.

#2 Take a Photo of Your Card

If you aren't able to keep your card on your person, taking a photo of the front and back of your card can be a simple way to keep the info with you. However, you'll want to ensure you know where to find the photo quickly if you need the info, so keep the photo in a folder that you can easily find.

#3 Download Your Insurance Provider's App

Many insurance providers have digital apps you can download onto your phone. Once the app is downloaded, it will display a digital version of your insurance card or keep important information such as your Rx Bin Number listed so you can easily reference it.

#4 Memorize the Number

If you have privacy concerns about keeping your card or information on your phone, consider memorizing the number. However, you may also need to memorize other numbers on the card, such as the Group ID and PCN numbers, if you choose not to keep the card on you.

Are prescription insurance cards and medical insurance cards the same thing?

No, they are not the same. Prescription insurance covers prescription drug costs, while medical insurance covers medical costs such as hospital stays. Some plans may have one card that covers both types of insurance, while others will require separate cards for each type of plan.

Is the Rx Bin Number the same as an Rx number?

No, the Rx Bin Number is a six-digit code on your prescription insurance card to ensure your prescriptions are sent to the correct insurance provider, while Rx numbers are unique numbers assigned to each prescription you fulfill at a pharmacy.