Use Medicaid ID Instead of Subscriber ID for Members with BCCHPSM

Sept. 25, 2026

Effective Jan. 1, 2027, we’re removing the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois subscriber ID from member ID cards for Blue Cross Community Health PlansSM. The Medicaid ID will remain on the card as the single member ID to be used in health care transactions for BCCHP members, following an Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services directive. The Medicaid ID, also known as the recipient identification number or RIN, is a unique 9-digit number assigned to each person who receives benefits from HFS.

What this means for you 
We alerted you last year to begin filing claims for members with BCCHP using the Medicaid ID instead of the subscriber ID for BCBSIL effective no later than Feb. 1, 2026. Effective Jan. 1, 2027, in addition to using the Medicaid ID on claims, you’ll also need to use it to identify BCCHP members in other health care transactions. The BCBSIL subscriber ID will no longer be accepted for members with BCCHP. 

Affected transactions
You’ll use the Medicaid ID in all transactions with us for members with BCCHP. Examples include, but aren’t limited to:  

  • Checking eligibility and benefits
  • Requesting prior authorization
  • Submitting claims
  • Contacting Customer Service

Details to help you prepare for the transition
We encourage you to begin updating your systems to store the Medicaid ID for each BCCHP member. You can obtain the Medicaid ID when submitting eligibility and benefit inquiries through Availity® Essentials or your preferred vendor portal. Additional technical details and dates are below to help you prepare.

Eligibility and Benefits Inquiries
Through Nov. 13, 2026: 

  • The Medicaid ID can be found in a REF segment with the NQ qualifier on an eligibility benefit inquiry transaction (271).
  • Providers using Availity Essentials can identify a member’s Medicaid ID in the Medicaid Recipient ID Number field on the Eligibility and Benefits page.

Effective Nov. 16, 2026:

  • The Medicaid ID will replace the BCBSIL subscriber ID in the NM109 segment and the ID submitted on the inquiry (270) will be returned in a REF segment with the Q4 qualifier on the return transaction (271).
  • Providers using Availity Essentials will see the Medicaid ID move to the Member ID field on the Eligibility and Benefits page.
  • The three-character prefix XXL will no longer be required when searching with a member ID in Availity Essentials.

Claim Status
Through Nov. 13, 2026: 

  • The Subscriber ID will appear as the primary ID in Claim Status Inquiry transactions (277).
  • Providers using Availity Essentials will see the Subscriber ID in the Subscriber Member ID field when using the Member, Claim or HIPAA Standard search options.

Effective Nov. 16, 2026:

  • The Medicaid ID will appear as the primary ID in Claim Status Inquiry transactions (277).
  • The Medicaid ID will replace the subscriber ID in the NM109 segment on the Claim Status transaction (277) and an STC code of 748 will notify providers of the ID change.
  • Providers using Availity Essentials can identify a member’s Medicaid ID in the Subscriber Member ID field on the Claims Status results page, using the Member, Claim or HIPAA Standard requests.

Reminder: Check the member’s ID card at every visit. New ID cards will be reissued to BCCHP members in the coming months replacing the subscriber’s Member ID with their Medicaid ID. Please ensure an updated image of the member’s ID card is retained in your records.  

More information: Continue to check News and Updates for more information. Also watch provider tools for links to updated user guides and other resources on Availity. 

Checking eligibility and/or benefit information and/or obtaining prior authorization is not a guarantee of payment. Benefits will be determined once a claim is received and will be based upon, among other things, the member’s eligibility and the terms of the member’s certificate of coverage, including, but not limited to, exclusions and limitations applicable on the date services were rendered. Regardless of any prior authorization or benefit determination, the final decision regarding any treatment or service is between the patient and the health care provider.

Availity is a trademark of Availity, LLC, a separate company that operates a health information network to provide electronic information exchange services to medical professionals. Availity provides administrative services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding any products or services provided by third party vendors such as Availity. BCBSIL makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding third party vendors and the products and services they offer.