Validation Rules
Authorisation number formats
Getting your patient pre-authorised gives you peace of mind that their policy allows them to have the requested treatment. But remember, it’s not a guarantee of payment. Adding the pre-authorisation number (sometimes also known as claim number or patient assessment number) onto your invoice shows the insurer that someone has been in touch prior to treatment to let them know what’s going on. If you’re going to add it you need to make sure the format is correct to stop your invoices failing validation.
The pre-authorisation number is optional for the insurers, unless otherwise stated. The only insurer that doesn’t validate these is AXA Health, so we haven’t included the format requirements in this guide.
The validation format criteria are set out for each insurer and use the following key:
- A = Letter
- N = Number
- X = Letter or Number
A couple of examples:
- AANNNN = 2 letters followed by 4 numbers
- NNNNNNXXA = 6 numbers, followed by 2 characters than can either be a number or a letter, followed by a letter
Where other letters and specific letters or symbols are used, this is clearly shown.
Aetna
There are nine formats that’ll pass validation.
- CNNNNNN = the letter C, followed by 6 numbers
- CNNNNNNN = the letter C, followed by 7 numbers
- CNNNNNNNN = the letter C, followed by 8 numbers
- CNNNNNNNNN = the letter C, followed by 9 numbers
- CNNNNNNNNNN = the letter C, followed by 10 numbers
- NNNNN = 5 numbers
- NNNNNN = 6 numbers
- NNNNNNN = 7 numbers
- NNNNNNNN = 8 numbers
Alliance Health
There are two formats that’ll pass validation.
- AAANNNNN = 3 letters, followed by 5 numbers
- A-ANNNNN = a letter, followed by a hyphen (-), followed by a letter, followed by 5 numbers
Allianz Worldwide
There’s no set length – it can be a combination of letters, numbers and can also include a hyphen.
Aviva
There are four formats that’ll pass validation.
- NNNNNN/NN/NNNN/NNN = 6 numbers, followed by a forward slash (/), followed by 2 numbers, followed by a forward slash, followed by 4 numbers, followed by a forward slash, followed by 3 numbers
- NNNNNN\NN\NNNN\NNN = 6 numbers, followed by a backslash (\), followed by 2 numbers, followed by a backslash, followed by 4 numbers, followed by a backslash, followed by 3 numbers
- NNNNNN/NN = 6 numbers, followed by a forward slash (/), followed by 2 numbers
- NNNNNN\NN = 6 numbers, followed by a backslash (\), followed by 2 numbers
Bupa
There’s no set length – it must be all numbers.
Bupa Global
There are two formats that will pass validation, both must start with the letter A:
- ANNNNNNN = the letter A, followed by 7 numbers
- ANNNNNNNN = the letter A, followed by 8 numbers
Cigna
It must be all numbers and no longer than 9 characters.
Healix
There’s no set length – it can be a combination of letters and numbers.
Trust in Health
You must include a pre-authorisation number on any invoice. It must start with THP, followed by a letter and 6 numbers.
VitalityHealth
There are three formats that’ll pass validation and all must start with the number 1, 5 or 9.
- NNNNNN = 6 numbers but the first must be a 1, 5 or 9
- NNNNNNN = 7 numbers but the first must be a 1, 5 or 9
- NNNNNNNN = 8 numbers but the first must be a 1, 5 or 9
WPA
There are two formats that’ll pass validation.
- NNNNNNNNN = 9 numbers
- XXXXXX = 6 characters – can be any combination of letters and numbers
