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MA83 Remark Code: Primary or Secondary Not Indicated

MA83 means the claim did not indicate whether this payer is the primary or secondary payer. Without that sequence, the payer cannot coordinate benefits, so the claim must be corrected and resubmitted.

Quick facts

Code
MA83 (RARC MA83)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 1997; last modified August 1, 2005.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The claim was returned for a coordination of benefits data error. The provider corrects the payer sequence; the patient is not billed.
Official description
Did not indicate whether we are the primary or secondary payer.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What MA83 means

Every claim tells the payer where it stands in the order of coverage. MA83 says your claim did not indicate whether this payer is primary or secondary. Without that, the payer cannot decide whether to pay first or wait for another payer’s result, so it returns the claim, typically with CARC 16.

For Medicare, the question is central to Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) rules, which determine when Medicare pays second, for example behind certain employer group health plans.

Common causes

  • The payer responsibility sequence code was missing from the 837.
  • Other insurance was recorded in the patient account without an order of coverage.
  • The claim listed other insurance, but items 11-11d or 9-9d were incomplete on paper, leaving the order unclear.
  • Registration staff skipped the MSP questionnaire for a Medicare patient.

How to fix it

  1. Identify all coverage for the date of service and determine the correct order.
  2. Set the payer sequence on the claim, and include the other payer’s information.
  3. Attach or report prior payment if this payer is secondary.
  4. Resubmit the claim. Use resubmission code 7 in item 22 with the original claim number if replacing a processed claim.

How to prevent it

  • Complete an MSP questionnaire for Medicare patients as your process requires, and record the result.
  • Require a sequence value whenever more than one coverage is on the account.
  • Read eligibility and COB denials for more on sequencing errors.

Codes that may appear with MA83

  • CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information or has submission/billing error(s).): The claim is missing information needed for adjudication, here the payer responsibility sequence.
  • OA-22 (This care may be covered by another payer per coordination of benefits.): The payer suspects another payer may be responsible first.
  • MA85Deactivated (Our records indicate that a primary payer exists (other than ourselves); however, you did not complete or enter accurately the insurance…): The payer knows a primary payer exists but the other-insurance fields were not completed.
  • MA04 (Secondary payment cannot be considered without the identity of or payment information from the primary payer.): Secondary payment needs the primary payer's identity or payment information.
  • MA92 (Missing plan information for other insurance.): Plan information for the other insurance is missing.
  • MA64 (Our records indicate that we should be the third payer for this claim.): The payer believes it is third and needs both prior payers' results.

MA83 FAQ

Where is the payer sequence reported?

On an 837 claim, each payer has a responsibility sequence code (primary, secondary, tertiary). On paper, the payer order is reflected by how items 9-9d and 11-11d are completed.

What if I don't know which payer is primary?

Ask the patient about all coverage and apply coordination of benefits rules, such as Medicare Secondary Payer rules for Medicare patients. Eligibility responses often show other coverage.

Is MA83 only for Medicare?

It is used most often on Medicare remittances, but any payer can use it when a claim leaves out payer order.