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N127 Remark Code: Misdirected Claim for UMWA Beneficiary

N127 means the claim was sent to the wrong payer because the patient is a United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) beneficiary. The payer that received it directs you to submit the claim to the UMWA health and retirement funds instead.

Quick facts

Code
N127 (RARC N127)
Status
Active In use since October 31, 2007; last modified August 1, 2004.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): A routing denial; the patient does not owe the amount. Bill the UMWA plan.
Official description
This is a misdirected claim/service for a United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) beneficiary. Please submit claims to them.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N127 means

The United Mine Workers of America health and retirement funds provide health benefits to retired coal miners and their families. For some of these beneficiaries, claims that would normally go to Medicare or another payer are handled by the UMWA funds. N127 means the payer that received your claim identified the patient as a UMWA beneficiary and is sending you to the right plan.

N127 typically pairs with CARC 109. Nothing was decided about coverage; the claim was simply sent to the wrong place.

Common causes

  • Registration captured the patient’s Medicare card but not their UMWA benefit card.
  • The patient did not mention UMWA coverage, or the practice did not know it affects claim routing.
  • The billing system has no payer record for the UMWA funds, so claims default to Medicare.

How to fix it

  1. Ask the patient for their UMWA card and confirm eligibility with the funds.
  2. Add the UMWA plan to the patient’s insurance record in the correct order.
  3. Submit a new claim to the UMWA funds using their claims address or electronic payer ID.
  4. Keep the N127 remittance as proof of your original timely submission in case the plan asks.

How to prevent it

In regions where UMWA coverage is common, add a registration question about union retiree health benefits and set up the UMWA payer in your practice management system. The eligibility and COB guide covers similar routing and payer-order mistakes.

Codes that may appear with N127

  • CO-109 (Claim/service not covered by this payer/contractor.): Not covered by this payer; send it to the correct payer. N127 names UMWA as that payer.
  • N105 (This is a misdirected claim/service for an RRB beneficiary.): The similar remark for Railroad Retirement Board beneficiaries.
  • N104 (This claim/service is not payable under our claims jurisdiction area.): A general jurisdiction mismatch between Medicare contractors.
  • OA-22 (This care may be covered by another payer per coordination of benefits.): Another payer may be responsible under coordination of benefits.

N127 FAQ

Who are UMWA beneficiaries?

Retired coal miners and eligible family members covered by the United Mine Workers of America health and retirement funds. Many are also Medicare beneficiaries.

Do I still bill Medicare for these patients?

The UMWA funds and Medicare have arrangements for certain beneficiaries in which the UMWA plan handles claims. Follow N127 and the UMWA plan's instructions for how claims should flow.

Where do I get the UMWA plan's claims address?

From the patient's UMWA benefit card or directly from the funds. Use current information, since addresses and payer IDs can change.