This is your Member Reference Number (MRN). You’ll need to provide this when you make an appointment with an EAP counselor or contact your EAP by phone.

Anthem provides automatic translation into multiple languages, courtesy of Google Translate. This tool is provided for your convenience only. The English language version is considered the most accurate, and in the event of a discrepancy between the translations, the English version will prevail. This translation tool is not controlled by Anthem, and the Anthem Privacy Statement will not apply. Please read Google's privacy statement. If you want Google to translate the Anthem website, select a language.

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards, also known as prepaid debit, or stored value cards are convenient ways to make purchases and conduct other financial transactions. You do not need to have a bank account or a credit history to use a prepaid card. Read the card's terms and conditions before you buy.

Many cards carry protections similar to credit and debit cards. To obtain these benefits, you must follow the instructions for registering and activating your card. Be sure to record your card information, including the customer service telephone number, in a separate place, so you can get a replacement if your card is lost or stolen. Some prepaid card issuers may charge fees for card activation, maintenance and cash withdrawals.

Gift cards, a type of prepaid card, have extra protections, including that funds on the card can't expire within five years of when it was activated. However, if you don't use the card, the money stored on it can be sent to the unclaimed money office in your state or the state where the card issuer is incorporated. Visit https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money to locate missing money.

If you have a problem with a prepaid card, first contact the customer service number. Some cards are issued by state or national banks. If the problem still is not resolved with the bank or issuer, file a complaint with the proper authorities listed in the chart below:

Type of InstitutionRegulatory Agency
State-chartered banks and trust companies Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and state banking authorities
Banks with National in their name or N.A. after their name Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Federal savings and loans and federal savings bank Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, U.S. Department of the Treasury
Federally chartered credit unions National Credit Union Administration
State-chartered banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System Federal Reserve System

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2016, January). Prepaid cards. In Consumer action handbook (p. 8). Retrieved December 2, 2016, from https://www.usa.gov/

More about this Topics

  • Mobile Payments

  • Making Changes When Inflation Takes a Bite

  • The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)

  • Coping with Financial Stress

  • For Seniors: Quick Tips for Protecting Your Finances-Part 1

Other Topics

    • Twelve Ways to Lower Your Homeowner’s Insurance Costs
    • Choosing a Credit Counselor
    • Protections for Consumers Sending Money Abroad
    • Using Your Home's Equity
    • Payday Loans
    • Financial Basics Handbook
    • Financial Calculators
    • Your Financial Checkup
    • Maintaining Personal and Fiscal Resiliency During Tough Economic Times (2017)
    • Make Your Money Work for You: A Debt Management Plan
    • Effective Budgeting
    • Financial Fitness: Living Within a Realistic Budget
    • Family Financial Statement
    • Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
    • Mint
    • Omni Calculator
    • Choose to Save
    • GasBuddy Find Gasoline Bargains