How to Sign Into Your Medicare Account Online

You can sign into Medicare.gov using your username and password, or by linking your Social Security number and date of birth

Medicare has one main online account portal at Medicare.gov. When you sign in, you can view your claims, read statements, check your coverage details, and update your contact information. You do not need to call Medicare to see most of this information — it is available 24 hours a day on the website.

There are two ways to sign in: with a username and password you create yourself, or by using your Social Security number and date of birth without creating a separate login. Both methods take you to the same account view.

Key Takeaways

Go to Medicare.gov and select "Sign In" to reach the login page; you can create a new account or use your Social Security number to sign in without a password.
If you forget your password, use the "Forgot username or password?" link on the login page to reset it by email or phone.
Once signed in, you can view your claims history, read your Medicare Summary Notice, check your deductible status, and see which doctors and pharmacies are in your plan.
If you have trouble signing in after trying both methods, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and a representative can help you access your account information over the phone.

Creating a New Medicare Account

If you do not yet have a Medicare.gov account, go to Medicare.gov and look for the "Sign In" button in the upper right corner. Select "Create an account" and you will be asked for your email address, a username, and a password you choose yourself.

Medicare will send a confirmation email to the address you provide. Open that email and click the link inside to confirm your account. After that, you can sign in anytime using your username and password. Write down your username somewhere safe — it is not the same as your email address, and Medicare will not send it to you again.

The whole process takes about five minutes. You do not need any documents in front of you to create the account itself, though you will need your Medicare number or Social Security number when you first sign in to link your account to your actual Medicare coverage.

Signing In Without Creating a Password

If you do not want to remember a username and password, you can sign in using only your Social Security number and date of birth. On the Medicare.gov login page, select "Sign in without a username" or look for the option to use your Social Security number instead.

This method is faster if you only sign in occasionally. Medicare will ask you to verify your identity by answering a security question or receiving a code by email or text message. Once you answer correctly, you are signed in and can see your account information.

You can switch between methods anytime. If you create a username and password later, you can still use your Social Security number to sign in. Both routes lead to the same account.

What You Can See Once You Are Signed In

Your Medicare account shows your claims history — a record of services Medicare has paid for, including doctor visits, hospital stays, lab work, and prescriptions. You can search by date or provider name to find a specific claim.

You can also read your Medicare Summary Notice, which is a statement showing what Medicare paid on your behalf during a three-month period. This document is useful for checking your deductible progress, seeing what you owe, and catching billing errors before they become problems.

Your account also displays your current coverage — which doctors and hospitals are in your network, which pharmacies fill your prescriptions, and what your copays and deductibles are. If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan or a prescription drug plan, you can see your plan's formulary (the list of covered drugs) and check whether a specific medication is covered.

If You Forget Your Username or Password

On the Medicare.gov login page, select "Forgot username or password?" You will be asked to enter your email address or phone number. Medicare will send you a link by email or a code by text message to reset your password.

Click the link in the email or enter the code on the website, and you will be able to create a new password. This usually takes a few minutes. If you do not receive the email or text within a few minutes, check your spam folder or try the phone option instead.

If you cannot remember the email address you used to create your account, you will need to call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to have a representative reset your account for you. Have your Medicare number or Social Security number ready when you call.

Troubleshooting Sign-In Problems

If you see an error message saying your username or password is incorrect, make sure you are typing it exactly as you created it — passwords are case-sensitive, meaning capital and lowercase letters matter. If you are still stuck, use the "Forgot username or password?" link to reset it.

If you are using your Social Security number to sign in and you get an error, it may mean your Social Security number is not yet linked to your Medicare account. This sometimes happens if you recently enrolled in Medicare or if there is a mismatch between the name or date of birth in your Social Security record and your Medicare record. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to have a representative link your accounts.

If the website is very slow or you see a message that Medicare.gov is temporarily down, try again in a few minutes. Medicare performs maintenance on the website during early morning hours, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern time.

Accessing Your Account by Phone If You Cannot Use the Website

If you do not have internet access or prefer to speak with someone, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. On holidays, the line is closed.

Tell the representative what information you need — your claims history, your current deductible, your plan details, or help updating your address or phone number. They can read this information to you over the phone or mail it to you. You will need your Medicare number or Social Security number to verify your identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a Medicare account to see my claims?

No. You can call 1-800-MEDICARE and a representative will read your claims to you over the phone. However, creating an account takes only a few minutes and lets you check your claims anytime without waiting on hold.

Is my Medicare.gov account the same as my insurance plan's website?

No. Medicare.gov is run by the federal government and shows your overall Medicare coverage and claims. Your insurance plan (like Humana or UnitedHealthcare) has its own separate website where you can check plan-specific details, find doctors in your network, and sometimes refill prescriptions. You may need to sign into both.

What if I do not have an email address?

You can sign in using your Social Security number and date of birth instead of creating a username and password. You will receive a code by text message or phone call to verify your identity. If you do not have a phone either, call 1-800-MEDICARE and a representative can help you over the phone.

Can someone else sign into my Medicare account?

Only you should sign in using your own credentials. If you need a family member or caregiver to help manage your Medicare information, you can authorize them through a power of attorney or representative payee arrangement, but this requires legal paperwork and a call to Medicare to set up.

How often should I check my Medicare account?

Many people check their account once a month to review new claims and make sure there are no billing errors. At minimum, check it a few times a year and whenever you receive a bill or notice from Medicare or your insurance plan.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.