How to Check Your Medicare Payments and Understand What You're Being Charged

Where to Check Your Medicare Payments

You can see what Medicare paid on your behalf and what you owe through three main routes: your online Medicare account, your paper Explanation of Benefits (EOB), or by calling Medicare directly. The fastest method is logging into your account at Medicare.gov, where you can view payments from the past 12 months in real time. If you do not have an online account, you can create one using your Social Security number, date of birth, and contact information.

Your Explanation of Benefits arrives by mail after each claim is processed. This document shows what your provider charged, what Medicare approved, what Medicare paid, and what you owe. It is not a bill — it is a record of the transaction. You will receive a separate bill from your provider or supplier if you have an out-of-pocket balance.

If you cannot find your information online or by mail, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). A representative can pull up your account and walk you through recent payments. Have your Medicare card handy when you call.

Key Takeaways

Your Medicare account at Medicare.gov shows all payments from the past 12 months and updates within a few days of a claim being processed.
Paper Explanations of Benefits arrive by mail and show what was charged, what Medicare approved, what it paid, and what you owe — but they are not bills.
You can call 1-800-MEDICARE to have a representative review your payments over the phone if you cannot access your online account.
Payments appear on your account before your provider's bill arrives, so checking early can help you spot errors before you pay.

Setting Up Your Medicare.gov Account

Creating an account takes about 10 minutes and requires your Social Security number, date of birth, email address, and a phone number. Go to Medicare.gov, click "Log In" at the top right, and select "Create an account." You will be asked to verify your identity — Medicare will send a code to your email or phone, and you enter it to confirm.

Once you are logged in, click "Claims and Payments" in the left menu. You will see a list of all claims submitted to Medicare in the past 12 months, sorted by date. Each line shows the provider's name, the date of service, what was charged, what Medicare approved, what Medicare paid, and what you owe. You can click on any claim to see more detail, including the specific services or items billed.

If you forget your password, click "Forgot your password?" on the login page and follow the reset steps. If you have trouble creating an account or logging in, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask for help setting up your account — representatives can do this over the phone.

Understanding Your Explanation of Benefits

Your EOB is organized by claim and shows five key numbers: the provider's charge, Medicare's approved amount, Medicare's payment, your coinsurance or copay, and any remaining balance. The provider's charge is what they billed; the approved amount is what Medicare says that service is worth in your area. Medicare pays its share of the approved amount (usually 80% for Part B services after you meet your deductible), and you are responsible for the rest.

If the provider charged more than Medicare's approved amount, you do not owe the difference — that is called balance billing, and it is illegal for most providers. The only exception is if you saw an out-of-network provider and did not know it in advance. Check the EOB to see whether the provider is listed as in-network or out-of-network.

Keep your EOBs in a folder or file. You will need them if you dispute a charge, if you want to track your deductible progress, or if you need to show proof of payment to another insurance company. Do not throw them away until you have paid any balance due and confirmed the claim is closed.

Spotting Errors in Your Medicare Payments

Common errors include duplicate charges (the same service billed twice), charges for services you did not receive, wrong dates of service, or wrong procedure codes. Check your EOB against any paperwork you received from your provider — appointment confirmations, receipts, or bills. If the dates or services do not match, that is a red flag.

If you spot an error, contact your provider first. Many errors are billing mistakes on their end, and they can correct them quickly. If the provider says the charge is correct but you disagree, you can file a complaint with Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask to report a billing error, or go to Medicare.gov and use the "Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse" link.

Do not ignore a charge you think is wrong. If you pay it, you may have a harder time getting a refund later. If you do not pay it, the provider may send it to collections, but you can still dispute it — the dispute does not go away just because you did not pay.

Tracking Your Deductible and Out-of-Pocket Costs

Your EOB shows how much of your deductible you have used and how much remains. For Part B, the deductible resets every January 1st. Once you meet it, Medicare starts paying its share (usually 80%) and you pay coinsurance (usually 20%). Your EOB will show your deductible status on each claim.

If you have a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan, your supplemental insurance may cover some or all of your coinsurance. Check your plan's summary of coverage to see what you owe after Medicare pays. Your EOB will show what Medicare paid, but your supplemental plan may pay additional amounts — those payments appear on a separate EOB from your insurance company.

Add up your coinsurance amounts throughout the year to track your total out-of-pocket spending. This helps you budget and know when you are approaching your plan's out-of-pocket maximum, if you have one.

What to Do If You Cannot Access Your Account

If you cannot log into Medicare.gov, first check that you are using the correct email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot your password?" link to reset it — Medicare will send a code to your email or phone.

If you do not have an email address or do not want to create an online account, you can request paper EOBs by mail. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask to be added to the mailing list. Paper EOBs arrive about two weeks after a claim is processed, so they are slower than online access but still available.

If you are having technical trouble with the website, try a different web browser or device. If the problem persists, call 1-800-MEDICARE. Representatives can look up your claims over the phone and read the details to you, or they can help you troubleshoot your account access.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for a payment to show up in my Medicare account?

Most claims appear in your online account within 3 to 5 days of being processed. Paper EOBs take longer — usually 2 to 3 weeks. If you do not see a claim after 30 days, call your provider to confirm they submitted it to Medicare, then call 1-800-MEDICARE if the claim still does not appear.

Why does my EOB show a charge I do not recognize?

Check the date of service and the procedure code against any paperwork from your provider. If you did not receive that service, contact your provider when ready — it may be a billing error, or the claim may have been submitted under the wrong patient name. Ask them to correct or withdraw the claim.

Can I dispute a Medicare payment after I have already paid my bill?

Yes. You can dispute a charge or payment at any time, even after you have paid. Contact your provider first to ask them to correct it. If they refuse, call 1-800-MEDICARE to file a formal complaint. Keep copies of all paperwork related to the dispute.

What if my provider says I owe more than what Medicare's EOB shows?

Your EOB is the official record of what you owe. If your provider's bill is higher, contact them and ask them to explain the difference. They may be billing for a service Medicare did not cover, or there may be an error. Do not pay more than the amount shown on your EOB without understanding why.

Do I need to keep my EOBs forever?

Keep them for at least three years in case you need to dispute a charge or track your medical history. After that, you can shred them if you have no ongoing disputes. If you are tracking a chronic condition or ongoing treatment, keep those EOBs longer so you have a complete record.

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.