How to Log In to Medicare.gov and Check Your Benefits Online

Medicare.gov is the official website of the US Medicare program, and having an online account gives you access to a lot of useful tools: you can check what your Medicare covers, view your claims history, see when your coverage started, compare Medicare plans during Open Enrollment, and even print a replacement Medicare card if yours was lost or damaged. Setting up an account is free and only takes about 10 minutes.

Go to Medicare.gov on any web browser and click "Log in" in the top right corner. You will be directed to create a "Login.gov" account — this is the secure sign-in service used by many US government websites. Click "Create an account," enter your email address, create a strong password, and then verify your identity. The site will send a confirmation code to your email address. You will also need to verify your identity using your Social Security Number, your Medicare number (from your red, white, and blue Medicare card), and your date of birth.

Once logged in, the main "My Medicare" dashboard shows your current coverage at a glance. Click "My claims" to see a list of recent medical and prescription claims — this is useful for checking that charges are accurate and spotting billing errors. During Medicare Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7 each year), you can use the "Find health & drug plans" tool to compare available Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans in your ZIP code and see estimated annual costs. If you need help at any step, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) and a representative will walk you through it for free.