How to Set Up and Sign In to Your Medicare Online Account (2026)

You signed up for Medicare, you have your red, white, and blue card, and now you want to see your claims, print a replacement card, or check your Part B deductible online. That all happens inside your secure Medicare account at Medicare.gov.

As of early 2026, the way you get into that account changed. Instead of a plain Medicare username and password, you now verify who you are through one of three free identity services: ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov. This added step exists to keep fraudsters out of your benefits.

This guide walks through exactly what you need first, then every verified way to create and sign in, ordered from the fastest self-service path to the in-person and phone options. Pick whichever fits your situation.

Confirm You Have a Medicare Number First

You cannot create a Medicare online account until you already have a Medicare Number. The Number is issued only after you enroll in (sign up for) Medicare.

This matters even if you already hold an ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov account from another service: those alone will not let you finish creating the Medicare account without your Medicare Number. If you try to register before you have it, the process will not complete.

Gather What You Need for Self-Service Verification

Online identity verification takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes when it goes smoothly. To do it from home, have these ready:

A device with a camera (smartphone, tablet, or computer).
A valid U.S. government-issued photo ID: a driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport.
Your Social Security number.
A U.S. phone number.

For CLEAR specifically, you need a cell phone with a camera and a cell phone number, because a selfie is required. If you would rather not take a selfie at all, skip ahead to the in-person or phone sections; those paths exist for exactly that reason.

Start at Medicare.gov and Pick a Verification Service

Open any web browser and go to Medicare.gov, then select the option to log in or create your account. From there:

1.Choose one of the three free identity-verification services: ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov.
2.Each is free, will not sell your data, and keeps your health information with Medicare rather than the verification service.
3.If you already use one of these services elsewhere, pick that one and sign in instead of creating a duplicate account.

Support hours differ slightly: ID.me offers 24/7 live chat, CLEAR offers 24/7 support, and Login.gov offers customer support plus in-person verification options.

Verify with ID.me (Selfie or Video-Call Backup)

ID.me is a strong default because it has both a self-service path and a live video-call fallback if that fails.

1.On Medicare.gov, select the ID.me button, then select Continue.
2.If you already have an ID.me account (your "Wallet"), enter your existing email and password rather than creating a new one. Otherwise create a Wallet.
3.Set up or complete multi-factor authentication (MFA).
4.If your identity is already verified, review the information Medicare.gov will receive, select Allow to share it, and you are returned to Medicare.gov.

If you still need to verify, the self-service flow runs like this: select your photo ID type, upload a clear photo of the ID, select Continue, take a short video selfie, then enter your Social Security number, address, and phone number. Review everything for accuracy and select Allow to share your information with Medicare.gov.

If self-service verification fails, ID.me offers a video call: enter your personal information, upload your identity documents, wait for document review and approval, then join a video call with an ID.me agent and show your documents during the call. After approval, return to Medicare.gov and select Log in.

Verify with CLEAR (Fastest Selfie Path)

CLEAR is built around a quick selfie and works well on a cell phone.

1.On the Medicare.gov sign-in page, select the Log In with CLEAR option.
2.If you have never verified with CLEAR, upload your government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, or U.S. passport).
3.Take a selfie using your cell phone; CLEAR uses facial recognition on that selfie to confirm it is you.
4.Once verified, you can access your Medicare.gov account.

Verifying with CLEAR for Medicare.gov is completely free, and CLEAR support is available 24/7 by chat or phone. Note that this free Medicare verification is separate from paid CLEAR+ airport membership and does not grant any airport access.

Login.gov handles secure sign-in only. It has no information about your Medicare application, status, membership, or eligibility, so use it strictly to get into your account.

1.On Medicare.gov, choose the Login.gov option to sign in. Create a Login.gov account with an email and password (and set up authentication) if you do not already have one.
2.Step 1: Take photos of your ID online using an accepted ID type (driver's license, state ID, or passport book). You may be asked to take a selfie to confirm the ID is yours, or you can choose to verify in person at a U.S. Post Office instead.
3.Step 2: Enter your Social Security number. Login.gov checks your personal information against public and proprietary records.
4.Step 3: Verify your phone number; Login.gov sends a one-time code to your phone. If the phone cannot be verified, you may be offered the option to verify your address by mail.
5.Step 4: Re-enter your password to store your verified information and connect it to Medicare.

Verify in Person at a UPS Store or Post Office

No smartphone, no REAL ID, and no existing account are required to verify in person. ID.me handles in-person verification at a UPS Store; Login.gov handles it at a U.S. Post Office. (CLEAR does not offer this same in-person Medicare path.)

For the ID.me route, schedule an appointment or visit a participating UPS Store and bring your identity documents plus a registration code if one was provided.

For the Login.gov route at the Post Office:

1.First complete the online steps: verify your personal information and your ID, then verify your phone number.
2.Login.gov emails you a barcode and a deadline. The barcode expires 7 days after you finish the online steps.
3.Bring the SAME ID you used online. A passport is not accepted for the in-person option, so use a driver's license or state ID card. Bring the barcode printed or on your phone.
4.At the Post Office, tell the retail associate you are there to verify your identity. They scan your barcode and review your ID; they do not see your results.
5.Login.gov emails you (from no-reply@login.gov) within 24 hours stating whether verification succeeded.

Get Help by Phone Without a Computer

If you cannot or prefer not to verify online or in person, Medicare can help directly.

Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for help with Medicare, your account, or creating and connecting it.
TTY users call 1-877-486-2048.
Medicare live chat is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays.
1-800-MEDICARE can also mail you a replacement Medicare card if you cannot reach the online account.

What Your Secure Medicare Account Lets You Do

Once you are signed in, the account is the place to manage Original Medicare details:

View your Original Medicare claims, usually as soon as they are processed, including billing amounts and payment status.
Print an official copy of your Medicare card or order a replacement.
Track your Medicare Part B deductible balance for the year.
Sign up to receive your yearly "Medicare & You" handbook and your claims statements ("Medicare Summary Notices") electronically.
View your coverage, including plan details for drug coverage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still log in with my old Medicare username and password?
During the transition you may have been able to use existing credentials for a time. However, once you connect your account to ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov, you can no longer log in with the old Medicare username or password. Going forward, sign in through your chosen verification service.

Do I really have to take a selfie?
ID.me self-service and CLEAR require a video selfie or selfie, and Login.gov may ask for one. Per CMS, any facial recognition is a one-time identity check, requires your permission, and is not used for surveillance or tracking. If you would rather not do it, verify in person (UPS Store via ID.me or Post Office via Login.gov) or call 1-800-633-4227.

Which service should I choose?
All three are free and secure. CLEAR is the quickest pure-selfie option on a cell phone. ID.me adds a live video-call backup if self-service fails. Login.gov offers a Post Office in-person path. Pick based on whether you want a fast selfie, a fallback option, or in-person verification.

What if my account is locked?
Medicare provides an account unlock and recovery flow at medicare.gov/account/unlock-account. If you cannot resolve it there, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for assistance.

Why can't Login.gov answer my Medicare questions?
Login.gov only handles secure sign-in and holds no information about your Medicare application, status, membership, or eligibility. For coverage or account questions, call 1-800-633-4227 instead.

What do I bring to verify in person at the Post Office?
Finish the online steps first, then bring the same ID you used online (a driver's license or state ID; a passport is not accepted for the in-person option) and your emailed barcode. The barcode expires 7 days after you complete the online steps, so go before it lapses.