Beginning January 2026, Medicare beneficiaries will receive a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every 180 days, a change from every 120 days. This change, claimed as an effort to reduce costs, is part of a larger shift for beneficiaries to conduct most, if not all, business online.
The MSN is a notice that people with Original Medicare get in the mail that shows the services or supplies that providers and suppliers billed to Medicare during that period. It also shows what Medicare paid and the maximum amount an individual may owe the provider. It is not a bill. In the past, these notices had been mailed to beneficiaries quarterly. Now, beneficiaries will receive an MSN in the mail every six months if they get any services or medical supplies during that period.
Beneficiaries are being steered to establish Medicare.gov accounts so they can view processed claims without having to wait for a paper MSN in the mail. Individuals can also sign up for electronic MSNs, which are issued monthly.
This change comes at the same time Medicare has announced different methods for identify verification to create or log in to Medicare accounts. For example, individuals can now create or log in to a Medicare.gov account using ID.me, CLEAR, or Login.gov, which are all services that verify your identity.
Because many Medicare beneficiaries lack internet access or the technological devices or computer literacy to conduct business online, it is important for advocates to understand these shifts to adequately meet beneficiaries’ needs.
March 26, 2026 – C. Huberty