my Social Security or Medicare.gov:
Which Online Account Do You Need?

• These are two different government accounts.
  • If you want to see an estimate of your future Social Security retirement benefit or apply online for Medicare, start with my Social Security.
  • If you already have a Medicare Number and want to see your Original Medicare claims or manage Medicare account settings, use your Medicare.gov account.
• Planning for retirement or applying for Medicare?
  • Start with my Social Security.
• Already enrolled in Medicare?
  • Go to Medicare’s account and sign-in help.
• Need help deciding when or how to enroll?
  • See my web page — Medicare enrollment tools and decisions.
  • Social Security – Retirement Benefits
    • Best age to take Social Security Benefits? 62 or 70?
    • How working affects Social Security Benefits
    • Survivor Benefits Social Security

What Each Account Is For

• my Social Security: See retirement benefit estimates based on your earnings record, review your Social Security Statement, check an application’s status, and manage available Social Security benefit services. Social Security also uses this account when you apply online for Medicare. See Social Security’s account features.
• Medicare.gov account: Once you have your Medicare Number, you can create or connect this account to see Original Medicare claims, keep a prescription list, choose certain electronic mailings, and print an official copy of your Medicare card. See Medicare’s account instructions.

• Watch: What Is my Social Security?

  Social Security’s video explains why you might want an account and how to get started. For the current written sign-up steps, keep its account-creation PDF handy as you watch.

  • Watch Social Security’s video — What is my Social Security?
  • Read Social Security’s PDF — How to Create an Online Account

Keep the order straight: You can set up my Social Security before you enroll in Medicare.

Medicare says you need your Medicare Number before you can create your Medicare.gov account.

Start Here: Create Your my Social Security Account

For many people approaching Medicare, this is the more useful account to set up first. You can check your earnings record and compare personalized retirement benefit estimates before deciding when to claim Social Security. You can also apply for Medicare without applying for monthly retirement benefits.

• Create or sign in to your my Social Security account.
• Social Security PDF — How to Create an Online Account (Publication 05-10540).
• Social Security — What You Can Do with Your Account.
• Social Security PDF — What You Can Do Online (Publication 05-10121).

Social Security currently directs new users to Login.gov or ID.me for sign-in and identity verification. Its account-creation PDF explains the steps, including what to do if you already use one of those services.

Ready to Apply for Medicare?

Applying for Medicare Part A and Part B is a separate task from creating a Medicare.gov account. Social Security handles the Medicare application. The right enrollment route can depend on whether you are first becoming eligible or already have Part A and are adding Part B.

• Social Security — Apply for Medicare or Retirement Benefits.
• Medicare — How Do I Sign Up?
• Social Security PDF — How to Apply Online for Medicare Only.
• See my web page — Medicare enrollment tools and decisions for enrollment timing and other decisions.
  • Watch Medicare’s video — Get Started with Medicare: Your Initial Enrollment Period for an explanation of first-time enrollment timing.

Already Have a Medicare Number? Set Up Medicare.gov

A Medicare.gov account can be useful for checking Original Medicare claims, keeping a prescription list for plan comparisons, choosing electronic Medicare mailings, and printing an official copy of your Medicare card. It is optional for using your Medicare coverage.

• Medicare — Create an Account or Get Sign-In Help. Medicare explains the current ID.me, CLEAR, and Login.gov options here.
• Medicare PDF — Welcome to Medicare: Do These Things Next.
• No Medicare Number yet? Wait until you receive it; Medicare says it is required to create the account.
• Trouble verifying your identity? Use Medicare’s sign-in help page for the appropriate service’s support options, including available in-person verification routes.

Videos, PDFs, and Further Reading

If you prefer to watch a demonstration or keep printed instructions beside you, these resources provide more detail than the quick account links above.

• Social Security PDF — How to Create an Online Account.
• Social Security PDF — How to Apply Online for Medicare Only.
• Social Security PDF — What You Can Do Online.
• Medicare & You — current handbook and language options.
• Medicare — account sign-in and identity verification help.

Video: Keep your existing Social Security account video here if you have watched it recently and its screens and sign-in directions still match the current process. Label it with its actual title and publisher. An older video can still explain the benefits of having an account, but should not be presented as a current step-by-step sign-up demonstration unless its steps remain accurate.

Set Up Your Medicare Online Account
(And Avoid Common Mistakes)

Creating your Medicare online account is one of the best ways to manage your coverage, review claims, and protect yourself from fraud.

But before you set it up, there’s one small detail that can cause big problems if it’s wrong…

Does Your Medicare Name Match Your Legal Name?

Example: You go by John Smith, but your legal name is John Jacob Smith.

This may seem minor — but even small differences can lead to:

• Delayed or denied claims
• Problems enrolling in Medicare Advantage or Part D plans
• Identity verification issues when setting up your online account

Best practice: Your Medicare record should match your Social Security record exactly.

✔ Quick Check Before You Continue

• ⬜ Does your Medicare card show your correct legal name?
• ⬜ Does it match Social Security exactly?
• ⬜ Are your doctors and pharmacies using the same name?

If everything matches — great, continue below.

If not, it’s usually best to fix it first to avoid delays later.

How to Set Up Your Medicare Online Account

You can create your secure account directly with Medicare to:

• View claims and coverage
• Check deductible and out-of-pocket costs
• Print replacement ID cards
• Review your plan and drug coverage

Step 1: Go to Medicare.gov and click “Log in / Create Account”
Step 2: Enter your Medicare number and personal information
Step 3: Create a username and password
Step 4: Verify your identity

⚠ Common Issues (We See This All the Time)

• Name mismatch (John vs. John Jacob)
• Wrong address on file
• Old Medicare number or recently updated card
• Identity verification failing online

If something doesn’t work, don’t worry — it’s usually fixable.

💬 Need Help?

We can help you:

• Check if your Medicare record matches Social Security
• Fix name or ID issues
• Walk you through setting up your account
• Scroll down for more information

Email: [email protected]

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