How to read your Medicare Summary Notice
It isn't a bill. It's your best tool for catching mistakes.
If you have Original Medicare, you get a Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) every 4 months listing the services and supplies billed to Medicare, what Medicare paid, and the most you may be billed. It's not a bill.
What to check
- Do you recognize every provider and service, and the dates?
- Were you billed for something you didn't get, or more times than you got it?
- Was a claim denied? The notice explains why and how to appeal.
- Does the "maximum you may be billed" match what your provider is asking you to pay?
Get it faster, online
You can sign up for electronic MSNs and see claims soon after they're processed by logging in to your Medicare account at Medicare.gov.
If something's wrong
Call the provider first; it may be a billing error. If you think it's fraud, call 1-800-MEDICARE or your Senior Medicare Patrol. If a claim was denied and you disagree, follow the appeal instructions on the MSN.
Common questions
No. Plans send their own Explanation of Benefits instead.
No, the MSN isn't a bill. Wait for a bill from your provider, and compare it with the MSN.
Want help with your own choices?
Every state runs a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) with trained counselors who give free, unbiased Medicare help and do not sell plans. Find yours on our Medicare by state pages, or call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).
Planning the rest of your coverage in retirement? We can help with life insurance later in life and final expense coverage.
General information about the federal Medicare program, not advice about your situation. Figures are for 2026 unless stated and change every year; last reviewed September 29, 2026. Quote My Policy is a private company. Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
Quote My Policy does not sell Medicare plans on this site. For plan-specific help, contact Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) (TTY 1-877-486-2048, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.