Medicare 2026

Medicare.gov's New Login Options: ID.me, CLEAR and Login.gov Explained

If you've tried to sign in to Medicare.gov recently, you may have noticed something new. On March 3, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out enhanced login options. When you create a new Medicare.gov account or verify your identity, you can now choose to sign in using one of three services: ID.me, CLEAR or Login.gov.

If that list looks unfamiliar, don't worry. These are identity-verification services that many websites now use to confirm you are who you say you are. Here's a plain-English walkthrough of what changed, what it means for you, and what to do if you run into trouble.

What actually changed

Before, you signed in to Medicare.gov with a username and password you created there. Now, when you set up a new account or verify your identity, Medicare.gov hands that step off to one of three partner services:

• ID.me — a private company used by many federal and state agencies.
• CLEAR — the same company you may have seen at airport security lines.
• Login.gov — the government-run option, operated by the U.S. General Services Administration.

All three are free to create and use for Medicare.gov. You pick the one you're most comfortable with.

If you already have a Medicare.gov account from before the change, you can still log in with your existing credentials at this time. Medicare.gov notes, however, that once you connect your account to one of the three new services, your old Medicare username and password can no longer be used. Plan ahead so you aren't locked out at a moment when you need information quickly.

Do you even need an account?

This part gets overlooked: you don't need a Medicare.gov account to browse general Medicare information, and you can access your own individualized Medicare information without one too. An account is helpful for managing certain tasks online, but it isn't a prerequisite to learn about the program.

If you do decide to create an account, you'll need your Medicare Number — even if you already have an ID.me, CLEAR or Login.gov account from somewhere else. The identity service confirms you're you; the Medicare Number ties the account to your Medicare record.

"I don't have a smartphone" — and other common worries

A smartphone is not required. Here are the options CMS has built in:

• In person. ID.me and Login.gov both offer in-person verification at certain locations.
• Over the phone. You can get help setting things up by phone.
• On a public computer. A library computer, for example, works fine.

You also don't need a driver's license or a REAL ID. A state-issued photo ID, a U.S. passport, or other accepted U.S. documents will do. If one document type doesn't work for you, check which others each service accepts.

Some services may use a one-time facial-recognition check as part of verifying your identity. That step requires your permission. If you'd rather not use facial recognition at all, you can choose Login.gov, the government-run option.

What about privacy?

This is a reasonable question, and CMS has addressed it directly:

• Your medical information stays with CMS.
• Your identity-verification information is stored separately by the service you choose (ID.me, CLEAR or Login.gov).
• These companies are not allowed to sell your data.

If privacy is top of mind, keep that separation in view: the identity service never sees your medical records, and CMS doesn't hand your medical history to a private company.

If something goes wrong

Account trouble has a way of showing up at the worst possible moment — the day you're trying to check something during a deadline, for example. For immediate help, loss of access to an account, or a service outage, call 1-800-MEDICARE. It's the right first stop.

Watch for scams, too. Any time a new system rolls out, bad actors try to exploit the confusion. Medicare will not call, text or email you out of the blue asking for your Medicare Number, bank information, or login credentials. If something feels off, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE directly. The Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) also publishes free resources on spotting and reporting Medicare fraud.

A quick note on the bigger Medicare calendar

While you're thinking about your account, it's a good time to remember a few program-level dates and figures that apply nationally:

• Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, with choices taking effect January 1, 2027.
• The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and rises to $2,400 in 2027.
• The most any Part D plan may charge as a deductible in 2027 is $700.
• The Part D base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — a national figure used to calculate the late-enrollment penalty. Actual plan premiums are set plan by plan.
• Social Security announced a 3.6 percent COLA for benefits payable beginning January 2027.
• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced. CMS typically releases them in the fall.

If you have Medicaid or Extra Help, you have a monthly Special Enrollment Period to move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or to switch stand-alone Part D plans. Full-benefit dual-eligible individuals can join an integrated D-SNP in any month.

When comparing Medicare Advantage with Original Medicare plus a Medigap policy, both paths have trade-offs — around networks, cost-sharing, extra benefits, portability and monthly premiums. Neither is "better" in the abstract; the right fit depends on your health, your budget and how you like to get care.

Where to go next

For official, current details on logging in, verifying your identity, or anything else about the program, visit Medicare.gov. For help by phone — including account access problems — call 1-800-MEDICARE (available 24/7).