Understanding the Medicare Summary Notice

Don’t wait 3 months for your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) to come in the mail. Get electronic MSNs (eMSN) every month. Beneficiaries just need to simply sign up online.

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Sign up to get eMSNs every month. The Medicare Summary Notice is a report of health care services over 3 months’ time. It’s just a statement of services and items.

The eMSNs allow you to follow up with statements electronically and in a timely fashion.

In the research below, you’ll learn more about the MSN and what do with it. Also, we’ll answer some common questions relating to the Medicare Summary Notice.

What is a Medicare Summary Notice?

Medicare beneficiaries get an MSN after a service or procedure. MSNs are sent via USPS every 3 months. Further, MSNs explain the supplies and services you get, how much Medicare covers, and how much you must pay the doctor.

An MSN is not a bill. Just a summary of services and a break-down of payments.

How Do I Get Electronic Medicare Summary Notices

Choosing the eMSNs eliminates the paper copies from coming in the mail. Instead, every month an email is sent with a secure link.

This link allows access to the beneficiary’s MSN. So, instead of waiting for the 3 usual months for the paper copy, you can see this information every month.

This helps track monthly claims and costs, print only necessary needs. EMSNs are beneficial because they help check remaining deductible amounts and catch any errors in billing.

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Also, this prevents fraudulent activity by ensuring beneficiary billing only happens once.

Can I Sign Up for Medicare Summary Notices Online?

Online sign up is easy; just create an account today by visiting MyMedicare.gov and clicking the “Create an Account” option.

Beneficiaries may complete these next five steps between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Prior to visiting the Medicare website, print a copy of the steps to use as a reference. This may be easier to navigate than opening another web browser or bouncing between two tabs.

Medicare beneficiaries can view all available eMSNs by logging into their account.

Is There an Electronic Medicare and You Handbook?

The electronic edition of the trusted “Medicare & You” handbook (eHandbook). By making the switch to the eHandbook, you can reduce tax dollars and paper copies won’t come in the mail.

Each fall a hard copy of the handbook is sent via U.S.P.S. unless you decide to take the paperless route. In which case, you may follow those three steps to signing up online for the eHandbook.

Medicare updates the online version regularly, meaning the print version may be out of date.

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Where Can I Find Electronic Medicare Publications?

Medicare doesn’t print hard copies of all publications, but the electronic versions are often available in several eBook formats.

Now, you may download them to your personal eReader or device; making them available to take with you anywhere.

FAQs

What can I do if I get a Medicare Summary Notice I don't agree with?

If you believe the MSN is incorrect, or they see a denial of payments. They should contact the doctor first to ensure proper submission of claims.

Appeals must be made within 120 days of getting the MSN. Appeal information will be on the notice.

Beneficiaries may read Your Medicare Rights and Protections online or call 1-800-MEDICARE to have a paper copy.

Where do I find my Medicare Summary Notice on my Medicare?

To view eMSNs, the user will select the “Electronic Medicare Summary Notices” tab, located on the “Claims” tab on the menu.

This will bring the user to the page containing the available lists of eMSNs on the screen.

Users may select the PDF image next to the eMSN they desire. The document will now open.

Users should save a copy to their computer by clicking “File” and then “Save a Copy” – from the top menu.

Clicking the printer icon or navigate to file and then print allows users to print the document for their safekeeping.

How long do I keep the Medicare Summary Notice?

There’s no concrete rule for saving your medical summaries or payment records. But, they must be kept while the medical services on the summary are in the process of payment.

After payment, it’s up to you. One suggestion may be storing medical payment records for 3-6 years. This is the same suggestion for tax deduction records.

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