TL;DR: Your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is the statement that lists every service billed to Original Medicare on your behalf. As of January 2026, Medicare mails it every six months instead of quarterly, so each review matters more, and you can also check your claims anytime in your Medicare.gov account. It is not a bill, but it is your best tool for catching errors: confirm every service actually happened, that nothing is billed twice, and that the amount you may be charged matches what Medicare approved. This guide shows the checks, the 2026 numbers, and how Slothwise can review your notices for you automatically.

What is a Medicare Summary Notice?

A Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) is a statement that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) sends to list all the services and supplies providers billed to Medicare for you. It shows what each provider charged, how much Medicare approved, how much Medicare paid, and the maximum amount you may be billed. An MSN is not a bill. It is a record you use to confirm charges are correct before you pay any provider bill that follows. Note: this applies to Original Medicare. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you get an Explanation of Benefits from your plan instead of an MSN.

How often does Medicare send the MSN in 2026?

As of January 2026, Medicare mails the paper MSN every 180 days (about every six months), a change from the previous 120-day schedule, and only if you had billable services in that period. Because the paper notice now comes less often, two habits help: sign up for electronic MSNs, which are issued monthly, or log in to your Medicare.gov account to review processed claims anytime rather than waiting for the mail. Catching an error early is easier when you are not waiting six months for a paper statement.

How is a Medicare Summary Notice different from a bill?

The MSN comes from Medicare and summarizes claims; a bill comes from your doctor or hospital and asks for payment. The two should agree. If a provider bills you for more than the "Maximum You May Be Billed" figure on your MSN, that is a red flag. Always match the provider's bill against the MSN before paying, the same way you would match a private insurance bill against an Explanation of Benefits.

What errors should I look for on my Medicare Summary Notice?

Read every line and check for these common patterns:

• Services you did not receive: a visit, test, or item on a date when nothing happened, or a provider you never saw.

• Duplicate charges: the same service billed twice for the same date.

• Upcoding: a routine visit billed as a longer or more complex one than you had.

• Unbundling: one procedure split into several separately billed codes.

• Excess charges: a non-participating provider billing above the Medicare-approved limit.

• Wrong quantities: more units of a drug or supply than were actually used.

What are Medicare excess charges?

If a provider does not accept "assignment" (the Medicare-approved amount as full payment), they may charge up to 15% above the approved amount under Original Medicare. This is called an excess charge, or limiting charge. Anything above that 15% limit is not allowed. Eight states effectively ban Part B excess charges entirely (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont). If your MSN shows a provider billing more than the approved amount plus the allowed limit, question it.

What are the 2026 Medicare amounts I should recognize?

Knowing the standard 2026 figures helps you spot mistakes. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month, the Part B annual deductible is $283, and the Part A inpatient hospital deductible is $1,736 per benefit period (a benefit period can occur more than once in a year). Higher earners pay an income-related surcharge (IRMAA) that starts above $109,000 in income for individuals and $218,000 for joint filers, based on your tax return from two years earlier. If a charge does not line up with these standard amounts, it is worth a closer look.

How do I check my Medicare Summary Notice, step by step?

You can review a notice in about fifteen minutes. Work through it in order:

1. Confirm your details at the top: your name, Medicare number, and the dates the notice covers.

2. Go line by line and ask, for each service, "Did this actually happen, on this date, with this provider?"

3. Check for duplicates: the same service listed twice on one date.

4. Compare the amounts: make sure the "Maximum You May Be Billed" figure looks right, and watch for excess charges above the Medicare-approved amount.

5. Match it to any bill your provider sends you. The bill should never ask for more than the notice's maximum.

6. Flag anything that looks off and call the provider's billing office or 1-800-MEDICARE. Keep notes of who you spoke to and when.

How do I appeal a Medicare denial?

If Medicare denies a service you believe should be covered, you have the right to appeal, and Original Medicare has five levels of appeal. The first level is a redetermination, which you request from the company that handles Medicare claims, generally within 120 days of getting your MSN. Appeals often succeed: in Medicare Advantage, about 80% of appealed prior-authorization denials were overturned in 2024, yet only around 12% of denials were ever appealed. Your MSN includes instructions and the deadline for filing, and you never have to pay to exercise your appeal rights.

What if I think a charge is wrong?

Dispute it through a formal channel and keep everything in writing. Call the provider's billing department, reference the specific line, and ask for a corrected bill; if it involves coverage, file a Medicare appeal. Do not simply ignore a bill, because that risks collections, but do not pay a charge you are formally disputing before it is resolved. Document every call and get confirmation in writing.

Where can I get free help with Medicare questions?

Every state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling, with no ties to any insurer. You can find your local SHIP at shiphelp.org. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or visit Medicare.gov for official information about your coverage. These services are free and are the authoritative source for questions about your specific coverage.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Medicare Summary Notice a bill? No. It is a summary of what providers billed Medicare on your behalf. Wait for the provider's actual bill, then check it against the notice before you pay anything.

How often will I get one in 2026? Every six months by mail if you had services, a change from the older quarterly schedule. You can also see your claims anytime in your Medicare.gov account, or sign up for electronic notices sent monthly.

What should I do if I find a mistake? Call the provider's billing office or 1-800-MEDICARE. If a service was denied and you think it should be covered, you can appeal, generally within 120 days of getting the notice. Appealing is always free.

How can Slothwise help you review your Medicare notices?

Reading a notice line by line is tedious, and knowing what counts as an error takes experience with how Medicare billing works. Slothwise does that reading for you. Connect your records, and it goes through your Medicare Summary Notices, insurance statements, and provider bills and points out anything that looks wrong: a service you do not remember getting, a charge that shows up twice, or a bill for more than Medicare approved. It explains what it found in plain language, so you know exactly what to ask about before you pay. You can use it in the app or right from your text messages, and it is free to start, with no credit card. Slothwise is one option, not the only one: you can review your notices yourself using the steps above, or get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Slothwise is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or any government agency, and does not sell, endorse, or recommend any Medicare plan. This article is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice. For questions about your specific coverage, contact 1-800-MEDICARE, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), or a qualified professional. Last updated: July 2026.