How long should you keep Medicare statements?

Question

Angela Gala Gonzalez · Accepted Answer

This is one of those questions almost nobody asks until the drawer is full. Here is the simple system I teach my clients: 

Keep your Medicare Summary Notices for at least one year. These are the statements Medicare sends every three months showing what was billed, what Medicare paid, and what you may owe. Before you put one away, do one thing: compare it against the bills you actually received. If everything matches and your providers have been paid, that statement has done its job.

Keep anything tax related for at least three years. If you deduct medical expenses on your taxes, those statements become part of your tax records. Three years is the general rule; some accountants prefer up to seven. When in doubt, ask your tax preparer. In my office we do both, insurance and taxes, so my clients get one answer instead of two.

Keep statements longer if something has not been solved. An appeal, a billing dispute, a claim you have questions about, or treatment for an ongoing condition: hold those papers until the matter is fully closed, no matter how old they are.

When you let go of them, shred them. Medicare statements carry information identity thieves love. Never throw them in the trash whole. If you don't have a shredder, many banks and community centers hold free shredding days.

And one more thing that gives my clients peace of mind: Medicare keeps your claims history online at Medicare.gov, so even if a paper is gone, the record is not. If a statement ever confuses you, don't file it away worried. Call your agent. That's what we are for.

Steven Litzsinger · Answer

Good news! You can now sign up for an online account to get them electronically and avoid the need to keep them and save them year over year. You will be able to view, print, and search current and previous Medicare Summary Notices (MSN) by simply logging into your account.  

If you prefer to keep paper copies, I would recommend to keep them until all outstanding bills have been reconciled, and at least 1-3 years, just case there are any disputes, suspicion for fraud, waste, and abuse, or need to revisit them. 

The billing cycle in healthcare can take 6-9 months without any disputes or issues. That length of time can double or triple when there are discrepancies, disputes, or need to rebill the claim. If you are dealing with any of the above, you will want to have the hard copies/records to support you case.

Christi Blackwood · Answer

A good rule is to keep Medicare Summary Notices and Explanation of Benefits for at least 1 year, so you can compare them with medical bills and catch billing or coverage errors. Keep statements related to tax deductions, ongoing disputes, major procedures, or unresolved claims longer, usually 3–7 years, because they may be needed as documentation later.

Answered by Christi Blackwood on August 16, 2026

Agent Licensed in NC & TX

Answered by Christi Blackwood Medicare Insurance Agent

Jose Caceres · Answer

You should keep your Medicare statement for 1-3 years. In order to check for errors, file appeals and as tax records

Ryan Franco · Answer

You generally do not need to keep statements as long as you have an online Medicare portal set up. This will retain statements for around 3 years.

Lenora Sikkenga · Answer

Most resources recommend one to three years.  As with all records,  seven to ten years would be adequate.

Edward Pevnick · Answer

Medicare statements are not required to be kept I would keep for at least 12 months prior. If you have a discrepancy with payments, call Medicare directly at 1-800-medicare.

Edward Fisher · Answer

I suggest keeping them for a couple of years. This lets you go back and review your medical history easily, so that you can make any changes you need during the Annual Enrollment Period.