You go to your health insurance or Medicare website, tap “Sign in,” and a green ID.me button shows up. It asks for a photo of your driver’s license, a video selfie, and your Social Security number. It’s normal to hesitate: Is this safe? Do I have to do it? What if I make a mistake?
ID.me is a tool the government uses to confirm that you are the one signing in to your account, not someone else. For many people it’s a new step, but if you have everything ready, you can finish it on your phone in a few minutes. Here’s what it is, when you’ll be asked to use it, and how to get it right the first time.
The short version
ID.me is an identity verification service used by agencies like the IRS, Social Security, and Medicare.gov. To complete it, you need a phone with a camera, your original, unexpired ID, and your Social Security number. It takes 5 to 10 minutes, it’s free, and you only do it once. After that, you can use the same account on other government websites that accept ID.me.
What is ID.me and why are you being asked to use it?
ID.me is a private company that works with the federal government to confirm people’s identities online. Instead of every website running its own system, ID.me verifies you once and then tells the website that it’s really you.
The main reason is to stop fraud. In recent years, some people had their health plans switched, or were enrolled in coverage without their permission. Asking for a photo of your ID and a selfie makes it much harder for someone to pretend to be you.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), these companies are not allowed to sell your data, and your medical information stays with the government, not with ID.me.
Where and when will you be asked to use ID.me?
Medicare.gov
Since 2026, when you create a new Medicare.gov account or verify your identity, you can choose ID.me, Login.gov, or CLEAR. If you already had an account, you can keep signing in with your usual username for now.
Marketplace health insurance
For 2027 Open Enrollment, extra identity checks are expected in states that use HealthCare.gov, like Florida. ID.me may be part of some of those steps.
IRS and Social Security
If you’ve ever signed in to your IRS or Social Security Administration account, you may already have a verified ID.me account. If so, you don’t have to start from scratch.
The exact steps can vary depending on the website asking. What doesn’t change is what you need to have on hand.
What you need before you start
A phone with a camera. A tablet or a computer with a webcam also works.
Your original, unexpired ID. Driver’s license, state ID, or U.S. passport.
Your Social Security number. It’s required for Medicare.gov.
An email address and a U.S. phone number. That’s where your security codes are sent.
Find a quiet spot with good lighting. Most rejections happen because of dark or blurry photos, not because something is wrong with your information.
How to verify your identity with ID.me, step by step
Step 1: Create your account
Go to the website that asked you to verify, for example Medicare.gov, and tap the ID.me button. Don’t search for ID.me on Google or open a link someone texted you. Always start from the official website.
If you already have an ID.me account, sign in with your email and password. If not, create one. You’ll be asked for a security code sent by text message or through an app. This is called “two-step verification,” and it keeps others out of your account even if they know your password.
When it asks how you want to verify, choose “Self-Service.” That’s the option to do it yourself from your phone.
Step 2: Take a photo of your ID
Allow access to your camera and take a photo of the front of your ID and, if asked, the back.
Do this
Shoot straight on, not at an angle. Place your ID on a dark surface, like a table or a black folder. Use good lighting and avoid glare on the plastic.
Avoid this
Cut-off edges, a finger covering information, or a blurry photo. A photocopy, a photo of a photo, or an expired ID won’t work either.
Step 3: Record your video selfie
ID.me compares your face with the photo on your ID. It’s a short video, and you don’t have to say anything.
Light in front of you. If a window is behind you, your face will look dark.
No hat or sunglasses. Your whole face needs to be visible.
Only you in the frame. Make sure no one else shows up behind you.
Phone about 12 inches away. Roughly the length of a bent arm.
Use a plain background and wait for it to finish processing before you tap anything.
Step 4: Enter your information and share your verification
Type in your address, phone number, and Social Security number. Before you submit, take a moment to review everything. A mistyped number or an address that doesn’t match your ID can make the verification fail.
At the end, you’ll see a screen showing what information will be shared with the website that asked you to verify. Tap “Allow.” That’s how ID.me tells Medicare.gov, or whichever site it is, that your identity has been verified.
Save this guide on your phone or share it with your family so you have it handy on the day you verify.
Protect your information
ID.me, Medicare, and the Marketplace will never ask for your Social Security number, password, or security code by text message, WhatsApp, or phone call. If someone asks for them “to help you with your verification,” hang up. Never share the code sent to your phone, not even with someone who says they work for the agency.
Were you asked to verify your identity and don’t know where to start?
A Lavita advisor can explain what’s being requested, check that you have the right documents, and walk you through it so your health coverage doesn’t get held up by this step.
What if the verification doesn’t work?
Don’t worry if it doesn’t go through the first time. It happens more often than you’d think, usually because of poor lighting or glare on the ID photo. Here are your options:
Try again in better conditions
Move to a different spot, face a window or a lamp, wipe your phone’s camera lens, and retake the photo. Often that’s all it takes.
Verify on a video call
If the automatic process can’t confirm your identity, ID.me may offer you a video call with one of its agents. You upload your documents, wait for them to be reviewed, and then show them to the agent during the call. It takes longer, but it works when the selfie doesn’t.
Verify in person
ID.me and Login.gov have locations where you can verify in person with your documents. For Medicare, CMS makes it clear that you don’t need a smartphone: you can also get help by phone or use a public computer, like one at a library.
Choose a different service
On Medicare.gov, you’re not required to use ID.me. If you’d rather not use facial recognition, you can choose Login.gov, which is run by the government itself.
Mistakes that slow down verification the most
Creating a second account. If you’ve already used ID.me for the IRS or Social Security, sign in with that same account. Opening another one with a different email often leads to a lockout, and you’ll end up calling support.
Using an expired ID. Check the date before you start. If your driver’s license recently expired, use your passport if it’s still valid.
Information that doesn’t match. If you moved and your license still shows your old address, what you type may not match. Use your information exactly as it appears in your official records, and if you’re unsure, ask for help before submitting.
Waiting until the last day. If verification gets complicated and you need a video call, it can take longer than you expect. With 2027 Open Enrollment starting November 1, 2026, it’s best to have your account ready ahead of time.
What if an agent helps me with my insurance?
You can keep working with the agent you trust. What changes is that you have more control: CMS tightened the rules so agents can’t be added to an application without your knowledge, and at some point you may be asked to confirm directly that you authorize your agent.
Your agent can guide you through the whole process, but you complete the identity verification yourself, with your own face and documents. No one can do it for you, and if someone offers to do it on your behalf, be suspicious.
If you haven’t reviewed your plan for next year yet, our step-by-step 2027 Obamacare renewal guide (in Spanish) can help.
Frequently asked questions
Is ID.me safe and official?
ID.me is a private company, but it works under contract with federal agencies like the IRS, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, and Medicare. It meets federal security standards and is not allowed to sell your data. To be safe, always start from the ID.me button on the agency’s official website, never from a link someone sent you.
How much does it cost to verify my identity with ID.me?
Nothing. Verifying your identity for Medicare.gov and other government websites is free. If someone charges you to do it, it’s a scam.
Can I verify with ID.me if I have an ITIN instead of a Social Security number?
For Medicare.gov, ID.me requires a Social Security number. Other services may have different requirements. If you have an ITIN or a special immigration situation, talk to an advisor before you start to find out which option applies to you.
What documents does ID.me accept?
For verification on your phone, the most common are a driver’s license, state ID, U.S. passport, or passport card. It must be the original document and it must not be expired. ID.me may accept other documents during a video call verification.
Do I have to verify every time I sign in?
No. The photo and selfie verification is done only once. After that, you just sign in with your email, password, and security code. If another government website requires the same level of verification, you can use the same account without repeating the process.
What if I don’t have a smartphone or I’m not comfortable with technology?
You have options: borrow a family member’s phone with a camera (the selfie and documents must be yours), use a computer with a webcam at a library, verify in person at an approved location, or get help by phone. For Medicare, you can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.
You don’t have to do this alone
At Lavita Insurance & Tax, we explain what’s being asked of you in English or Spanish, help you get ready for 2027 Open Enrollment, and make sure your health insurance or Medicare plan stays active with no surprises.
