I'm choosing a plan
What's this Annual Notice of Change letter from my plan?
Photo: Kaboompics / Pexels
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is the letter your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends each fall listing what changes on January 1. Read it before December 7, the last day to switch.
What to do
- Find the ANOC in your mail or on the plan's website by the end of September; it is a separate letter, not the whole plan book.
- Check four things: the premium, the deductible, your drugs on the formulary (the plan's covered-drug list), and whether your doctors stay in network.
- Circle every change that touches care you actually use, and add up what it costs you over a year.
- Compare your plan with others on the Medicare.gov Plan Finder or with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), a free counseling service.
- Decide by December 7, the end of Annual Enrollment, because if you do nothing the plan renews as is.
What to say
I received my Annual Notice of Change. Can you walk me through what changes for the drugs I take and the doctors I see, and confirm my premium and deductible for next year?
Call the number on your plan card. Ask them to note in your file that you called today.
What to watch out for
Every situation is differentIf you’d like a second pair of eyes on yours, book a free 15-minute call.
Not opening the envelope. If you do nothing, your plan renews with the new costs and the new drug list, and your next chance to switch may be months away.
Better done together
We’re here to help
The Annual Notice of Change is easy to set aside, and the changes that matter most are often in the small print. We go through it with you: your doctors, your medications and your costs for next year, so you can decide whether to stay or switch before the deadline.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
Free · 15 minutes · No pressure
The rule behind it
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send an Annual Notice of Change each fall, before Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7). Medicare Advantage plans send a printed copy by September 30. It lists changes to costs, coverage, the provider network and the service area that start in January. Your plan's Evidence of Coverage is the full rulebook that the ANOC updates.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
- Medicare.gov — Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans (booklet)
- Medicare.gov — Your Yearly Medicare Review (fact sheet)
- Medicare.gov — Open Enrollment
- Your Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage
Amanda Alcodia
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
Start with the free Kit. If your situation needs a person, the intro call is free too.