Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change shows what changes on January 1.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, a letter from your plan should have arrived by the end of September. It is easy to set aside: it looks like routine paperwork, and it is often many pages long. But that letter explains what your plan will cost and cover starting January 1, and you only have until December 7 to act on it during this fall’s open enrollment.
The letter is called the Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. Here is what it is, the lines worth reading first, a worked example of how small changes add up, and what to do if something in it worries you.
Your Annual Notice of Change lists how your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is changing for next year. Check the premium, the out-of-pocket maximum, your copays, your drugs and their tiers, and whether your doctors and pharmacies are still in network. If the changes do not work for you, compare plans and switch during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Changes take effect January 1.
What the Annual Notice of Change is
Medicare Advantage plans and Part D prescription drug plans send members an ANOC each year. According to the National Council on Aging, you should receive it by September 30, by mail or email depending on your preference, and plans usually post it on their website too.
The ANOC is a summary of what is changing. The more detailed document is the Evidence of Coverage (EOC), which explains exactly what the plan covers and your rights as a member. Some plans send the EOC with the ANOC. If yours did not, you can find it on the plan’s website or ask member services to mail you a copy.
If you have Original Medicare only, with no Advantage or Part D plan, you will not get an ANOC from a plan. You will still receive the “Medicare & You” handbook, and a Medigap policy, if you have one, may send its own notices about premium changes.
Why this year’s letter deserves a closer look
Several changes for 2027 affect drug coverage in particular. As reported by the Associated Press in October 2026:
- The yearly out-of-pocket cap on Part D drug costs rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026.
- The standard Part D deductible rises from $615 to $700.
- A temporary federal program that has helped hold down some Part D premiums ends after 2026, which may affect premiums for some plans.
- New Medicare-negotiated prices take effect for 15 more drugs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.
Your own plan may set a lower deductible than the standard amount, and what you pay for a specific drug depends on your plan’s formulary. That is exactly why the ANOC matters: it tells you what your plan is doing, not what the average plan is doing. You can confirm current figures on Medicare.gov.
The 7 lines to read first
1Monthly premium
Look for the plan premium for next year next to this year’s amount. A plan can still show a $0 premium and change other costs, so do not stop here. Remember that most people also keep paying the Part B premium separately.
2Maximum out-of-pocket amount
Medicare Advantage plans set a yearly limit on what you pay for covered medical services in network. If that limit goes up, a bad health year can cost more. Some plans have separate limits for in-network and out-of-network care.
3Doctor, specialist and hospital copays
Check the copay for primary care visits, specialist visits, inpatient hospital stays, outpatient surgery, imaging, emergency care and skilled nursing care. A few dollars more per visit adds up if you see a specialist often.
4Your drugs, their tiers and the deductible
Find each drug you take on next year’s formulary (the plan’s drug list). A drug can move to a higher tier, require prior authorization or step therapy, or be dropped. Check the drug deductible too, and whether it applies to all tiers.
5Doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in network
The ANOC may say the network is changing, but it may not list every provider. Call your key doctors’ offices and ask directly whether they will be in your plan’s network next year. Check your pharmacy, and whether it is “preferred,” because that can change your copay.
6Prior authorization and referral rules
Some plans add or change approval requirements for certain services. If you have a planned surgery, ongoing therapy or a specialist you see regularly, look for any new referral or approval rules that could delay care.
7Extra benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, fitness and over-the-counter allowances can shrink, grow or disappear from one year to the next. If you chose the plan for its dental coverage, check the yearly dollar limit. Our guide to the limits of Medicare Advantage dental, vision and hearing perks explains what to look for.
A worked example: how small changes add up
These numbers are made up to show how to estimate the effect of plan changes. They do not describe any real plan.
Linda’s Medicare Advantage plan keeps its $0 premium for next year, so at first glance nothing changed. Her ANOC shows two other changes:
- The specialist copay rises from $40 to $50. Linda sees her cardiologist about 10 times a year.
- One of her medications moves from a tier with a flat $47 monthly copay to a tier with 25% coinsurance. The plan’s monthly cost for the drug is $400.
| Change | This year | Next year | Extra cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist visits (10) | 10 × $40 = $400 | 10 × $50 = $500 | $100 |
| Medication (12 months) | 12 × $47 = $564 | 12 × (25% × $400) = $1,200 | $636 |
| Total | $964 | $1,700 | $736 |
A “no change” premium hid about $736 in extra yearly costs. Linda’s drug costs would still count toward the Part D out-of-pocket cap, and in real life her drug deductible would also matter. But the point stands: the premium alone does not tell you what a year will cost.
What to do after you read it
- List every drug you take, with the dose, and check each one on next year’s formulary.
- Call your main doctors and your pharmacy to confirm they will be in network next year.
- Estimate your total yearly cost (premium plus expected copays and drug costs), not just the premium.
- Compare other plans in your area using the official Medicare Plan Finder. Our guide on using the Plan Finder to spot hidden costs walks through it.
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
- If you decide to switch, enroll by December 7 so the new plan starts January 1.
Key dates to remember
- By September 30: your plan’s Annual Notice of Change should arrive.
- October 15 to December 7: Medicare open enrollment. You can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
- January 1: changes take effect.
- January 1 to March 31: if you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change, either to a different Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
One caution if you are thinking about leaving Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare: buying a Medigap supplement later is not always guaranteed, and in many states insurers can review your health. Read whether you can switch back to Original Medicare later before you decide.
Didn’t get the letter?
Check your plan’s website first, since most plans post the ANOC online. If you still cannot find it, call the member services number on the back of your plan card and ask them to send it. Do not wait until December, because comparing plans takes time.
And be careful with unexpected calls during this season. Your plan will not cold-call you asking you to “verify” your Medicare number to keep your benefits. Our guide on Medicare card verification calls explains the warning signs.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do anything if my plan is not changing much?
No. If you stay in the same plan and it is still offered, you are usually re-enrolled automatically. Still, it is worth confirming your drugs and doctors, because small changes are easy to miss.
Is the ANOC the same as the “Medicare & You” handbook?
No. “Medicare & You” is a general handbook about Medicare. The ANOC comes from your specific Medicare Advantage or Part D plan and describes changes to that plan only.
What if my plan is leaving my area next year?
Plans that are not renewing must tell members. If your plan is ending, you will generally have options to choose new coverage, and the notice from your plan should explain your choices and deadlines. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your local SHIP if you are unsure.
Can I help a parent review their ANOC?
Yes, and many families do. With your parent’s permission, sit down together with the letter, their drug list and their doctors’ names. Our Medicare open enrollment checklist for caregivers walks through it step by step.
Where can I check the official numbers?
Medicare.gov publishes current premiums, deductibles and plan information. Your plan’s ANOC and Evidence of Coverage show the amounts for your specific plan.
The Annual Notice of Change is the one piece of plan mail worth reading every fall. Spend 20 minutes with it, check your drugs and doctors, estimate your total yearly cost, and make any change by December 7.
Sources:
- National Council on Aging: What Is a Medicare Annual Notice of Change?
- Associated Press via ABC7: A new Medicare season begins, but some shifts will arrive in 2027
- Medicare.gov
This article is general educational information, not legal, medical, financial or insurance advice. The Health Advocate is a privately owned website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or any government agency. Plan details vary. Confirm costs and coverage with your plan, Medicare.gov or your local SHIP before making a decision.