If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, your plan is required to mail you an Annual Notice of Change by September 30 every year. That document is in your mailbox or inbox right now. Many people set it aside without reading it. That decision costs some of them significantly more money, access to their doctors, or coverage for their medications in the coming year.
The Annual Notice of Change tells you exactly how your plan will work differently starting January 1, 2027. Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7, exists specifically so that you can review your ANOC and switch plans if your current one is no longer the right fit. But you cannot make that decision well without reading the document first.
This guide explains what the Medicare Annual Notice of Change is, what changes to look for, and what steps to take before the December 7 deadline.
Key Facts: Medicare Annual Notice of Change 2026
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Medicare plans are required to send ANOCs by September 30 each year (CMS)
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The ANOC outlines all changes to your plan’s costs, coverage, and network taking effect January 1, 2027
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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 through December 7, 2026
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Changes made during AEP take effect January 1, 2027
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If your plan is not changing in ways that affect you, no action is required
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If you do not receive your ANOC by September 30, contact your plan directly
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The ANOC arrives alongside or just before the Evidence of Coverage (EOC)
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Nationally, more than 33 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans (CMS, 2026)
What Is a Medicare Annual Notice of Change?
The Annual Notice of Change, commonly called the ANOC, is a document your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan sends you each fall. Per CMS requirements, your plan must mail it by September 30 so you have time to review it before the Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15.
The ANOC is not a bill, a marketing piece, or a renewal form. It is a formal disclosure of every material change your plan intends to make for the coming plan year. Federal regulations require plans to disclose these changes clearly so that beneficiaries can make an informed decision about whether to stay enrolled or switch.
The ANOC covers your plan for the next calendar year. What it says about January 2027 is what you will experience if you stay enrolled. Reading it before October 15 gives you the full AEP window to act on what you find.
What Does the Medicare ANOC Include?
Your ANOC will vary by plan but must address each of the following areas where changes are occurring.
Premium changes. Your monthly plan premium may increase, decrease, or stay the same for 2027. The ANOC will state your new premium clearly. Even a modest increase compounds over 12 months, so compare the new figure against what you paid in 2026.
Deductible and cost-sharing changes. Copays, coinsurance amounts, and deductibles for doctor visits, specialist appointments, hospital stays, and other services can change from one year to the next. The ANOC outlines what you will pay out of pocket for specific categories of care in 2027.
Prescription drug formulary changes. This is often the most consequential section. Plans can add, remove, or change the cost tier of drugs on their formulary each year. If a medication you take regularly is moving to a higher tier, being removed entirely, or requiring prior authorization in 2027, that information appears in the ANOC.
Provider and pharmacy network changes. Doctors, specialists, hospitals, and pharmacies leave and join plan networks annually. If your primary care physician, a specialist you see regularly, or your preferred pharmacy is leaving your plan’s network for 2027, you need to know before January 1.
Benefit changes. Many Medicare Advantage plans include supplemental benefits not covered by Original Medicare, such as dental, vision, hearing, transportation, or fitness memberships. These benefits can change or be discontinued. The ANOC will reflect what stays, what changes, and what is no longer available for 2027.
Service area changes. Plans operate within defined geographic service areas. If your plan is contracting or exiting an area, your enrollment may be affected. The ANOC will disclose any service area changes.
What Should You Do After Reading Your ANOC?
Reading your ANOC leads to one of two conclusions, and both have a clear next step.
If you are satisfied with the changes. If your premium, drug coverage, providers, and benefits all remain acceptable for 2027, you do not need to take any action. Your plan will automatically renew. Make a note of any small changes, such as a copay adjustment, so you are not surprised in January.
If any change creates a problem. If your drug is moving to a higher tier, your doctor is leaving the network, your premium is increasing significantly, or a benefit you rely on is disappearing, use the Annual Enrollment Period to compare alternatives. You have from October 15 through December 7 to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch back to Original Medicare, or change your Part D plan. Any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.
Do not wait until late November to start this process. A licensed Medicare advisor can walk you through a comparison of your current plan against available alternatives in your county the moment 2027 data is available on October 15.
What to Review Alongside Your ANOC
The Evidence of Coverage. Your plan sends the EOC alongside or shortly after your ANOC. The EOC is the complete contract between you and your plan for the 2027 plan year. If your ANOC notes a change but you want to understand it fully, the EOC is where the complete language lives.
The Medicare Plan Finder. Available at medicare.gov, the Plan Finder lets you compare available plans in your zip code using your list of medications and your preferred providers. It updates with 2027 plan data when the Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15.
Common Mistakes Medicare Beneficiaries Make With Their ANOC
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Setting it aside to read later. AEP closes December 7. Waiting until late November leaves limited time for a thorough comparison.
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Assuming nothing changed. Plans change every year. Never assume your 2026 plan structure carries unchanged into 2027, particularly with formularies and provider networks.
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Focusing only on the premium. A lower premium plan can cost more overall if its copays, drug formulary, or out-of-pocket maximum create higher total costs.
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Not verifying your providers independently. Call your doctor’s office directly to confirm in-network status for 2027. Plan directories sometimes lag behind actual network changes.
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Missing the December 7 deadline. After December 7, you cannot make standard plan changes until the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027.
How a Licensed YourMedPlan Advisor Helps You Review Your ANOC
The Medicare plan landscape includes dozens of plans in most counties, each with different cost structures, networks, formularies, and supplemental benefits. Comparing your current plan against available alternatives requires checking multiple variables against your specific medications, providers, and health priorities.
A licensed YourMedPlan Medicare advisor who represents multiple plans provides a structured comparison that accounts for all of those variables. They can identify whether a plan change would save you money overall, whether your drugs remain covered at an acceptable tier, and whether your doctors are in-network under alternatives. This guidance is provided at no cost to you.
Reach out to YourMedPlan today for a no-cost Medicare plan review before the December 7 deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare Annual Notice of Change
What is a Medicare Annual Notice of Change?
The Medicare Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, is a document your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is required to send you by September 30 each year. It outlines all material changes to your plan’s premiums, cost-sharing, drug formulary, provider network, and benefits taking effect January 1 of the following year.
When should I receive my Medicare ANOC?
Your plan must send your ANOC by September 30. Most beneficiaries receive it in September, before the Annual Enrollment Period opens October 15. If you have not received your ANOC by late September, contact your plan directly.
What is the difference between the ANOC and the Evidence of Coverage?
The ANOC summarizes changes to your plan for the coming year. The Evidence of Coverage is the complete contract governing your plan for the full year. Read the ANOC to understand what is changing, and consult the EOC for full details on any specific provision.
Do I have to do anything after receiving my ANOC?
Not necessarily. If you review your ANOC and find that the changes do not affect your coverage meaningfully, you can do nothing and your plan will renew automatically. You only need to act if a change creates a problem you want to address before January 1.
What if my drug is no longer covered on my plan’s formulary?
If the ANOC indicates a drug you take is being removed from the formulary or moved to a higher cost tier, use the Annual Enrollment Period to compare alternative plans. A licensed YourMedPlan advisor can run this comparison at no cost.
When is Medicare Annual Enrollment Period 2026?
The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any changes you make during this period take effect January 1, 2027.
What happens if I miss the December 7 deadline?
If you do not make changes by December 7, your current plan automatically renews for 2027. Limited changes may be available during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31, 2027.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare during AEP?
Yes. The Annual Enrollment Period allows you to switch from a Medicare Advantage plan back to Original Medicare and, if needed, add a standalone Part D prescription drug plan.
Should I work with a Medicare advisor to review my ANOC?
A licensed YourMedPlan advisor who represents multiple plans compares your current plan against available alternatives, verifies your drugs and providers, and identifies the plan that fits your specific health situation. This service costs you nothing.
Reach out to YourMedPlan today for a no-cost review of your Medicare coverage before the December 7 deadline.
Important Disclosures
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently, we represent multiple organizations that offer a variety of products in your area. For information on all available options, please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
This blog post provides general educational information about the Medicare Annual Notice of Change and does not constitute enrollment advice for any specific individual. Medicare plan availability, costs, benefits, and network details vary by plan and location and are subject to change annually. Please review your plan’s Annual Notice of Change and consult a licensed Medicare advisor before making enrollment decisions.
SandStone Partners Health, LLC dba YourMedPlan is not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency. This is an advertisement for insurance. Not all carriers or plans are available in every state or region. Plan availability, benefits, and costs may vary by location.
