Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC): What to Check Before December 7

Every September, people with a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan get a letter called the Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. It tells you exactly what your plan is changing on January 1. A lot of people set it aside. It’s worth 20 minutes before Annual Enrollment closes on December 7.

I’m Michael Cubell, a licensed independent agent with Triangle Life & Health (licensed since 2013, NPN 16899969). I help people in 15 states sort through Medicare every day. Here’s the plain-English version.

What Is the Annual Notice of Change?

The ANOC is a standardized letter from your Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Part D drug plan. CMS requires it every year. It compares this year’s plan to next year’s, side by side, so you can see what’s going up, what’s going down, and what’s going away.

It is not a bill and it doesn’t require you to do anything. But the changes in it take effect automatically on January 1 if you stay in the plan.

The ANOC Checklist: 9 Things to Look For

Have your letter, your list of medications (with doses) and the names of your doctors in front of you. Then go down this list.

What to check	What to look for	Why it matters
1. Monthly premium	Did it go up, down, or change from $0?	Premium changes are the easiest to spot and the easiest to budget for.
2. Deductibles	Medical deductible and drug deductible	Part D plans can charge a drug deductible up to $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). Many plans charge less or $0.
3. Maximum out-of-pocket	The yearly cap on what you pay for covered medical care (Medicare Advantage)	This is your worst-case number for a bad health year.
4. Copays and coinsurance	Primary care, specialists, hospital stays, outpatient surgery, imaging	A small copay change on something you use often adds up.
5. Drug list (formulary)	Is each of your medications still covered? Did any move to a higher tier?	Also look for new prior authorization or step therapy rules on drugs you take.
6. Pharmacies	Is your pharmacy still in network? Is it still “preferred”?	Preferred pharmacies often have lower copays than standard ones.
7. Doctors and hospitals	Are your doctors and hospital still in network for 2027?	Networks can change. Confirm with the plan’s 2027 directory and with your doctor’s office.
8. Extra benefits	Dental, vision, hearing, over-the-counter allowance, fitness	These extras can shrink or disappear from one year to the next.
9. Service area	Does the plan still cover your county?	Especially important if you’ve moved or split time between states.

Tip: Bring Your Pill Bottles

The drug list is where most surprises hide. Before you compare anything, write down every prescription with the name, dose and how often you take it. Pulling the bottles out of the cabinet is the fastest way. That list is what lets you (or me) check real 2027 costs instead of guessing.

Remember the Part D out-of-pocket cap: in 2026 it’s $2,100 and CMS has confirmed $2,400 for 2027. Here’s how the Part D out-of-pocket cap works.

ANOC vs. Evidence of Coverage vs. Non-Renewal Letter

Document	What it is	When
Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)	Summary of what your plan is changing next year	Received by September 30
Evidence of Coverage (EOC)	Full details and rules for next year’s plan	Available by October 15
Non-renewal notice	Your plan is leaving Medicare or your area next year	Sent in the fall, separate from the ANOC

What If Your Plan Isn’t Renewing?

If you get a letter saying your plan is ending, don’t panic, but don’t sit on it either. You can choose a new plan during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), and you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the end of February. If you don’t pick anything, you’ll be moved to Original Medicare, which means you’d need to look at drug coverage and possibly a Medicare Supplement. More on Medicare Special Enrollment Periods.

Your Options After Reading the ANOC

• Everything still fits: you don’t need to do anything. Your plan continues January 1.
• Something changed that matters to you: compare plans during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7).
• You miss December 7: if you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) allows one change.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Annual Notice of Change arrive?

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send it so you receive it by September 30. Most people get it in the second half of September. If you haven’t seen yours, call the member services number on your plan ID card or look on the plan’s website.

What happens if I ignore my ANOC?

If your plan is renewing, you generally stay in it for 2027 with the new premium, copays, drug list and networks described in the letter. Doing nothing is a decision too, so it’s worth checking the changes before December 7.

Is the ANOC the same as the Evidence of Coverage?

No. The ANOC is the short summary of what’s changing. The Evidence of Coverage (EOC) is the full rulebook for next year’s plan, and plans must make it available by October 15.

What if my letter says my plan is not renewing?

That’s a separate non-renewal notice, not the ANOC. You can pick a new plan during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7), and you also get a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the end of February. If you don’t choose anything, you’re returned to Original Medicare, so drug coverage needs attention.

Do Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies send an ANOC?

No. The ANOC is for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. Medigap insurers notify you separately when your premium changes.

Can someone go through my ANOC with me?

Yes. You can call your plan, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). You can also call me with your letter, your medication list and your doctors’ names, and we’ll go through it line by line.

Questions? Let’s Talk It Through

Got your ANOC in front of you and not sure what it means? Read it to me over the phone and we’ll go through it line by line, along with your medications and doctors. I can compare plans from the carriers I’m contracted with. Call me at (919) 944-8443 or schedule a free consultation. No pressure, just straight answers.

📞 Call (919) 944-8443