What is the Annual Notice of Change, and why should I read it?

Question

Tonya White · Accepted Answer

The Annual Notice of Change is a document specific to the plan that you have, either a Medicare Advantage plan or a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan. The importance of this document is that it will notate changes in premiums, benefits, coverage levels, co-pays, co-insurance, or medication changes within the plan. It's important for you to review this so you're not surprised by unexpected costs or coverage levels that may have changed. This is a document that I encourage my clients to review, as well as having a review with me about their plan benefits and changes, to see if there is a more optimal plan for them for the next plan year. Some clients have not done this, specifically related to the Part D prescription drug plans. They did not do a review, did not pay attention to their Annual Notice of Change, and assumed that their plan would operate the same in the next plan year. That was not the case. Certain drugs were not covered, and others were not covered to what had been covered before, which led to very high costs for them, and they were not able to make a change until the following plan year. So, it's really up to you whether you pay attention to this notice or not. Just know that if you do not, you could have higher costs in the next plan year, and depending on the plan type you have, you may or may not be able to make the change.

Answered by Tonya White on October 5, 2026

Agent Licensed in CA, MA, MI & 5 other states

Answered by Tonya White Medicare Insurance Agent

Mark Bilgere · Answer

Your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a letter from your carrier explaining how your MAPD or PDP is changing from the current year to the next. It is important that you read your ANOC so you know if the plan you are currently in is changing in any significant way. These letters are required to be delivered to you by September 30th so you can evaluate the new plans and make a decision during the Annual Enrollment Period, Oct. 15 through Dec. 7th.

Answered by Mark Bilgere on September 18, 2026

Broker Licensed in TX, AR, IN & LA, MN, NE & OK

Answered by Mark Bilgere Medicare Insurance Agent

Marc Gilman · Answer

If you've got a Medicare Advantage or a Part D drug plan, you will soon receive your Annual Notice of Change or ANOC for short. The ANOC is mailed to you by the end of September.

Your ANOC spells out exactly what's different about your plan for next year — your premium, your benefits, what you'll pay out of pocket, and the rules around your coverage. Do not  assume that because you liked your plan this year, it'll be the same plan for next year. Plans change annually. The name on your card can stay exactly the same while almost everything underneath it shifts.

When you get your ANOC, I suggest that you do two things--specifically.

First, check your prescriptions. Go down your medication list and confirm each one is still covered, and still at the same cost tier as before. A drug that was affordable this year can move to a much more expensive tier next year, with no warning beyond that letter.

Second, check your providers. Confirm your doctors, your specialists, and your pharmacy are still in that plan's network for next year. Networks shift constantly, and losing an in-network doctor can be a bigger disruption than any premium change.

Here's the timing that matters. These letters typically go out by September 30th. That's not an accident — it's timed to give you a couple of weeks before Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15th, so you actually have time to compare before you have to decide.

So when yours arrives, don't set it aside for later. Read it the week it shows up. And then schedule a review with you local, licensed Medicare Agent. I recommend to my customers a review before Annual Enrollment starts on October 15th and most certainly before it ends on December 7th.

Jeremy Harkins · Answer

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans send an Annual Notice of Change explaining changes for the next year. Review premiums, benefits, cost sharing, and coverage rules rather than filing it away unopened. Then verify your prescriptions and providers for the coming year. Keeping the same plan name does not guarantee the same costs or coverage.

Answered by Jeremy Harkins on September 14, 2026

Broker Licensed in TN, AR, CA & 5 other states

Answered by Jeremy Harkins Medicare Insurance Agent

Chris Ransom · Answer

This document is sent out each fall and explains the changes to plans costs and coverage. Additionally, this is the time to verify your doctors, hospital and pharmacy are still participating in your plan.

Answered by Chris Ransom on October 5, 2026

Broker Licensed in MS

Answered by Chris Ransom Medicare Insurance Agent

Jason York · Answer

The Annual Notice of Change or (ANOC). It is very important to read so you can learn what the changes are to your plan. 

The plan you are in can change so dramatically that it no longer makes sense for your needs. 

Again, I say this a ton but an agent who cares.... will reach out to review that ANOC with you!

Jonathan Potter · Answer

This lists the changes in your plan and covers all the details of the plan for the coverages that didn't get changed.

Ruth Neuenschwander · Answer

Annual notice of change is important to read. It tells you how your current plan will look like and if it will still be available in your area. 
I highly recommand to read the annual notice of change so that you don't have a surprise by the beginning of the year.

What is the Annual Notice of Change, and why should I read it?

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What is the Annual Notice of Change, and why should I read it?

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