How do you stay up to date with changes in Medicare policies and plan options each year?
Answered by 75 licensed agents
I listen to a weekly podcast that does a deep dive on the news and notes of the industry. I just got back from an insurance conference in Las Vegas to keep me up to date and make connections. Because of the way the industry is constantly changing you have to keep up to date of you will be left behind.
Well, hopefully you have an Independent Medicare Broker that does that for you... at no charge by the way. It's not easy to stay up with all of the nuances of Medicare and all of the plan options... that's why I HIGHLY recommend finding a broker that ONLY does Medicare.
As a broker staying up on the changes in Medicare is part of the job. In order to help people, I need to know what the rules, costs and options available to individuals are. I do this by staying connected with CMS and the Social Security Administration through a number of websites. I also follow several industry contributors through blogs and newsletters. In addition, the carriers are required to share any changes with us as they are required to make sure their representatives have been informed of any changes. So for a full time broker, finding the information isn't too hard. The difficulty is finding the available time.
Hello, Bill Lawler here. The question is, how do you stay up to date with changes in policies and plans? With Medicare? Well, number one, talk to your agent. Your agent can help you. Every health plan sends out an annual notice of change each year, usually in September before October 1st. It's an annual notice of change called an ANOC, and that will tell you what the plan changes are for the upcoming year. I'm here to help.
The plan you are enrolled with should send you an email”annual notice of change” document in the month of October which is when open enrollment begins with Medicare advantage or prescription drug cards. This document tells you the changes made for the upcoming year. October 15- Dec 7 is the time to look at other companies offerings or to meet with a local agent to compare plans.
MEDICARE. GOV is the best unbiased resource. If you have Part C or Part D, the insurance company is required to mail your new evidence of coverage with listed monthly premiums, co-pays, deductibles etc. ALWAYS verify via Medicare for the drug coverage and preferred pharmacy or mail order to ensure your lowest drug costs. I have already saved a few clients over $1000 for 2026 by making plan changes via Medicare guidance.
We go over the changes every year in our annual review. Alternatively you get an annual notice of change every year from your current Medicare plan. Simple, Call me and ask, I am happy to go over the changes every year in our annual review.
5 Steps Every Client Can Follow To Ensure They Stay Informed, Educated, And Prepared for All Things Related to Medicare Plans, Options, and Policies:
1- Subscribe to the CMS/Medicare.gov email and notification List;
2- Review Your Annual Notice Of Change that comes out each year in October from your current plan carrier;
3- Review the Annual Medicare and You handbook issued by Medicare for reference throughout the year;
4- Schedule a Meeting with a Local, Trusted, Medicare Agent and Advisor to review your current plan and partner to develop a plan to meet your needs for the upcoming year;
5- Attend Local, Medicare 101 and Medicare Updates, Events that are hosted by licensed, trained, subject matter experts to get the most up to date information each year and strategies to maximize your benefits and options for the upcoming year.
The best way to stay up to date with policy changes for your Insurance is to schedule an annual review. We reach out to all our customers in October and set up appointments with them to discuss changes with their Healthcare and changes to the current policy they have.
How do you stay up to date with your Medicare plan changes from one year to another? It's really important that you review your coverage annually. Your health coverage needs may change, your prescriptions may change, and your insurance company may change. How your plan works and what it covers every September is crucial.
For those who are on a Medicare Advantage or a standalone prescription drug plan, you will receive what's called an annual notice of change. It's important for you to read that annual notice of change. Within the first four or five pages will be a summary that summarizes if any copays have changed, if the formulary of covered prescriptions has changed, any changes to the network, and any changes to the plan premium will be summarized on one page within the first couple of pages of the document.
It's important to read that document to understand it, and then review your coverage and compare it to all other plans available in your area. The most appropriate time to do this is during the annual enrollment period, which runs from October 15th through December 7th. I hope that provides some guidance. Until next time, be healthy and be well.
You engage the services of a trusted agent like myself. Insurance With T, LLC in Connecticut. I have 20 years of experience helping people with just their Medicare coverage. And 20 years of experience with group medical benefits. You may also contact Medicare.gov but it is very hard to navigate that Site.
If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan or a PDP-Prescription Drug Plan, every year (usually in September) you will receive an Annual Notice of Change document (ANOC) from your insurance company. This document highlights all the things that are changing in your plan. If you are on Original Medicare or on a Medicare Supplement plan, those plans are standardized and typically do not change from year to year.
Each July, I take the annual AHIP Testing required to keep up with the current changes, along with regularly going onto SSA.GOV and MEDICARE.GOV. By actively reviewing plan information, utilizing Medicare.gov resources, to staying informed about Medicare policies and plan options each year, and making informed decisions about the healthcare coverage.
Having a local broker is one of the best ways to stay on top of changes. They can research for you and normally receive the updates and changes from the insurance companies. They often hold seminars to communicate these changes annually and would be just a phone call away or a visit to their office to discuss your specific plan.
Honestly, the best way to stay up to date with changes to Medicare policies and plan options each year is to find a local Independent Insurance Agent that you trust and work with them. Find an agent that not only sells Medicare Supplements but also is certified to sell Medicare Advantage plans and stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans. These agents MUST go through ANNUAL certifications and training to stay up to date in order to sell these products. Medicare Advantage plan and stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan benefits change each year. If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan or stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, you will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) sometime in September of each year which will give you a side-by-side comparison of this year's benefits and the following year's benefits. This allows you to see at-a-glance what the differences will be, if any.
I stay current by completing all of my annual Medicare certifications and carrier recertification requirements, this provides training on new plan benefits, compliance rules, and policy updates.
I also review plan formularies, provider networks, and rate changes each year. This ensures my clients always receive the most up-to-date guidance and the coverage that fits their needs.
You can contact a local Medicare specialist in your area to look into that for you. If you look at your ZIP Code and the areas on this website, you can find them.
We are constantly going through 'continuing education' courses, classes and dialog with our insurance carriers, in addition to our standard yearly training on all new plans once they are introduced.
Agents are required to take continuing education courses and contract with each company every year. I also stay informed through medicare.gov and ssa.org.
Things mainly change each calendar year: from the Part B premium, to the Part B one-time per year deductible, to the daily rate in a hospital or nursing home, etc. This all has to do with the global economy which used to only include the US inflation rate but as we all know, it has permanently been altered.
As an agent we are required to test annually and I get my clients into a habit of sending me updated prescription drug info & Doctors list so that we can make sure their current plan is still going to meet their needs
The way to stay up to date with changes in one’s Medicare plan is to have an experienced veteran and knowledgeable broker assigned to you who knows the plans offered each year from the carriers. This way you won’t have to try to figure it out yourself but let the licensed broker do the necessary research for you.
ALWAYS(and rarely do I use that word) consult UNBIASED data sources such as the official government medicare website: www.medicare.gov or Kaiser Family Foundation: kff.org or Medicare Rights Center: https://www.medicarerights.org/
Note: KFF is the leading health policy organization in the U.S.
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As a licensed agent, we are required to go through multiple certifications every year to stay on top of these annual changes. We have to take a course the government provides that goes over national changes and then we have to go through certifications with every company we work with. It will take anywhere from 1-3 weeks a year to get all of those certifications done before we can legally represent those Medicare plans and companies.
To stay up to date with changes in Medicare policies and plan options each year, be sure to review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which is sent to you by your Medicare Advantage or stand-alone Part D drug plan. This important document typically arrives in September and outlines all updates to your plan for the upcoming year—such as changes to premiums, copays, drug coverage, or provider networks. It's essential to read it carefully. If you're happy with the changes, no action is needed—your plan will automatically renew. But if something doesn’t work for you, don’t wait. Contact a local licensed Medicare agent during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) to review other options that may better fit your needs. Staying informed each year ensures you're not caught off guard and that your plan continues to match your health and financial situation.
Continue yearly training on CMS rules and regulations and continue training with the company's yearly changes so we can be ready to help our customers and clients.
Great question! Medicare agents certify with CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) every year during the summer, where we are thoroughly educated on the rules, changes, responsibilities and compliance we are required to comply with in order to be allowed to represent Medicare plans. It's called the AHIP certification. We are required to pass a 150 question examination to obtain AHIP, each year.
Then, we submit our AHIP scores to the insurance carriers we wish to become appointed with to write their Medicare plans. Each insurance company requires us to complete an in-depth training and certification exam to be contracted with them, each year. If we are brokers (like me) we generally contract with multiple carriers to be able to give our clients multiple plan options across Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Prescription Drug Plans and ancillary plans such as hospital indemnity, dental, vision, critical illness, accident, ambulance, short term and long term care.
We also comply with continuing education requirements for our resident state licenses and any non-resident licenses we hold.
If you're working with a Medicare broker or agent who is AHIP certified, they will be highly educated and informed.
I would first reach out to your agent to inquire about any changes in Medicare and their plan options for the upcoming year. Additionally, I recommend regularly reviewing announcements and newsletters from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to stay informed about the latest developments. It’s also beneficial to review your Medicare & You Booklet and Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) to ensure you’re up-to-date with any changes.
Find yourself a good agent who will keep in touch with you throughout the year. Your agent should inform you of any changes to your plan and provide you with information regarding other plans that may fit your needs.
I have multiple trainings and meetings that I have to attend as well as Federal Mandatory education to be certified to even talk about plans each year. This is why I meet with all my clients so they are informed of any changes and whether they may need a more detailed meeting with me.
To remain informed about Medicare policies and available options, it is advisable to consult with a licensed insurance advisor, a S.H.I.P agent, or refer to the annual Medicare and You publication.
You can look in your Medicare & You booklet you receive each fall. In the back, it shows all Medicare Advantage plans and a little bit about them. You can check on line at the Medicare website, or you can contact a local agent to review your options. It is important to check each year as plan benefits change year to year,
With regard to Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans (PDP), call your agent/broker between 10/15 thru 12/7 of each year during annual enrollment period (AEP) when plans and pricing change.
Medicare supplement plan benefits generally stay the same except for a small increases in premium each year.
To stay up to date on Medicare changes, read the Annual Notice of Change and Evidence of Coverage (EOC) from your current plan provider. Use the Medicare & You handbook and the Medicare.gov tool to explore plan options and costs
I'm required to stay current Medicare publishes changes that they're going to make every year so we just review the bulletins and applied the changes. Most of the changes are pretty nominal. There might be an introduction or something here or there. Last year there was big changes to drugs plans which was very good. Dropped the max out of pocket down to $2,000 which it previously was $8,000 .
If you'd like to discuss this in more detail, contact me.
Your Medicare agent should be informing you of these changes to Advantage plans. He is permitted to do son on or after Oct 1st of each year. As for Medicare supplement policies, depending on which plan you are on, the only changes could be the Part B deductible and the High deductible amount for those on the HDF or HDG plans. Congress controls those numbers, not the plan. Supplement premium increases can happen anytime during the year.
Each year agents are required to take a general class and classes with each carrier to know what the changes are for the next year. Personally I attend class, seminars and keep up with reasearch through the year.
I believe you are talking about Medicare Advantage and not Medicare Insurance (Part A and B). Each year your Medicare Advantage plan will send out a Annual Notice of Change which will list the items they are changing (if any) such as your doctor is leaving the network or a particular formulary is no longer going to be covered, or a change in benefits. This letter comes out in September typically so watch for it and be sure to read it, some people just toss it thinking it is junk mail but this letter is very important so you know what is changing in your plan.
My recommendation is to use a consistent and knowledgeable agent to help/support you. As a Medicare agent, my "job" is to stay up to date on all things Medicare and be able to support and answer questions. If you have a good agent... You don't have to worry about keeping up! :-)
I am always reading and taking classes to stay up to date and informed on all plans and changes. Plus every year we are required to take classes on Medicare advantage and prescription drug plans.
Since I am in the business, I read all the articles on Medicare, which you too can do, but I get much of my information directly from the Insurance Carriers and some information directly from Medicare. I find that 98% of Medicare Supplement clients never change their policies. As for Medicare Advantage Plans, they seem to change each year to some degree and that means clients/policyholders need to really talk to their agent or a new agent about comparing their current Medicare Advantage Plan to a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period between October 15th and December 7th each year. There are usually some changes in the Medical Benefits and many times there could be changes to their Drug Formulary and that means you need to check to see if your current prescriptions are still covered on their formulary list. You also wish to make sure your doctors/providers are still on your plan as well as they are permitted to leave the plan any month of the year with 30 days notice to the carrier, but you cannot do that. -- Gary Haft
Visit MEDICARE.gov, which is the official federal government website, scroll down to the last tab titled "Get important news & updates," and subscribe to their newsletter email. Also, keep your agent's contact handy and do not hesitate to call him/her every time you need answers.
To be a Medicare insurance agent there are a lot of hoops to jump through each and every year to maintain our ability to present Medicare plans.
Each year we have a 5 hour training through AHIP. They give a final exam that we must pass with a 90 or above to be able to sell. We also must take certification classes and tests with each carrier that we represent each year. This includes ethics courses, fraud, waste and abuse courses and proper marketing courses. We also meet with each carrier representative in person or via zoom to learn their plans each year.
The average Medicare agent spends most of his summer taking classes and tests to qualify for the coming year.
First, every August I must recertify with every Carrier in my area... so... as an Independent Broker after becoming able to enroll people in the Carriers they need... in September all Plans will be released for my chance to review them... and then in October I can meet with all clients to make sure they get the right Plan for their needs.
Continuous information coming in from the companies I am contracted with, and reading a lot of third-party articles. Also, have some mentors/partners when there is a specific topic I am not 100% sure about.
I get the privilege of having an amazing FMO that brings out every major carrier throughout the calendar year to keep us up to date. We get training every single Tuesday and Friday every week of the year. I like to take pride in being completely up to date with Medicare legislation changes and carrier plan/network changes.
There are a couple of ways you can stay up to date with the plan options each year. You can get in contact with a Medicare advisor or use plan finders online such as the one on Medicare.gov. If you already have a Medicare health plan, be mindful that you will receive an Annual Notice of Change document that will list the changes for the following year. These documents are usually sent out in September.
I encourage everyone to enroll through the services of a good Medicare Agent. Your Medicare Agent knows your healthcare situation and will work with you if your needs change.
Medicare Agents receive training throughout the year from CMS (the Medicare government agency) and our insurance carrier partners. Finalized Medicare plans for the next year are approved and released per a fixed schedule determined by CMS.
Medicare Agents receive training on new plans before their official release to the public. You will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) from your current healthcare plan provider in late September or early October. Since not everyone reads their ANOC, your Medicare Agent will make you aware of important items and guide your selection of the best coverage for the new year.
Medicare plans update their premiums, drug formularies, and coverage annually. Reviewing your plan during Open Enrollment (Oct 15–Dec 7) ensures your coverage aligns with both your budget and your health needs.
I stay up to date by subscribing to many of my carriers' newsletters, attend lots of ongoing training sessions training webinars and am in several online groups and forums that discuss the latest in the medicare industry.
I am have software that will notify me of any changes to specific plans when the yearly changes come out around September and October so I prepared to let my current clients know and review these changes and options with them.
Consult a Local Licensed Insurance Agent or Broker that can meet you in person or over the phone as an Independent Medicare agent I must stay current with CMS rules and plan details through yearly certifications. Adn I can explain local plan changes (like new Advantage or Part D options) in plain language.
I complete all annual certifications and carrier trainings, review CMS updates, and stay in regular contact with the carriers I represent so I fully understand plan changes before each enrollment season.
The best way to stay up to date with changes is to have a trusted Independent Health Insurance Broker who reaches out to you each fall during AEP. AEP is when we review your current plan and needs and compare it to the next year's plans and determine which plan is the best fit for your specific needs.
Well, you stay in touch with me! Your great agent to help you review and stay up-to-date on your current policies and see if there are any concerns or and any changes needing to be done to better things in the coming years.
Yearly, there is testing to make sure we pass to keep selling Medicare from the government. Each carrier for Medicare has its own additional quizzes and tests that you must pass to sell their particular plans. Most carriers have a meeting online or in person to highlight their plan changes for the upcoming year, where we have a first look at the differences. If that isn't enough, your company may have more quizzes and information, not just on the rules and regulations, but on what to look for in clients for certain plans. Most brokers are well-tested, and experience matters, because 60% are standard enrollments. 20% are difficult because research is needed or issues with Social Security, billing or penalties. The last 20% might qualify for special enrollments based upon health and/or finances, where you need special training, knowledge, and patience to handle these enrollments. Many brokers and agents skip these or tell people they cannot help them due to a lack of experience or are scared of dealing with them. I was that way until my 5th year. I had a relative who had these needs, and I decided to learn and understand the options, rules, and regulations that are required to know how to help people.
I believe it's important for a senior to have a trusted resource to guide them through the yearly changes in Medicare and Medicare plan changes, such as an independent licensed agent. An independent agent, such as myself, would know about these changes in Medicare policies and plan options and having yearly reviews would help you, the Medicare beneficiary, stay up to date with the latest changes. I hope this helps.
Your plan mails out an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by the end of September every year, you need to carefully review this document and if the changes don’t meet your needs you should contact your agent to review a new plan. You should meet with your agent every year to make sure your current plan still meets your needs of if you need to consider changing plans and/or carriers.
Your plan will send you updates via mail or email with the plan changes. You can stay up to date by checking your plans website reaching out to your agent to find out about changes. Also Medicare.gov is a good resource to stay up to date with Medicare changes.
I track Medicare news the way sports fans track scores... daily and with plenty of coffee! All year I sift through CMS updates, insurer trainings, and enough fine print to wallpaper the house. Then I run it through it again and translate it into plain English you can actually use.
Starting in October, I call each client to discuss what’s changing for the upcoming year. During Annual Enrollment (October 15th through December 7th), we huddle up, compare the new line‑up of plans, and pick the one that makes the most sense for you and your family. No acronyms, no guesswork, just clear choices. I stay on top of the rules so you can stay on top of life.
Every year I have to re-certify with Medicare. This is a multi-hour process of study and then a final exam which must have a 90% score to remain certified by Medicare to be an agent that can sell Medicare products. Additionally, each carrier I represent (about 12-15 each year) has their own compliance study and tests to certify knowledge to sell their plans each year. These also have to be completed with a 85-90% score. I complete all this over a 1-2 week period each year to be compliant for Medicare Annual Enrollment which runs from Oct 1-Dec 7.
