Don’t toss your Medicare Annual Notice of Change letter

September 1, 2026
•
3-minute read

Every fall, your insurance company sends you a Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter, and it could affect what you pay for health care next year.1

Before it lands in the recycling bin with the rest of your mail, here's what it tells you and what to do about it.

What Is an ANOC?

The Medicare Annual Notice of Change is a letter from your private Medicare insurance company explaining the changes coming to your Medicare Advantage plan or Part D plan in the following year.1

Your ANOC may include changes to any of the following:

  • Monthly premium
  • Annual deductible
  • Out-of-pocket maximum
  • Copays for medical services or medications
  • Provider and pharmacy networks
  • Drug formulary (the list of generic and brand-name drugs your plan covers)

If any of these are changing, you'll want to know before the new plan year starts, so you can decide what to do in response.

What to look for in your ANOC

As you read your letter, compare next year's details to what you have now. A few changes matter most:

  • Your medications. Your plan may no longer cover one or more of the drugs you take. If that's the case, you could enroll in a new Part D plan that does provide coverage.2
  • Your doctors & pharmacy. If your providers are leaving the network, you'll need to look for a plan that includes them or find new providers who are in network.
  • Your costs. Your premium, copays, or out-of-pocket maximum may change. If the new amounts don't work for your budget, you can look for a plan with costs that do.

You should also consider your own health. Do you need a different level of care now than you did earlier in the year? If so, make sure your current plan meets your future needs.

Evaluating these changes and comparing what's available each year helps you find a plan that fits your budget and your health needs.

Didn't get your ANOC?

If you don't remember receiving your letter, or you can't find it, call your plan carrier. Many plans also send the ANOC electronically or post it on your plan's website.

  • One exception: if you have a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan, you won't receive an ANOC.3 These plans don't make annual changes.

What to do after reading your ANOC: 2 options

Once you review your Medicare Annual Notice of Change letter, you have two options:

1. Keep your plan. If your plan still fits your needs, there's nothing you need to do. Your current plan will automatically renew on January 1.

2. Find a new plan. If you decide you want to make a change, you can choose a different plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7.4 Your new coverage takes effect January 1.

Either way, hang on to your letter. It's a useful reference if you have questions about how your coverage changed from last year.

Still have questions about your Medicare ANOC letter?

If you want help translating your Medicare Annual Notice of Change letter into plain language to help you decide if you should keep your current plan or find a better fit, we can help. Just give us a call at (888) 302-2699 to speak with a licensed health insurance agent or find one in your area. 

1. Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). (2026). Medicare.gov. Retrieved from: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/forms-publications-mailings/mailings/costs-and-coverage/upcoming-plan-changes Accessed on July 10, 2026.

2. Joining a plan. (2026). Medicare.gov. Retrieved from: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/get-more-coverage/joining-a-plan Accessed on July 10, 2026.

3. What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)? (2026). Medicare.gov. Retrieved from: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap Accessed on July 10, 2026.

4. Open Enrollment. (2026). Medicare.gov. Retrieved from: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/open-enrollment Accessed on July 10, 2026.

Medicare
Medicare Basics

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