What is the Annual Notice of Change, and what should I look for?
The Annual Notice of Change is the letter your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends each September showing what will be different next year: premium, deductibles, copays, covered drugs, network and extra benefits. Read it before October 15, because that is when you can switch if the changes do not suit you.
When it arrives and why it matters
Plans must send the Annual Notice of Change, often called the ANOC, by September 30. It arrives alongside or just before the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, which is your yearly chance to change plans. If you read nothing else your plan sends you, read this.
It compares this year’s plan with next year’s, side by side. Everything in it takes effect January 1 whether you read it or not.
The five things to check
- Premium. Is the monthly amount going up, down or staying the same?
- Deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket. The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you could pay for covered medical care in a year. A big jump here matters more than a small premium change.
- Copays for the care you actually use: your primary doctor, specialists, hospital stays, and any regular procedures.
- Prescription drugs. Look for your medications in the drug section. A drug moving to a higher tier, gaining a restriction, or dropping off the list can cost more than every other change combined.
- Network and extras. Is your doctor or hospital still in network? Are dental, vision, hearing or over-the-counter benefits changing?
Letters that look similar
The Evidence of Coverage is the full rulebook for the plan and is much longer. The Annual Notice of Change is the short comparison. If you received a non-renewal notice instead, your plan is ending and you should read our guide on what to do when a plan ends.
If you do not like what you see
You have from October 15 to December 7 to join a different plan for January 1. Bring the letter to a visit; an agent can compare the changes against other plans available where you live. If the changes are fine, you do not need to do anything and your plan continues.
Common questions
I never got an Annual Notice of Change. What should I do?
Call your plan’s member services line, the number on your ID card, and ask for it. Plans must provide it, and many also post it in the member section of their website.
Does Original Medicare send one?
No. The Annual Notice of Change comes from Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. People on Original Medicare receive the Medicare & You handbook each fall instead, and a Medigap insurer sends its own rate notice.
Can an agent read it with me?
Yes. It is one of the most common reasons people visit an office in October, and it is free.
Talk it through in person
Every office in this directory has licensed agents who will sit down with you, at no cost, and go through your situation. Find a Medicare office near you →