Before AEP: What Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change Is Telling You

If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, a document called the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) should have landed in your mailbox by now. It's easy to set aside, but it's one of the most important pieces of mail you'll get all year — and understanding it before the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) begins can save you a surprise come January.

TL;DR

• The ANOC outlines exactly what is changing about your current plan for the upcoming year.
• It arrives every September, ahead of the AEP that runs October 15 through December 7.
• Reviewing it carefully — not skimming it — is the best way to know if your plan still fits your needs.
• If something has changed significantly, AEP is your window to make a switch.

Why This Matters

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are allowed to change their costs, coverage, and provider networks from one year to the next. The ANOC is how plans are required to tell you about those changes in advance. Without reading it, you could start the new year with a different pharmacy network, a new premium, or a provider who is no longer in-network — all without realizing it happened.

What You'll Need

• Your Annual Notice of Change letter (check your mail or your plan's online portal)
• Your current plan's Evidence of Coverage document, for comparison
• A list of your current medications and prescribing providers
• Your Medicare.gov account login, if you want to compare plans directly

Reading Your ANOC, Step by Step

1. Locate the "Summary of Important Costs" section

This section typically appears near the front of the notice and lists your plan's premium, deductible, and key cost-sharing changes side by side with this year's numbers.

Common mistake: Only noticing the premium number and skipping past changes to deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.

2. Check for provider and pharmacy network changes

Plans sometimes narrow or shift their contracted networks from year to year.

Common mistake: Assuming your current doctor or pharmacy will automatically still be in-network next year.

3. Review your Part D drug formulary changes

If you take maintenance medications, compare the new formulary tier placement against this year's.

Common mistake: Not checking formulary changes until after a pharmacy visit in January, when it's too late to make an AEP change.

4. Compare your plan's star rating changes, if listed

A plan's quality rating can shift year to year and may affect certain services or rebates.

Common mistake: Treating star ratings as a minor detail rather than a signal worth a closer look.

5. Decide whether your plan still fits — or if it's time to compare options

If the changes are minor and your providers remain in-network, you may be comfortable staying put. If not, AEP is the time to look at alternatives.

Common mistake: Waiting until December 6 to start comparing plans, leaving no time for a thoughtful decision.

6. Mark your calendar for AEP dates

AEP runs October 15 through December 7 each year, with changes taking effect January 1.

Common mistake: Confusing AEP with the separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period that runs January through March, which has different rules.

Troubleshooting

• "I never received an ANOC letter — what do I do?" Contact your plan directly or check their online member portal; they're required to make this notice available.
• "My plan is being discontinued — what happens?" You should receive a separate non-renewal notice, and you'll have a Special Enrollment Period to select a new plan.
• "Is Original Medicare affected by ANOC changes?" No — ANOC letters apply to Medicare Advantage and Part D plans; Original Medicare's standard benefits are set at the federal level each year.
• "Can I switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare during AEP?" Yes, AEP allows switches in either direction, including adding a standalone Part D plan.
• "What's the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage?" Medigap supplements Original Medicare's cost-sharing, while Medicare Advantage is an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits, often through a network-based plan.

Tools and Resources

• Medicare.gov Plan Finder tool
• Your plan's Evidence of Coverage document
• Medicare & You handbook (CMS, updated annually)
• Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for free, unbiased counseling

What To Do Next

Pull out your ANOC letter this week, even if you plan to keep your current plan. A 15-minute read now is far easier than untangling a surprise cost or network change after January 1.

FAQ

When does the ANOC typically arrive? Plans are required to send it by the end of September each year.

Do I have to do anything if I'm happy with my plan? No action is required if you want to stay enrolled, but it's still worth reading the notice.

What's the difference between ANOC and AEP? The ANOC is the notice describing changes; AEP is the window during which you can act on that information.

Can my premium change without notice? No — any premium change for the coming year must be disclosed in the ANOC.

Where can I get unbiased help comparing plans? Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling, and a licensed local advisor can also walk through options with you.

One Last Thing

The ANOC isn't meant to alarm you — it's meant to inform you. Treating it as a yearly check-in, rather than junk mail, is one of the simplest habits that keeps your coverage aligned with your needs.

Related Guides

• Turning 65 and Leaving a Job? How COBRA and Medicare Enrollment Interact
• Why "Fixed" Retirement Income Rarely Stays Fixed: Planning for Inflation

MSJ Benefit Advisors, LLC is a licensed health insurance agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical, legal, or financial advice. Plan availability, benefits, and costs vary by carrier, plan, and state.