What is the ANOC

The Annual Notice of Change is the document that tells you what will be different in your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the coming year. Plans generally must send it so you have it by September 30. Annual Enrollment then runs October 15 – December 7. Changes in the ANOC usually take effect January 1. The Evidence of Coverage (EOC) is the longer rulebook. Start with the ANOC; use the EOC if you need the fine print.

Why “I’m happy with my plan” is not enough

A plan can keep the same name and still change. Networks, drug lists, copays, premiums, and extra benefits can all move. A doctor who was in-network this year may not be next year. A drug that was on a low tier can move to a higher one — or off the list. The ANOC is how you find that out before January, not after a claim is denied.

What to check, in order

Read it against the care you actually use — not against a friend’s plan or a TV ad.

  • Monthly premium and any Part B giveback (those can change)
  • Your doctors, specialists, and the hospital you already use
  • Your prescriptionsThe plan’s drug list. It says which prescriptions are covered and which cost tier they are on., tiers, prior approval, preferred pharmacy
  • Medical copays, the yearly maximum out-of-pocket, and skilled-nursing rules
  • Dental, vision, hearing, OTC, and transportation extras — if you rely on them

If you have Original Medicare and Medigap

You may not get a Medicare Advantage ANOC. You still get notices that matter: a Part D ANOC if you have a drug plan, Social Security notices about the Part B premium and An extra amount some people with higher incomes pay on top of the Part B and Part D premiums. Social Security decides it. It is not a plan fee., and — in California — a chance to review Medigap around your birthday. Original Medicare cost-sharing also updates each year. “I have Medigap” is not a reason to skip the mail in the fall.

Reading it is not the same as changing

Reading the notice is a review, not an obligation to switch. Many people stay after they check the ANOC. Some people need to change because a doctor, drug, or cost moved. Use this checklist during the October 15–December 7, 2026 Annual Enrollment Period to review your coverage for 2027. Gather your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacy preferences, and current plan notices before comparing options. It does not enroll you or pick a plan. The annual review checklist is this same list in a form you can fill in. If a sentence in the letter is hard to follow, load the PDF or paste that paragraph into Explain a Medicare Letter. The file stays on your device. Leave out your name and Medicare number when you paste. What to remove before using an AI tool.

  • Doctors I want to keep, including primary care and specialists.
  • Hospitals and facilities I already use.
  • Prescriptions, with the name, dose, and how often I take each one, and the pharmacy I use.
  • Oxygen, CPAP, a wheelchair, or other suppliers.
  • Travel I expect in 2027.
  • I read this year’s Annual Notice of Change for 2027 changes.
  • I compared options on Medicare.gov for my ZIP code.
  • I checked that those doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions are still covered.
  • I estimated the year, not only the premium.
  • If I make a change, I saved the confirmation number and the plan documents.

If you never got the packet

Call the number on your member ID card and ask them to send the ANOC and EOC. You can also review plan materials on Medicare.gov. Do not wait until January and assume nothing changed.