If you have Medicare Advantage or a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan, your carrier must send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by September 30. The notice explains how your plan will work on January 1. Many people set it aside with the rest of the fall mail — but that envelope is the starting point for Annual Enrollment, also called Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7.
If you take no action during that window, you generally stay in the same plan under its new rules. Doing nothing is a choice. The question is whether next year's version still fits your doctors, drugs, and budget.
Why the ANOC matters now
Plan names often stay the same while the details move. Premiums, copays, drug tiers, pharmacy networks, and provider lists can all change. The ANOC is the plan's official summary of those changes for the coming contract year.
Original Medicare alone does not send this type of notice. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies use different renewal mail. This article is written for people in Medicare Advantage or Part D who receive an ANOC each fall.
What to verify before October 15
Set the notice next to your medication list and the names of your doctors, hospital, and pharmacy.
- Monthly premium and deductibles. Note any change in the plan premium. Part B is billed separately by Medicare.
- Copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximum. A $0 premium can still cost more if specialist or hospital cost-sharing rises.
- Prescriptions. Confirm each drug stays on the formulary, which tier it sits in, and whether prior authorization rules change.
- Pharmacy. Preferred pharmacies and mail-order rules can change from year to year.
- Doctors and hospitals. Verify primary care, specialists, and the hospital you would use remain in network for next year.
- Extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and OTC allowances are often added or trimmed first.
- Plan continuation. Make sure the plan will still be offered in your county. If it is leaving, you will need a new choice during enrollment.
For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our ANOC checklist or our guide to five Medicare terms to know before Annual Enrollment.
What to do after you read it
- If nothing important changed and the plan still fits, you can keep it.
- If costs, drugs, or networks shifted in a way that affects you, compare options before December 7. Start with the Plan Finder at Medicare.gov.
- Bring the ANOC, your medication list, and your doctors' names to a review — that is faster than starting from scratch.
CDA Insurance can walk through that comparison with you for Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. Call (800) 884-2343 or use the contact page.
Key dates
- September 30: deadline for plans to send the ANOC
- October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period (Open Enrollment) for Medicare Advantage and Part D
- January 1: most enrollment changes take effect
Need a second set of eyes?
We can review your notice and compare options at no cost to you.
This article is for general education. It is not a plan recommendation, quote, or guarantee of coverage. Benefits, premiums, networks, and eligibility vary by plan and county and can change. CDA Insurance LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Official program information is available at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.