An Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) outlines ways your Medicare Advantage plan benefits and costs will change in the coming year. Learn what to expect from your ANOC.
The Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, is a letter that describes any upcoming changes in your current Medicare plan coverage, costs or networks that will take effect on January 1 of the following year.
The fall Medicare Open Enrollment Period (also called the Medicare Advantage Annual Enrollment Period) lasts from October 15 to December 7 every year. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their coverage including switching, droping or enrolling in a new Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.
Before AEP rolls around, Medicare beneficiaries should look out for vital information about their Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage as outlined in their Annual Notice of Change.
Join our email series to receive your free Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
By clicking "Sign me up!” you are agreeing to receive emails from MedicareAdvantage.com.
Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!
LICENSED AGENTS AVAILABLE NOW
TTY 711, 24/7 Continue onlineAnyone enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan will receive an Annual Notice of Change.
Private Medicare plan carriers are required by law to send a notice to all policy holders, even if there are no changes in store for the upcoming year.
Your Annual Notice of Change should arrive in your mailbox by September 30.
If you don’t see it by then, contact your plan carrier directly to verify that it has been sent out or to request a new one.
Some of the changes that may be noted in your ANOC include:
Coverage
Costs
Network
Drug formularies
Reviewing your Annual Notice of Change is a critical step in ensuring you’re enrolled in the proper coverage for your needs in the following plan year.
Some important questions to consider may include:
Even if there are no notable changes being made to your plan, it’s still a good idea to compare plan options during this year’s fall open enrollment for Medicare, as changes to costs and coverage may be taking place for other plans that could now make them more attractive than your current policy.
You can get help shopping for Medicare Advantage plans available near you by calling to speak with a licensed insurance agent. They can help you compare plan costs, benefits and the drugs the plan covers (if it offers prescription drug coverage).
You can also compare plans online for free and – if you’re eligible and have a qualifying enrollment period – apply for a plan online. Qualified beneficiaries can only enroll in Medicare Advantage plans during predetermined enrollment periods unless they experience a qualifying life event for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period.
We represent carriers such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare ® , Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna Healthcare, Wellcare, or Kaiser Permanente.
Speak with a licensed insurance agent
TTY 711, 24/7Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
