If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Part D prescription drug plan, your insurance carrier is required to notify you of any changes to your plan for the upcoming year. This is known as the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).
Insurers are required to mail this out to you by September 30. If you opted to go paperless your ANOC will be emailed to you. ANOC’s are timed to go out prior to the fall Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. This gives you time to assess the changes and enroll in another plan if your plan no longer seems to be a good fit.
Medicare Plans Could Change for 2026
Evolving regulations could have an impact on Medicare Advantage benefits and costs for plan year 2026.
In a final rule issued in 2025, CMS established a list of non-allowable supplemental benefits, including funeral planning, non-healthy foods, and hospital indemnity insurance. If your Medicare Advantage plan offered any of these benefits, they will no lower be allowed. Other changes in the final rule impacted coverage for insulin and vaccine.
Other changes are always possible as insurers try to control costs while meeting the needs of members. It’s always important to read over your ANOC carefully to see what is changing and whether those changes will positively or negatively affect your health and finances.
What to Look For
Your ANOC will offer a side by side comparison of current benefits and changes for 2026. Some changes may be considered beneficial while others may have a negative impact. Here is what you should be looking for:
1. Changes to your out-of-pocket costs
This includes your monthly premium, deductibles copays, coinsurance, and the out-of-pocket maximum.
2. Changes to benefits
This can include new benefits being offered as well as services that will no longer be covered.
3. Changes to provider networks
Verify that your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are still in the plan’s network.
4. Changes to the drug formulary
Each insurer has their own unique list of approved medications known as a formulary. Formularies can change as medications are added, removed, or moved to a different tier. Carefully review each of your medications to ensure they are still on the formulary. Check for any changes to the tier your medications fall on as that will determine what you pay. Lower tiers generally cost less while higher tiers cost more. Look for any additional requirements that may have been added such as prior authorizations, step edits or quantity limits.
How to Proceed
Once you have reviewed your ANOC you may have questions and be uncertain on how to proceed. You may be unclear on how the changes will impact you and your healthcare. You may realize your current plan is no longer the best one for you, but looking for a new plan and finding the right one feels a little overwhelming. The good news is you are not alone. A local, licensed Medicare agent can help educate you on your options and guide you in making an informed decision. They will review your ANOC and help you interpret how the changes will affect you. They will take into consideration what medications you take, what doctors you see, any chronic health conditions you may have, your lifestyle and your budget.
If you determine that changing plans is the right move, they have knowledge of the insurance carriers and plans offered in your area. They will help you find the right coverage and will assist you in enrolling in a new plan for January 1, 2026. They will ensure your application is processed with no issues and will make sure you get your new ID card. They will be available to assist with any issues or concerns you have with your coverage during the year. They will offer an annual review of your coverage every AEP to ensure it’s still the best possible plan for you. All of this is done at no cost to you. When you work with a local licensed Medicare agent you will have peace of mind knowing you have an experienced advisor at your side.
Do you need help finding a licensed agent in your area? You can locate a Medicare professional with our Medicare Insurance Agent Directory.
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