Don’t Miss the Most Important Medicare Message You’ll See This Year

If you’re on Medicare, watch your mailbox for your Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which should arrive by Sept. 30. This year’s notice is especially important, as it may herald major health coverage changes starting in January 2026.

What Is the Medicare Annual Notice of Change?

The Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a letter that explains any updates to your plan taking effect in January. You’ll get one for any Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans you’re enrolled in.

ANOCs detail changes to:

“Oftentimes, the letter looks like marketing materials,” said Tim Smolen, Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisor (SHIBA) program manager at the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, so many Medicare beneficiaries “don’t understand [that] it’s essentially their contract.”

Health insurers send ANOCs in the fall, typically by the end of September, so participating seniors can prepare for Medicare open enrollment, which starts Oct. 15 and ends Dec 7. The documents arrive by mail or email, depending on your set communication preferences. You can also find your ANOC on your insurer’s website.

Why It Matters This Year

Medicare plans change every year. However, for 2026, “significant benefit adjustments and reductions in certain categories are anticipated across the industry,” said Stephanie Jones, founder and CEO of iTAV Software & Services, a Medicare-focused health care technology company.

Following sweeping federal policy changes and broader shifts in the health care industry, seniors should be mindful of—and check their ANOCs for—these anticipated Medicare changes:

• Higher out-of-pocket costs. Part D premiums and deductibles are expected to rise by an estimated 6% and 4.2%, respectively, while its catastrophic threshold, a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs, will increase from $2,000 to $2,100.    
• Slimmer supplemental benefits. New federal guardrails prohibit 2026 Medicare Advantage (MA)plans from offering alcohol, tobacco, non-healthy food, and life insurance as Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). The move is in lockstep with private insurers who have steadily pared back MA supplemental benefits, including in-house support and over-the-counter drugs, in recent years.    
• Revised drug formularies. Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), including new negotiated prices for high-cost medications, are expected to impact the design and structure of prescription drug coverage, changing what might be covered.     
• New networks. Insurers are known to modify doctor and pharmaceutical networks to avoid price hikes or alleviate other financial pressures, impacting which doctors you can see and which medications you can use. 

Besides these in-plan changes, the local insurance marketplace could transform as well. “Some plans may leave the market, new plans can come in, networks may change,” said Brandon Hill, senior advisor at Beckett Financial Group, a financial planning firm in West Columbia, South Carolina.“So, it’s very important that beneficiaries do a comprehensive review of all the plans available to them in their resident ZIP code to make sure they are getting the best bang for their buck.”

How to Compare and Switch Plans If Needed

Fortunately, you have time between receiving an ANOC and open enrollment to assess your options.

Gather Information

Review your ANOCs and consider crucial cost, coverage, and network changes. For instance, ensure that your primary care physician remains in-network and that the plan’s drug formulary includes your current medications. 

“Before exploring other coverage options, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand how your 2025 benefits compare to what your current plan will offer in 2026,” said Jones. “Don’t hesitate to reach out to your current health insurer with any questions.”

Compare Plans

Explore other options if you determine your current plan will no longer get the job done. You can start on Medicare.gov, which helps you identify plans in your market, compare coverage options, and assess local hospitals and medical providers.

Understand a Plan’s Mechanics

Lower premiums generally correlate to higher out-of-pocket deductibles, maximums, and copays. While you initially pay less upfront, you owe more when you need care. These plans also might come with slimmer networks, worse prescription drug coverage, and other restrictions.

Higher premiums, conversely, mean a hefty monthly bill, but lower out-of-pocket costs. They could also offer more robust coverage and fewer restrictions. That’s why you should evaluate the entire picture beyond a plan’s premium.

Seek Assistance

If you’re having trouble picking a plan, you can use additional resources, like your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).

“Many people [who] can use the [Medicare website] tools are still going to struggle with the jargon and technical terms,” said Smolen. “If you create an online account, you can save and print your work, then get some help from a trained SHIP volunteer advisor or a trusted agent or broker.”

Make the Switch

Medicare Open Enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 each year. There’s a second window between Jan. 1 and March 31, during which seniors already on a Medicare Advantage plan can make changes, either switching to a different Medicare Advantage plan or leaving Medicare Advantage to rejoin Original Medicare.  

You can also face different deadlines or requirements, depending on your circumstances. For instance, veterans with TRICARE plans have open enrollment from Nov. 10 to Dec. 9, and dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries must navigate additional requirements.  

“Read the notices you get from your company,” Smolen said, and call the number on the back of your insurance card if you’re unsure of the relevant timeframes.

These enrollment periods go by quickly. Once they pass, you have to wait until the following year to make changes. That’s why starting your research as soon as possible is essential, beginning when you first get your ANOCs.