If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare prescription drug plan, an important piece of mail should be arriving in the coming weeks: your 2027 Annual Notice of Change, often called the ANOC.
This document explains what will be changing with your current Medicare plan for the upcoming year. Even if your health, medications, and doctors have stayed the same, your plan may not.
That does not automatically mean you need to change plans. It does mean your ANOC deserves a closer look.
Here are five areas to review when it arrives.
1. Check Your Monthly Premium
Start by looking at whether your plan's monthly premium will change for 2027.
Some Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 monthly plan premium, but that does not mean other costs will stay the same from year to year.
If you have a prescription drug plan, pay attention to any change in the monthly premium as well.
2. Review Copays and Other Out-of-Pocket Costs
Your ANOC should explain changes to the amounts you may pay when you use your coverage.
Look for changes to costs such as:
- Primary care visits
- Specialist visits
- Hospital stays
- Emergency room visits
- Outpatient procedures
- Diagnostic testing
A small change may not seem significant by itself, but several changes together can have a larger effect over the course of a year.
3. Look Closely at Prescription Drug Coverage
Prescription coverage is one of the most important areas to review each year.
Check whether your medications are still included on your plan's drug list and whether any medications have moved to a different tier.
You should also watch for changes to:
- Prescription copays or coinsurance
- Preferred pharmacies
- Prior authorization requirements
- Step therapy requirements
- Quantity limits
If you regularly take prescription medications, these changes can make a noticeable difference in your costs.
4. Review Doctors, Hospitals, and Provider Networks
Your ANOC may also contain information about changes to your plan's provider network.
If you have doctors, specialists, hospitals, or medical facilities that are especially important to you, make sure they will continue participating with your plan in 2027.
Provider networks can change, so it is worth checking even if you have been seeing the same doctors for years.
5. Check Extra Benefits
Many Medicare Advantage plans include benefits beyond Original Medicare.
Depending on the plan, these may include:
- Dental
- Vision
- Hearing
- Over-the-counter benefits
- Transportation
- Fitness benefits
- Additional supplemental benefits
Review whether these benefits are changing for 2027, including the amount available, copays, limits, or how the benefit can be used.
What Should You Do If Something Is Changing?
Seeing a change in your ANOC does not automatically mean you should switch plans.
The first step is understanding how the changes affect you personally.
Consider your doctors, prescriptions, expected medical care, plan costs, and the benefits you actually use.
Once 2027 Medicare plan information becomes available, you can compare your current coverage with the options available in your area and decide whether staying with your current plan still makes sense.
The goal is not to change plans simply because something changed. The goal is to avoid finding out about an important change after the new year begins.
Want a More Detailed ANOC Checklist?
I put together a more complete guide covering what to look for when your Annual Notice of Change arrives.
Read my complete 2027 Medicare Annual Notice of Change guide:
https://shawnrayinsurance.com/2027-medicare-annual-notice-of-change
If you'd like to review your 2027 Medicare coverage with me once the new plan information is available, you can schedule a time here:
Schedule your 2027 Medicare review:
https://shawnrayinsurance.com/calendar
Taking a few minutes to review your ANOC now can make it much easier to understand your Medicare coverage for 2027 and avoid unwanted surprises later.
