Medicare beneficiaries tend to receive plenty of mail, especially as fall approaches, so it’s understandable when another thick insurance envelope heads straight for the recycling bin. But there’s one piece of Medicare mail you should open before tossing anything: your Annual Notice of Change, commonly called the ANOC. This document tells you what’s changing in your Medicare Advantage or Medicare drug plan for the coming year, including changes that could affect what you pay and what your plan covers. That’s especially important heading into 2027 because Medicare plans can adjust their benefits, costs, drug coverage, and other details from one year to the next. Spending 20 minutes reviewing your Medicare Annual Notice of Change could prevent months of frustration (or unexpected expenses) after January arrives.
