What is an ANOC and What Do I Need to Know About It?
August 19, 2024 | Todd Lewison
If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan, you may have heard the term or even received an “Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).” If you are not quite sure what this is, its significance, or the details you need to be aware of, you’ve come to the right place. We are here to help you understand more about the ANOC that your Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan will send you every year and what actions you need to take.
What is an ANOC?
An ANOC is the plan’s Annual Notice of Change document. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan (MA/MAPD) or a stand-alone prescription plan (Part D), the insurance company you are enrolled with will send you a Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall at the end of September or by October 1. Changes outlined in this document will become effective the following January.
An ANOC generally includes information about changes in:
- Plan premium
- Costs for services or
- Formulary changes affecting prescription coverage
- Benefits including covered services
- Service area
Knowing this information will help you plan ahead for the year if there are any changes to your Medicare or medicine costs.
What Should I Do When I Get The ANOC?
When you first receive an ANOC, look through any plan changes to decide if your current plan will continue to be the right fit for you in the upcoming year. If you have questions about your current plan or you would like to switch to a new plan, our licensed agents can answer your questions and help you learn about the wide range of Medicare and supplemental insurance plans.
Get the Details at an ANOC Meeting
Another way to get all the important information outlined in your Annual Notice of Change booklet is by attending an ANOC meeting. These meetings are conducted by our experienced Medicare agents, who are knowledgeable about the details outlined in your plan’s ANOC notice. In addition to hearing the information in person, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming changes and how they will impact you and your Medicare coverage. Attending our ANOC meetings is highly recommended, as our experienced agents can identify important details and potential issues that only their trained eyes might catch, ensuring you receive the best possible guidance.
Do you have questions about your Plan Annual Notice of Change? With the yearly changes in cost and coverage, we know how confusing Medicare can be. That’s why our Medicare and health insurance agents offer free informational Medicare workshops and opportunities for one-on-one meeting with our Medicare agents.
This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.
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