As we approach the Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP) that runs from October 15 thru December 7, you are going to start receiving a ton of mail. Plans in your area, your current Medicare Advantage or your Medicare Prescription Drug plan and possibly mail from Medicare itself.

All this mail is meant to help you make an informed decision during the upcoming Annual Election Period (AEP) but as we all know, it can be overwhelming.

What you do with all this mail is up to you but there is one piece of mail you need to pay attention to and read.

The letter is sent by your Medicare Advantage or your Medicare Prescription Drug plan and is called “Plan Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) and will include information about any changes in your plans service area, coverage, or cost. All changes noted in the letter will take effect on January 1, of the following year.

The information is provided to you so you may decide if the plan will continue to meet your health and budget needs in the coming year.

What to look for in your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) 

Provider Network (Medicare Advantage plans only)
Are your current healthcare providers (hospitals, doctors, and specialist) still a part of your plan provider’s network?

Costs
Is your plan premium increasing? Are copays, coinsurance, or deductibles increasing?

Pharmacy Network and Drug Formulary
Is your preferred pharmacy still in the plan’s network? Are the costs of any of your prescription drugs increasing?

Note
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is usually mailed with your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC), which will provide you with a more detailed list of the plan’s changes.

Make sure you take the time to understand any of your plan changes to avoid surprises on January 1. If you have questions, you may call the customer service number on the back of your plan’s members’ card. In addition, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

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