The short answer
An Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) describes changes in a Medicare plan for the coming year. Use your own notice to prepare questions about coverage and costs.
A useful next step
Use the right year’s notice
Check that it is the notice for the coming year. Keep it with current documents for comparison.
Mark the topics that matter to you
Look for changes that raise questions about how you use coverage. Do not assume a summary verifies your providers or prescriptions.
Ask before deciding
Ask your Medicare plan to clarify details. If you want to explore a change, first confirm enrollment rules and effects on other coverage.
Words you can use
“Which changes in this notice could affect me, and where can I confirm the details?”
An everyday example · Fictional
Avery marks two sections in a notice and calls with questions. Reading the notice is useful even if Avery ultimately makes no change.
A question worth keeping
Ask what changes in next year’s notice could affect my care, prescriptions, or costs.
Words on this page
- Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)
- The letter your plan must send by September 30 listing what changes next year: costs, drugs, doctors, benefits. Upcoming plan changesmedicare.gov
Source and scope
General educational guidance. This does not confirm benefits, eligibility, deadlines, or costs for an individual.
Official sources
Links open the official site in this tab. We send no information about you. Checked October 10, 2026.