Each fall, if you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D), you will receive a “Plan Annual Notice of Change” (ANOC) in the mail. If this is your first notice, or you’re unsure what you are supposed to do with this information, you may find this article helpful. Here is some background information on the Medicare ANOC, and what you should do when it comes in the mail in September.
Understanding the Medicare Annual Notice of Change
In late September, members of Medicare Advantage and Part D will receive a “Plan Annual Notice of Change”. The ANOC is sent by your plan to inform you of any changes in coverage, costs, or service area that will take effect in January. All Medicare plans are required to send this document no later than September 30, or 15 days before the start of the Annual Enrollment Period. The ANOC is usually mailed with your plan’s Evidence of Coverage (EOC), or documentation that goes into more detail about all of your plan’s cost, coverage, and benefits—beyond any new changes.
What You Should Do
In September, when you receive your ANOC in the mail, you should review any changes to make sure your plan will continue to meet your needs for the upcoming year. Plans often make annual changes to costs and benefits, which means that your copay could change, as well as which providers are in-network or out-of-network. When reviewing your ANOC, be sure of the following:
- Providers, services, and drugs you use are still available and covered under your plan.
- Any out-of-pocket cost for care and services is understood.
If you decide that upcoming changes to your plan will not fit your needs, you may want to change your Medicare coverage during Annual Enrollment (October 15 – December 7). This is your time to review available plans to find one that meets your individual needs best. Of course, if your plan isn’t changing, or new changes will not affect you, you don’t need to do anything at all and you will continue to receive the covered services and care you have now.
Note: If for some reason you do not receive this document by September 30, contact your plan immediately.
References:
https://www.medicare.gov/forms-help-and-resources/mail-about-medicare/plan-annual-notice-of-change.html
MUC60-2017-BCBS.
