2027 Medicare Annual Notice of Change: What to Look For
Got your 2027 Medicare Annual Notice of Change? Learn what plan changes to review, including costs, benefits, prescriptions and coverage for next year.
The Annual Notice of Change compares your current Medicare plan with what that plan will look like next year.
It’s one of the most important Medicare documents to review before Annual Enrollment because it can show changes that affect what you pay and how your coverage works.
Your ANOC may include changes to things such as:
Monthly premiums
Deductibles
Copays and coinsurance
Maximum out-of-pocket costs
Prescription drug coverage
Plan benefits and coverage rules
The changes described for 2027 generally take effect January 1, 2027.
1. Check Your Plan Costs
Start by comparing your 2026 costs with the amounts listed for 2027.
Look at your:
Monthly premium
Medical deductible, if applicable
Doctor and specialist copays
Hospital costs
Emergency room and urgent care costs
Maximum out-of-pocket limit
A plan can keep the same name and still have different costs the following year.
2. Review Your Prescription Coverage
Your prescription needs may not have changed, but your plan’s drug coverage can. Check whether your medications will still be covered and whether there are changes to:
Drug tiers
Copays or coinsurance
Deductibles
Prior authorization
Step therapy
Quantity limits
Preferred pharmacies
Don’t rely only on what you paid this year. Verify your prescriptions against the 2027 plan information.
3. Verify Your Doctors and Hospitals
Your ANOC is a starting point, but I also recommend checking your doctors, specialists and hospitals directly against the plan’s 2027 provider network. Provider networks can change, and keeping your doctors may be one of the most important factors in deciding whether your current plan still works for you.
4. Look at Extra Benefits
Medicare Advantage plans may include additional benefits, and those benefits can change from year to year.
Review things such as:
Dental
Vision
Hearing
Transportation
Fitness
Over-the-counter allowances
Food or grocery benefits when applicable
Pay attention not only to whether a benefit exists, but also to how much you receive and how you can use it.
5. Consider What Has Changed for You
Your plan isn’t the only thing that can change. Ask yourself:
Do I have new doctors?
Have my prescriptions changed?
Have I had new health concerns?
Am I using my current benefits?
Have my expected medical costs changed?
Is my preferred pharmacy still a good fit?
A plan that worked well for you in 2026 may or may not still be the best fit for your needs in 2027.
When Can You Compare 2027 Medicare Plans?
Medicare encourages people to begin reviewing next year’s plan options starting around October 1. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, and changes made during this period generally begin January 1.
You do not have to change plans simply because Annual Enrollment arrives. If your current plan still fits your doctors, prescriptions, costs and health needs, you may decide to keep it.
The important part is knowing what is changing before making that decision.
What If You Don’t Receive Your ANOC?
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare plan and don’t receive your Annual Notice of Change, Medicare recommends contacting your plan.
The Bottom Line
Your 2027 Annual Notice of Change is worth more than a quick glance.
Use it to review your costs, prescriptions and benefits, then verify your If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare drug plan, your plan sends you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. This document explains changes to your plan’s coverage, costs and other details that will take effect in January. Medicare says these notices are sent in September.
Even if you like your current plan, don’t assume everything will stay the same for 2027. Premiums, copays, drug coverage and benefits can change from one year to the next.
