What to Do with Your Medicare Annual Notice of Change Letter
The Medicare Annual Notice of Change Letter (also known as the ANOC) is a notification sent to Medicare beneficiaries each September from their plan provider.
The letter lets seniors know that the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is coming up, allowing them to make changes to their Medicare health benefit plan.
Beneficiaries with a Medicare Advantage Plan, Part A, Part B or Part D prescription plan will receive the ANOC
However, people with Medigap Plan or Medicare Supplement Plan will most likely NOT receive the notification, as this plan’s benefits do not change annually.
To ensure you know what to look for and what you can do with your ANOC, let’s take a look at a sample letter.
Medicare annual notice of change letter example
1. Verify your plan provider’s logo and details
To ensure the letter is from your provider, look for the company’s logo at the top of the letter. Additionally, at the end of the letter, you’ll find their email signature, contact information and National Producer Number.
2. “Medicare Open Enrollment”
Your provider may reference Medicare Open Enrollment in your ANOC. The term is simply another name for Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
3. “October 15th and ends on December 7th.”
You can make changes to your Medicare Insurance benefits only once a year between these dates.
4. “Your current plan will automatically continue into the next year.”
Your provider is letting you know that your plan will not change unless you take action. You will automatically have the same coverage for the upcoming year.
5. “If you are happy with your current coverage, no action is required.”
Similar to number four, if you feel your benefits met all your healthcare needs throughout the year, you do not need to do anything. You are good to go for another year!
6. “However, if you are dissatisfied with your current plan…”
This is a critical part of the letter. It lets you know that should you want to make changes to your existing plan, you need to contact your provider as soon as possible. You will most likely schedule an appointment to discuss your plan options and make any changes.
Another thing to do with your ANOC
When you receive your ANOC, you may want to take the time to reflect on the previous year—your health and how well your coverage met your needs.
Did your health change, requiring additional health provider visits—or fewer? Did you change medications? This simple exercise can help you decide whether or not you need to make any plan changes for 2020.
AEP begins October 15th and ends December 7th each year. If you wish to make changes to your Medicare Advantage Plan for 2020, please book an appointment with our retention specialist today! Here’s a link to their calendar: https://calendly.com/support16
