Your Yearly Medicare Plan Review (Annual Notice of Change)

Austin TylerLocal Kentucky Medicare agent · June 9, 2026 · 5 min read

Here's a habit that saves people money every year and almost nobody does: review your Medicare plan each fall. Plans change — and so does your health — so the plan that was perfect last year may not be this year. The good news: there's a built-in window to fix it.

The Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7

Every fall, this is your chance to change your coverage for the next year. During the Annual Enrollment Period you can:

Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.
Switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
Join, switch, or drop a Part D drug plan.

Any change you make takes effect January 1. (Want the full calendar? See Medicare Enrollment Periods Explained.)

Read your "Annual Notice of Change" (ANOC)

The letter itself, explained in a minute and a half.

Read the transcript

Lightly edited for readability.

If you are in Kentucky, or really anywhere in the country, and you are on Medicare, you will receive something in the mail by September 30th from the insurance company your plan is with. It's called an Annual Notice of Change. They are legally obligated to send this out to you by September 30th, and what this booklet is going to outline for you is what is changing on your plan from one year to the next.

So it's not spam. It's actually a pretty valuable document to read. It's probably the most important thing the insurance company will send you each year.

I've probably helped over a thousand Kentuckians look through their Annual Notice of Change. It's confusing, it's full of insurance jargon. But that's what we're here for. It doesn't cost you a penny to come sit with us. What we can do is go over your Annual Notice of Change with you, just to make sure that plan is still the best fit for you going into the next year.

So what I suggest is, don't just discard it, don't throw it away. Your health insurance for the next year, in my opinion, is a very important topic, and you should know what is on it and what has changed.

What we don't want you to do is show up at the pharmacy in early January, or show up at the dentist thinking you had a certain amount of money for a procedure, and then it turns out you had less, meaning you have to pay more out of pocket. Or that prescription at the pharmacy has increased. Those are the things we want to prevent for everybody on Medicare here in Kentucky.

So when you get that document, feel free to bring it up to the office or give us a call. We're happy to help.

Each September, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change spelling out what's different next year — the premium, the deductible, the drug list, the network, the copays. Don't toss it. A plan can quietly change in ways that cost you hundreds, and the ANOC is your heads-up.

Your 4-point yearly check

Your drugs: is every prescription still covered, and at a good price? Drug lists (formularies) change yearly.
Your doctors & hospital: still in-network for next year? Networks change too.
Total cost, not just premium: add up premium + deductibles + expected copays. A $0-premium plan isn't cheapest if the copays are high.
Star rating & service: how is the plan rated, and how was your experience this year?

A second window: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment

If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan and realize after January that it isn't working, you get one more do-over from January 1 to March 31 — switch to another Advantage plan, or go back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan.

You don't have to do this alone.This is exactly what a local agent does — for free. Bring your plan, your medication list, and your doctors, and we'll check whether you're still in the best fit for next year. No pressure to switch if you're already in a good spot.

Common questions

When can I change my Medicare plan?

The main window is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15–December 7, with changes effective January 1. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get a do-over January 1–March 31.

What is the Annual Notice of Change?

It's the document your plan sends each fall explaining what's changing next year — premium, drug list, network, and copays. Review it before the Annual Enrollment Period.

Should I review my plan even if I'm happy with it?

Yes. Plans change their costs, drug lists, and networks every year, so it's worth a quick check each fall to confirm it's still your best fit.

Does it cost anything to have an agent review my plan?

No. A licensed agent is paid by the insurance companies, not by you, so a yearly review is free.

Quick recap

Review your Medicare plan every fall — plans and your health both change.

The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15–December 7; changes take effect January 1.

Read your Annual Notice of Change (sent each September) to see what's different next year.

Check four things: your drugs, your doctors/hospital, your total cost, and the plan's rating.

In a Medicare Advantage plan? You get a second do-over window January 1–March 31.

Test what you learned

Five quick questions — pick an answer to see if you're right, and why.

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This article is general information, not advice for your specific situation, and Medicare rules and figures can change. 2026 amounts are from CMS. Tyler Insurance Group is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. For complete details on all your options, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.