Insurance companies MUST send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), postmarked no later than September 30th, to Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare Stand-a-lone Prescription Drug (Part D) members. (Part C is an inclusive plan privatizing Original Medicare, Part D prescriptions, and supplemental coverages all in one plan.  Stand-a-lone Part D plans are partnered with Original Medicare and/or a Medicare Supplement Plan.)  The ANOC informs Part C and Part D members about changes to their plan’s benefits, costs, and coverage for the upcoming year.

If your Part C or Part D plan is terminating at the end of the year, insurance companies must send you a Plan Termination Letter, postmarked no later than October 1^st.

For those with Part C Medicare Advantage Plans or Part D Prescription Drug Plans, you have the ability to review your plan options and enroll in a different plan at Medicare.gov. If you don't enroll in a plan, your current plan will be renewed for next year. The exception to automatic renewal is if your plan is terminating at the end of the year.  If so, you will receive a plan termination letter advising you to review the new plan options and enroll in a new plan for 2027.

On October 1st, Medicare.gov will display the 2027 Part C Advantage Plans and the Part D Prescription Drug Plans.  Click on the tab "Find Health and Drug Plans" to compare costs and/or to see your plan's costs for 2027.  From October 15th through December 7th (AEP), you may compare, select, and enroll in a new Part C or a Part D Plan for an effective date of January 1st, 2027.  (Enrolling in a new Part C or Part D plan will automatically disenroll you from your 2026 coverage at the end of the year.)

On this website under the tab “Medicare Resources”, you will find a couple video links explaining what is happening nationwide with Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and a handout and a video with instructions on how to use the Plan Finder tool at Medicare.gov.  (This is the same tool I use.)

You have the following additional resources for reviewing your Part C or Part D plan options and enroll in a plan when you are in a valid enrollment period:

1. Medicare.gov and select tab “Find Health and Drug Plans”
2. Visit the organization’s website that interests you and select “Shop Medicare Plans”
3. Calling Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE
4. Calling Minnesota Aging Pathways, 1-800-333-2433

For those with a Part C or Part D plan that is terminating at the end of the year, you will also have a special enrollment opportunity that starts on December 8^th and runs through February 28^th.  New enrollment applications received by December 31^st will have an effective date of January 1^st, 2027.

I will have more availability after January 1st, 2027, to answer questions about your Medicare and other coverages.  At a 2027 appointment, we can review your Part D prescription drug coverage, but you will not be able to make any Part D plan changes after December 7th, 2026.

Thank you.