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Enrollment & timing

Medicare Plans Must Mail 2027 Annual Notices of Change by September 30

Federal rules require every Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plan to send current members a notice of all 2027 coverage changes no later than September 30, giving beneficiaries two weeks to review before open enrollment begins October 15.

By the Goodsurance editorial teamAugust 12, 2026

Every fall, federal regulation requires Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans to mail an Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, to every current member by September 30. The document discloses every modification taking effect January 1 of the coming year, including changes to monthly premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance, drug formularies and coverage tiers, prior authorization requirements, and provider and pharmacy networks. If a plan is exiting a county or terminating its contract entirely, a separate non-renewal notice must also be sent, typically on the same timeline.

For 2027, the ANOC cycle carries unusual weight. Scores of Medicare Advantage plans have trimmed supplemental benefits or exited markets this year, and some members will learn from their notices that their plan will not continue. For standalone Part D drug plan members, premium changes may be especially sharp because the federal demonstration that held annual premium increases in check since 2025 ends after 2026. CMS set the 2027 national average monthly bid amount for Part D plans at 296 dollars and 5 cents, roughly 24 percent above the 2026 figure, signaling that individual plan premiums could rise meaningfully.

Beneficiaries who receive a notice of non-renewal or significant cost increases have from October 15 through December 7, 2026, to select different coverage taking effect January 1, 2027. Anyone who has not received an ANOC by September 30 should contact their plan directly or call 1-800-MEDICARE. Free comparison help is also available through State Health Insurance Assistance Programs.

Your Medicare plan must notify you of every 2027 change by September 30. Here is what to look for when that letter arrives.

In plain words

Every year, your Medicare plan must send you a letter by September 30. This letter is called the Annual Notice of Change. It tells you what will change in your plan next year, including costs, which drugs are covered, and which doctors are in your network. This year is especially important. Many plans are cutting benefits, and drug plan prices may go up more than usual in 2027. Read the letter carefully when it arrives. If you do not like the changes, you can shop for a new plan from October 15 to December 7. Changes you make take effect January 1.

Understand the basics first

Source: Medicare.gov
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