10/05/2026
One letter arriving in the mail sets what you'll pay for Medicare next year, and most people file it away without reading it.
The Annual Notice of Change is sent by Medicare Advantage and Part D plans each fall. It spells out next year's premium, deductible, copays, provider network, and drug formulary changes, and it's the only warning you get before those changes take effect in January.
The timing matters because open enrollment runs from October 15 to December 7, and a plan that worked this year can drop your doctor or your medication from coverage without you doing anything wrong.
If you never got one, your plan is still required to send it, and your State Health Insurance Assistance Program offers free unbiased help comparing options.
Did you read yours this year?