If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, watch your mailbox this month. Your plan should send an Annual Notice of Change, commonly called an ANOC, by September 30.

The ANOC explains how your plan’s costs, coverage, provider network, prescription drug rules, and extra benefits may change for the new plan year. Those changes generally take effect on January 1, 2027.

You do not need to make a decision the moment the letter arrives. However, you should read it carefully before Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 through December 7. During this period, you can review your choices and switch plans for the following year.

Plans change from year to year, even when you have been happy with your current coverage. Here are five important items to check in your 2027 ANOC.

1. Your monthly premium may change

Your Medicare plan’s monthly premium may increase, decrease, or remain the same for 2027. A plan that had a low premium this year may cost more next year, while another plan in your county may offer similar benefits at a different price.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, remember that the plan premium is only one part of your total healthcare budget. You may also have copays for doctor visits, specialist care, hospital services, urgent care, or other covered services.
If you have a standalone Part D plan, review both the plan premium and your expected prescription costs. The lowest monthly premium is not always the least expensive option overall, especially if your medications have high copays or coinsurance.

Part D premiums may shift in 2027 because the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration ends after 2026. CMS has set the 2027 Part D national base beneficiary premium at $41.33. This is a national benchmark used in Medicare calculations. It is not necessarily the exact premium you will pay for your individual prescription drug plan.

Your ANOC should show your plan’s specific 2027 premium. Compare that amount with your current premium and consider it alongside your deductible, drug costs, and other out-of-pocket expenses.

2. Deductibles, copays, and the out-of-pocket maximum can change

Your plan’s cost-sharing rules may be different in 2027. Look for updates to:

• Medical deductibles
• Prescription drug deductibles
• Primary care and specialist copays
• Hospital and outpatient surgery costs
• Emergency room and urgent care copays
• Coinsurance amounts
• Inpatient hospital cost-sharing
• The annual maximum out-of-pocket limit

The Medicare Advantage maximum out-of-pocket limit is especially important. It places a yearly limit on what you pay for covered Medicare Part A and Part B services in the plan. Your plan’s limit may change, and plans can use different cost-sharing structures.

A plan may appear attractive because of a low premium, but higher copays or a higher out-of-pocket maximum could affect your budget if you need frequent care. If you have upcoming procedures, ongoing specialist appointments, or regular therapy, estimate what your costs could look like under the new terms.

Prescription drug costs also deserve close attention. For 2027, the annual Part D out-of-pocket drug cap is $2,400 for covered Part D medications. Once you reach that limit under the applicable Part D rules, you generally pay no additional cost sharing for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

That cap can offer valuable protection, but it does not mean every prescription will be free before you reach the limit. Your drug tiers, deductible, pharmacy, and coverage rules still matter.

3. Your prescription drug formulary and pharmacy network may change

A formulary is the list of prescription drugs covered by your Part D plan. Plans can change their formularies each year.

In your ANOC, check whether:

• Your medications remain covered
• A medication moves to a higher or lower tier
• A prior authorization requirement has been added
• Step therapy now applies
• Quantity limits have changed
• A drug has been removed from the formulary
• Your preferred pharmacy is still in the network
• Your pharmacy’s preferred pricing has changed

A medication moving from a preferred tier to a higher tier can increase your cost even if the drug itself has not changed. Similarly, using a pharmacy outside your plan’s preferred network may cost more.

Make a list of every prescription you take, including the dosage and how often you refill it. Then compare that list with your plan’s 2027 drug information. You can also use the official Medicare Plan Finder to compare plans once 2027 information is available.

Do not rely only on last year’s drug list. A medication that was covered in 2026 may have different coverage rules in 2027.

4. Doctors, hospitals, and other providers can leave or join the network

Medicare Advantage plans generally use networks of doctors, hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and other healthcare providers. Those networks can change from year to year.

Before deciding to keep your plan, confirm that your:

• Primary care doctor is still in network
• Specialists remain in network
• Preferred hospital is covered
• Clinic or healthcare system is included
• Physical therapist, home health provider, or other regular provider remains available
• Nearby urgent care locations still participate

Minnesota Medicare Advantage networks and premiums vary by county and ZIP code. A plan that works well for a friend or relative in another part of Minnesota may not offer the same doctors, hospitals, or costs where you live.

If you receive care in more than one location, check both areas. This is particularly important for Minnesota residents who spend part of the year elsewhere or travel regularly to visit family.

Your plan’s ANOC can tell you about important network changes, but you may still need to confirm your provider’s participation directly with the plan or provider’s office. Ask whether the provider will be in network for the 2027 plan year, not only whether they accept Medicare generally.

5. Extra benefits may be reduced or removed

Medicare Advantage plans often include additional benefits beyond Original Medicare. These may include:

• Dental services
• Vision exams or eyewear allowances
• Hearing exams or hearing aid allowances
• Fitness or gym memberships
• Over-the-counter product allowances
• Transportation benefits
• Meal benefits after certain hospital stays
• Allowances for healthy foods or utilities

These benefits can be helpful, but they are not guaranteed to remain the same. For 2027, many Medicare Advantage plans are tightening supplemental benefits. A benefit may have a lower allowance, stricter eligibility rules, fewer participating providers, or new limits on how it can be used.

Read the details instead of relying on a benefit’s headline description. For example, “dental coverage” could mean preventive cleanings only, or it could include a broader allowance with limits. A fitness benefit may be available only at participating locations. Vision coverage may have a new frequency or dollar limit.
If an extra benefit is one of the main reasons you chose your plan, verify the 2027 terms carefully.

What to do when your ANOC arrives

Set aside a few minutes to review your letter. This checklist can help:

1. Confirm that the letter is your 2027 ANOC. Your plan should send it by September 30.
2. Write down the new monthly premium.
3. Compare the deductible, copays, coinsurance, and maximum out-of-pocket amount.
4. Make a list of your prescriptions and verify their 2027 coverage.
5. Check your preferred pharmacies and pharmacy pricing.
6. Confirm that your doctors, specialists, and preferred hospitals remain in network.
7. Review dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and other supplemental benefits.
8. Mark October 15 through December 7 on your calendar.
9. Compare other plans if the changes no longer fit your needs.
10. Keep your ANOC and notes together for future reference.

If you do not receive an ANOC, contact your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Medicare also explains the purpose of the notice on its official page about upcoming plan changes.

A Minnesota reminder about Medigap

Minnesota residents should also be aware of changes involving Medicare Supplement Insurance, commonly called Medigap.

Beginning in 2026, Minnesota has a new annual Medicare Supplement open enrollment opportunity connected with the October 15 through December 7 timeframe. Minnesota residents ages 65 through 70 may have a one-time guaranteed issue opportunity to enroll in a Medigap plan, regardless of pre-existing health conditions, if they meet the applicable eligibility requirements.

Guaranteed issue means an insurance company generally cannot use medical underwriting to deny you or charge you more because of your health during the qualifying window. Rules can be specific, so confirm your individual situation before changing coverage.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce explains Minnesota Medigap rules, including open enrollment protections and policy basics. If you are considering a change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare with a Medigap policy, review your eligibility and timing carefully before ending your current plan.

Get help reviewing your 2027 options

You do not have to interpret your ANOC alone. VitalShield Insurance Services helps Medicare beneficiaries in Minnesota review their notices, check doctors and prescriptions, and compare available options for 2027.

Our licensed agents provide a personalized review at no cost. We can help you understand what changed and whether your current plan still fits your healthcare needs and budget.

Call or text: 763-290-1267

Email: [email protected]

Start online: Free Medicare assessment

Final reminder

Your ANOC is an important planning document, not a reason to panic. Read it, compare the changes with your current needs, and ask questions if anything is unclear. Do not assume your plan stays the same simply because you like it today.

This article is for educational purposes only. Medicare plan availability, premiums, provider networks, drug coverage, benefits, and enrollment rights vary by plan, county, ZIP code, age, and individual circumstances. For official information, visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact Minnesota’s

Aging Pathways Senior LinkAge Line at 800-333-2433. VitalShield Insurance Services is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the Medicare program.