Every year, Medicare premiums and deductibles change. Each September, Medicare beneficiaries should expect to receive a Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter for each Medicare plan in which they’re enrolled. This notice gives a summary of any changes in the plan’s cost and coverage that will take effect January 1 of the next year.
If you have moved within the last year, make sure your address is up-to-date with any private insurance companies with whom you do business. Otherwise, you won’t receive the ANOC letter that’s mailed to you each September. The letter should arrive by September 30, or 15 days before the start of the Annual Election Period which is from October 15 until December 7th.
For Parts A and B, the letter will come from Medicare. It will include cost changes and, if applicable, benefit and service area changes. Part A and Part B plan benefits and costs are determined by Medicare so they are not negotiable.
If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, look for a letter to arrive from the private insurance company providing coverage. The letter will include changes in costs, benefits, and any changes to the service area.
Private insurers offering Part D plans are also required to send their beneficiaries an ANOC letter. For Part D prescription drug plans, the changes listed will include costs, service area, and formulary changes. It is very important to review any changes involving prescription medications. If a drug you take is no longer covered, you may want to consider switching to a different Medicare prescription drug plan.
Our Medicine Cabinet is a useful tool to help us know what medications you take and whether it makes sense to switch to a different Medicare prescription drug plan. We ask you to set up an online account and provide us the list of prescription medications you take for an effective and accurate Medicare review.
After reviewing your Annual Notice of Change letter, you should contact Ohio Health Benefits to discuss the policy changes that you’re expecting. As your insurance broker, we help review the options available to you and compared those options with your anticipated medical needs in mind. After a cost comparison and a thorough review of options, you decided on the Medicare plans that best meet your needs.
Your Ohio Health Benefits team is always here to discuss your current plan and compare that plan to any other plan you may hear about. Call us toll free at (866) 235-8378 or click here to email us your name and phone number for us to call you.
Ohio Health Benefits also offers Medicare & Muffins, a free educational seminar to help you understand how Medicare works. These seminars are free and open to the public every Tuesday at 9 am and Thursday at 3pm. For details and registration link click here.
