Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period ends December 7th — and if you don't act before then, your plan will roll over into 2027 with whatever changes it has made. That's the trap: staying enrolled by doing nothing means accepting every premium increase, coverage cut, and formulary change your plan set for the new year.
The letter that tells you exactly what's changing is your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which your current plan must send you each fall. The official Medicare guidance is clear: review your ANOC to see how costs and benefits may change in 2027. After October 15 you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or drug plan — but the plan must receive your enrollment form by December 7. Miss that date and your next real chance to change plans is limited.
Why the 2027 ANOC deserves your attention now
The 2027 plan year is not a routine one. CMS finalized payment policies for Medicare Advantage and Part D that take effect in 2027, including an update to the Part D risk adjustment model that accounts for Inflation Reduction Act changes to the prescription drug benefit (CMS Rate Announcement). For you, that translates into one concrete message: premiums, out-of-pocket costs, and covered medications can shift in ways your ANOC spells out line by line.
Your costs, benefits, and providers can change every year, and comparing your options can help you find better coverage or save money (Medicare yearly review). If you're satisfied after reviewing the options, you don't have to do anything — but you can't know that until you've actually read the notice.
What to check in your 2027 ANOC
Your plan is required to send an ANOC before the fall enrollment period, and it should be on your desk now. As you read it, look for these five changes:
Monthly premium — did your plan raise or lower what you pay each month?
Deductibles and out-of-pocket limits — confirm your maximum annual costs and copays for 2027.
Formulary changes — check that every medication you take is still covered, and at the same tier. Drug coverage can shift under the Part D updates taking effect in 2027.
Provider networks — make sure your doctors, specialists, and pharmacy are still in-network.
Extra benefits — watch for added perks like dental, vision, or hearing coverage.
Why have an agent review your plan
A 13-year insurance agent's second set of eyes catches what a quick skim misses. I've reviewed thousands of ANOCs for clients, and the common mistake is assuming "no change" means "no problem." In most cases the plan will keep you enrolled by default — but that default keeps every change your plan made, including the costly ones.
After the December 7 deadline passes, your options shrink. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan you get a January 1–March 31 window to switch, but for most people the Annual Enrollment Period is the one clear, open chance to move. Comparing plans side by side can help you estimate your total out-of-pocket costs (Medicare yearly review).
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