Enrollees in Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D) should have received letters from their insurance companies by now detailing any changes in coverage for the year ahead, called the Annual Notice of Change. This document arrives in September each year, just ahead of the annual Medicare open enrollment period – which runs from October 15 to December 7.
Many people tend to ignore the annual notice of change letter, however, it is important to review because plans can and do change from year to year. Things like monthly premiums, rules for cost-sharing, and coverage of specific medications are all points of concern.
You should also evaluate your plan’s network of doctors and pharmacies to ensure your current doctor(s) and local pharmacies are still within your plan’s network. If there are significant changes to your policy, the Medicare open enrollment period is the time when you can change to a different plan that better suits your needs.
