Every fall, Medicare Advantage clients receive their Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC. CMS mandates that each MA client receive this document by the end of September each year, notifying them of all changes to their current MA plan for the upcoming year, which begins on January 1.
There’s a lot of important plan information here for your clients to read and understand, so many of them just don’t, waiting for someone else they trust to help them answer, “What does this actually mean for me?” That’s where a good Medicare agent becomes incredibly valuable.
Clients need agents to explain how important this ANOC is for them to know what their health plan covers next year. They also need a translator as a second set of eyes to understand what they have and a problem-solver to determine whether this plan meets their upcoming and ongoing needs.
Start With What Changed, Not the Entire Plan
Start with the changes that impact their life:
- Monthly premiums and deductibles
- Copays and coinsurance, especially for benefits they frequently use
- MOOP costs
- Prescription drug coverage
- Provider or pharmacy considerations
- Supplemental benefits and allowances
- Prior authorization or coverage rules
- Any benefits being added, reduced, or removed
When you speak with clients about their ANOC, make sure you have a copy of what they see. Determine which changes matter to this particular client so that plan changes translate into real-world impact.
‘Are My Doctors and Meds Still Covered?’
Expect this one, but only answer it after consulting the latest provider directory and the MA plan formulary for the upcoming year issued by the MA plan. Make sure your client already has these documents before answering these questions so that they can access them themselves.
MA plans typically send these documents either in the same ANOC mailing or in separate mailings to their MA members for the upcoming year. Be sure your clients have the new provider directory and plan formulary for January 1 during your discussion, not the current plan formulary and provider directory, to confirm participation and coverage as of January 1.
The bigger question is, “Does this plan still work with the healthcare relationships and medicines you depend on?” Medicare’s official plan comparison tools are another good way for clients to enter their prescriptions and compare estimated monthly and yearly drug costs for their January 1 ANOC plan.
For agents, that means the useful question is, “How is your medication covered, and what could that mean for your costs next year?”
‘My Benefit Went Down; should I Switch?’
This is where agents provide some of their greatest value. One benefit shouldn’t automatically determine the entire coverage decision.
Bring the conversation back to the full picture of doctors + prescriptions + hospitals + expected healthcare use + total costs + key benefits. A plan with one attractive benefit isn’t necessarily the best fit if the client’s medications become substantially more expensive or an important provider relationship doesn’t work with the plan.
Help clients compare plans as healthcare coverage, not as a collection of perks.
‘Do I Have to Do Anything?’
It all depends on how your ANOC discussion goes. If the plan remains available and the client is comfortable with the changes, they may decide to keep their existing coverage.
The key, however, is that they reach this decision only after your ANOC discussion with them, ideally before Annual Enrollment, which runs October 15 through December 7, with coverage changes generally taking effect January 1. Staying put or making a change should be a fully informed decision.
Know What’s Next if Their MA Plan Ends
If MA agents know their client is receiving an MA Plan Non-Renewal Notice for January 1, have different coverage options ready to discuss with the client in your ANOC discussion. Your MA plan partners should already have notified you of their plan exits as of January 1, so there’s no reason not to have other coverage options that may work best for your MA client’s upcoming and ongoing needs after January 1.
These should be your top priority MA clients to talk to who need more immediate assistance.
The Best ANOC Conversation Is Personal
CMS provides standardized ANOC materials specifically so Medicare plan members understand what’s changing from one contract year to the next. But a standardized document can’t know that your client sees a cardiologist every month, that their spouse recently changed pharmacies, or that they are starting a new medication.
You do. That’s why ANOC season shouldn’t just be about explaining documents.
It’s an opportunity to reconnect with clients and ask, “Have your doctors changed? Any new prescriptions or procedures planned?
What did you actually use from your plan this year, and what’s becoming more important to you? Those answers give context to everything printed in the ANOC.
Don’t Just Explain the ANOC, Create Clarity
MA clients need someone who calmly separates “this changed” from “this change matters to you.” Review the costs, check the prescriptions, review providers, understand how the client actually uses healthcare, and then compare options when there’s a reason to do so.
The real opportunity the ANOC discussion creates is sometimes the most valuable thing an agent tells a client is, “We reviewed everything, and your current coverage still makes sense.” Either way, you’ve given them clarity at the beginning of AEP during their most stressful time of the year and something they’ll remember.
The Agility Difference
As the insurance market changes, Agility helps agents stand out by sharing updates and offering our team’s expertise to help you grow. If you have questions or want to talk to our ACA, Medicare, CHOICE, Group, life, or ancillary experts, reach out to our dedicated Producer Support at (866) 590-9771 or support@enrollinsurance.com.
We can add you to our weekly email list for tips and updates. Let Agility help you build your skills and discover new opportunities in 2026.
