09/26/2026
Why Your Medicare Agent Isn't Answering Your ANOC Questions Yet...
If you are a Medicare beneficiary, your mailbox is likely filled with official-looking packets right now. If you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan one of them should be the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which insurance carriers must make sure you receive by September 30th.
When you open a letter detailing changes to your premiums, copays, or drug formularies for the upcoming year, you may call your insurance agent to find out what those changes mean for your wallet.
But when you call, you might hear: "I'm sorry, but I can't discuss those changes with you just yet."
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sets separate dates for when insurance companies must notify you of changes and when marketing for the next plan year may begin. The challenge for agents is determining when a conversation crosses into marketing, because that depends on its purpose, content, timing, and context.
September Rules for Plan-Year Discussions
CMS separates the carrier notification deadline (Sept 30th each year) from October 1st, when marketing for the upcoming plan year may begin.
Insurance companies must get your ANOC into your hands before October and you're likely thinking, "how is it 'marketing' if I call my agent/broker to ask questions?" Well, CMS doesn't define "marketing" in the same way most people use the word.
If a conversation with your licensed agent moves into evaluating 2027 benefits or comparing plan options in a way that could influence your enrollment or retention decision, it can meet CMS's definition of marketing. Because that line can be difficult to judge, many agents, myself included, use a simple best practice: we don't discuss 2027 plan details until October 1st.
October 1st: Plan-Year Discussions Begin
Beginning October 1st, marketing for the 2027 plan year is permitted, subject to the other State, Federal, CMS and carrier requirements that still apply.
Those conversations can include:
- Reviewing your specific plan details.
- Explaining the changes reported in your ANOC letter.
- Comparing your current coverage against alternative options.
For beneficiaries using AEP to make a 2027 plan change, enrollment begins October 15th and runs through December 7th.
Before October 1st: What You Can Do Now
You can use the remaining days of September to finish the administrative prep work before plan discussions begin:
Set a date and time with your agent for your Medicare review for anytime from October 1st through December 7th (the earlier the better - do NOT expect your agent to be able to fit you in during the last week of AEP unless you scheduled that time well in advance). Once you've scheduled your appointment, your agent can then send you the Scope of Appointment documenting the types of Medicare plans you want to discuss. Complete it before your appointment so that paperwork is already handled when it's time to review your options.
Write down each current prescription exactly as you take it, then add the doctors you want to keep. That gives your agent the information needed to enter your details into the system when the new plan data becomes available.
Keep your ANOC letter and write down any questions you want to cover.
If you'd like help reviewing your 2027 Medicare options, you can send me a dm, comment, or check out our FB agency page - https://www.facebook.com/marklynelive which has other ways to reach us and we'll help you get the conversation started.
