The short answer
Each fall, your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends two important documents. The Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC, summarizes what is changing in your plan for the coming year — premiums, deductibles, benefits, drug coverage, and networks. The Evidence of Coverage, or EOC, is the detailed document explaining exactly what the plan covers and its rules. The ANOC is the one to read first, because it highlights the changes that might affect you, prompting you to review whether your plan still fits during the Annual Enrollment Period. Ignoring these documents is a common mistake.
So the ANOC summarizes your plan's yearly changes and the EOC details full coverage, with the ANOC the key one to read first.
How to read them
Start with the ANOC, which is designed to flag changes: look for increases in premiums or cost-sharing, changes to your drugs' coverage or tiers, and any network changes affecting your providers. If the ANOC shows changes that matter to you, use the EOC and plan comparisons to decide whether to switch during the Annual Enrollment Period. The EOC is a fuller reference for coverage details when you need them. Our guide to the annual Medicare plan review covers acting on what you find, and our Medicare overview covers the basics.
Read the ANOC for the changes, then use the EOC as the detailed reference when deciding.
Why they matter
These documents are how you learn what is changing before it takes effect January 1, giving you time to switch during open enrollment if your plan no longer fits. Setting them aside unread is how people end up surprised by higher costs or dropped coverage the next year. Reviewing at least the ANOC each fall is a simple, valuable habit. This is educational information.
The takeaway: read the ANOC each fall for your plan's changes and use the EOC for details, so you can switch during open enrollment if the plan no longer fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Annual Notice of Change?
The ANOC is a document your Medicare plan sends each fall summarizing what is changing for the coming year — premiums, deductibles, benefits, drug coverage, and networks. Read it first to spot changes that affect you.
What is the Evidence of Coverage?
The EOC is the detailed document explaining exactly what your plan covers and its rules. It serves as the full reference, while the ANOC highlights the yearly changes.
Why should I read these documents?
They tell you what is changing before it takes effect January 1, giving you time to switch during open enrollment if your plan no longer fits. Ignoring them can lead to surprise costs or dropped coverage.
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