Got Your 2027 Annual Notice of Change? Read This First
Your Medicare plan mailed a 2027 Annual Notice of Change by September 30. In Adams County most renewing plans raised their out-of-pocket maximum. Here is how to read the letter and what to do before December 7.
Key takeaways
- The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is the letter your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan mails by September 30. It lists every change that starts January 1, 2027.
- In Adams County, 21 of the 32 Medicare Advantage plan IDs offered in both 2026 and 2027 raised their in-network out-of-pocket maximum. Only 1 lowered it (CMS landscape files).
- The average in-network maximum for Adams County plans rose from $5,518 in 2026 to $6,142 in 2027, and the highest is now $9,850.
- Check five lines first: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, each of your drugs, and each of your doctors.
- Doing nothing usually renews the plan with the new terms. You can change plans during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.
If a thick envelope from your Medicare plan landed in your mailbox in late September, that was your Annual Notice of Change. Read it before December 7. It is the one document that tells you, in your own plan's words, what will be different about your coverage on January 1, 2027.
Most people set it aside. The plan name looks the same, the premium may still be $0, and the card in your wallet still works. But the ANOC is where carriers disclose the quieter changes: a higher out-of-pocket maximum, a drug moved to a higher tier, a smaller dental allowance, a specialist who left the network. This year in Adams County, the out-of-pocket maximum is the change we see most often.
Here is how to read the letter in about 20 minutes, what the 2027 numbers look like around Brighton, and what your options are if you do not like what you find. Our goal is simple: Take the Stress Out of Medicare.
What is the Annual Notice of Change?
The Annual Notice of Change is a letter every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan must send its members by September 30 each year. It compares this year's benefits with next year's, line by line, so you can decide whether to stay or switch during Annual Enrollment.
It often arrives as a booklet, sometimes with the plan's Evidence of Coverage, which is the longer legal description of the plan. Read the ANOC first. The opening pages usually hold a summary table of costs; later pages cover drugs, networks and extra benefits. If you did not get one, call the member services number on your card or check your online member account.
| Annual Notice of Change | Non-renewal letter | |
|---|---|---|
| What it means | Your plan continues in 2027, with changes | Your plan will not be offered in 2027 |
| When it arrives | By September 30 | By October 2 (CMS requires at least 90 days notice before the plan ends) |
| If you do nothing | You stay in the plan with the 2027 changes | You return to Original Medicare on January 1 |
| Time to choose | Annual Enrollment, Oct 15 to Dec 7, 2026 | Annual Enrollment plus a Special Enrollment Period described in the letter |
What changed for Adams County plans in 2027?
The biggest change is the out-of-pocket maximum, the most you pay in a year for covered in-network care. In Adams County, the CMS plan files show 21 of the 32 Medicare Advantage plan IDs offered in both years raised their maximum for 2027. Only 1 lowered it.
- renewing Adams County plan IDs raised the in-network maximum
- 21 of 32
- average in-network maximum, 2026
- $5,518
- average in-network maximum, 2027
- $6,142
- highest in-network maximum, 2027
- $9,850
| Measure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans (not counting Special Needs Plans) | 43 | 36 |
| Plans with no monthly premium for Parts C and D combined | 35 | 30 |
| Plans with a $0 Part C premium (drug premium not counted) | 38 | 33 |
| Carriers | 11 | 10 |
| Lowest in-network maximum | $2,900 | $3,300 |
| Average in-network maximum | $5,518 | $6,142 |
| Highest in-network maximum | $9,250 | $9,850 |
| Highest Part D deductible on plans with drug coverage | $615 | $700 |
The line-up moved too. 11 plan IDs in the 2026 Adams County file are not in the 2027 file, and 4 new IDs appear. Some of that is renumbering: HealthSpring Preferred and Aetna Medicare Signature both show up in 2027 under new plan IDs. Clear Spring Health, which had a plan in the 2026 Adams County file, does not appear in the 2027 file. If your plan is affected, your letter says whether it was merged or is ending.
None of this means your plan got worse for you. A higher maximum matters most if you expect a hospital stay, surgery or ongoing treatment. A drug tier change matters most if you take that drug. That is why your own letter beats any headline.
Which five lines should I check first?
Look at monthly premium, medical deductible, in-network out-of-pocket maximum, coverage for each of your prescriptions, and whether your doctors stay in network. Those five lines decide most of what 2027 will cost you.
| Check | Where to find it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Summary table, first pages | You still pay the Part B premium on top ($202.90 a month in 2026) |
| Medical deductible | Summary table | What you pay before the plan starts sharing costs |
| Out-of-pocket maximum | Summary table | Your worst case for covered in-network care in 2027 |
| Hospital and specialist copays | Medical benefits section | Inpatient copays are often charged per day for the first several days |
| Each prescription | Drug coverage section and the 2027 drug list | A drug can change tier, gain prior authorization or leave the list |
| Doctors and hospitals | 2027 provider directory (not in the letter) | Networks change; check each doctor by name |
| Extras you use | Additional benefits section | Dental, vision, hearing and over-the-counter allowances reset each year |
On prescriptions, the yearly cap on covered Part D out-of-pocket costs is $2,100 in 2026, and the CMS 2027 plan files list $2,400 for 2027. The highest Part D deductible on an Adams County Medicare Advantage plan rises from $615 to $700. The cap protects you, but a drug moving up a tier can still change what you pay each month before you reach it.
How do I check my doctors and drugs for 2027?
Use the plan's 2027 provider directory and 2027 drug list, not this year's versions. Carriers post next year's lists in the fall, and only those tell you what happens on January 1.
- Make a list. Every doctor you saw this year, your preferred hospital, your pharmacy, and every prescription with its dose.
- Search each doctor by name in the 2027 directory, then call the office to confirm they will be in network for your plan next year, using the plan's exact name.
- Look up each drug in the 2027 formulary. Write down the tier and any prior authorization, step therapy or quantity limit.
- Check your pharmacy. A preferred pharmacy can mean lower copays than a standard one.
- Write down anything that changed. That short list is what you compare against other plans.
Our guide on how to check doctors and drugs walks through it step by step. Or bring the list to us. As Lisa puts it, we ask questions, listen to your answers, and only then recommend a plan.
What can I do if I do not like the changes?
You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan, move to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D plan, or stay where you are. Changes made during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, start January 1, 2027.
Switch Medicare Advantage plans
- Compare the 36 Adams County plans for 2027 against your doctors and drugs
- Joining a new plan ends the old one automatically
- If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one more change between January 1 and March 31
Move to Original Medicare
- Add a stand-alone Part D plan if you want drug coverage
- A Medicare Supplement may involve health questions after your first eligibility window
- Read our page on Colorado Medigap rules before you drop an Advantage plan
What happens if I miss December 7?
You keep your current plan for 2027 with the changes in your letter. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, 2027, you can make one switch between January 1 and March 31, 2027, either to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan.
Other changes need a Special Enrollment Period, for example after a move, when your plan is not renewing, or when you qualify for Health First Colorado or Extra Help. Our answer on changing plans after January 1 has the details. For a free, no-obligation review of your own situation, call Lisa at (303) 887-8584. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE can also answer questions about your Medicare record.
The bottom line
Your 2027 Annual Notice of Change is the quickest way to know what January will cost you. Read the five key lines, check every doctor and drug against the 2027 lists, and compare before December 7. In Adams County, 21 of 32 renewing plan IDs raised their out-of-pocket maximum, so assume something changed until your letter shows otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 Annual Notice of Change mailed?
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send it to members by September 30, 2026. If you did not receive yours, call the member services number on your plan card or look in your online member account.
What happens if I ignore my Annual Notice of Change?
In most cases your plan renews automatically on January 1, 2027, with every change in the letter. If you got a non-renewal letter instead, doing nothing returns you to Original Medicare.
Did out-of-pocket maximums go up in Adams County for 2027?
For most plans, yes. 21 of the 32 plan IDs offered in both years raised their in-network maximum, and the average rose from $5,518 to $6,142, according to the CMS landscape files.
Is the Annual Notice of Change the same as the Evidence of Coverage?
No. The Annual Notice of Change summarizes what is changing. The Evidence of Coverage is the full legal description of the plan. Read the notice first and use the Evidence of Coverage to look up details.
Sources
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2027 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, Contract Year 2026 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Please note: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 10 organizations which offer 106 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.Headwaters Health and Wealth is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information. This article is general information, not medical, tax or legal advice.
