Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) for plan year 2026 hits mailboxes by September 30. This is your moment to fill your AEP calendar with high-quality appointments. When you connect the dots between ANOC changes and your outreach, you keep more meetings and help clients switch plans smoothly.
Here’s your game plan to converting ANOC confusion into easy wins, complete with outreach sequences, triage tags, switch scenarios, and ready-to-use scripts. Outpace your competition and keep clients coming back with every Annual Notice of Change.
What the ANOC Includes and Why Agents Should Care
The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter is sent to every Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollee by the end of September. It details plan changes for the coming year:
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Premium increases or decreases
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Changes in drug formularies
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Provider network adjustments
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Copay, deductible, or out-of-pocket maximum updates
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Added or removed plan benefits
Why does this matter to you as an agent?
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Clients may not understand what’s changing.
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Confusion can lead to plan drops or hasty competitor switches.
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You risk losing renewals if you don’t reach out with clear, proactive support.
September is when clients start to notice rate hikes, drug changes, and network losses. Agents who jump in first are the ones clients remember and trust. CMS confirms the plan year 2026 ANOC delivery window and compliance rules.
Proven Outreach Sequence: From Letter to Meeting
Don’t wait for clients to call. The agents who fill their calendars treat ANOC as a trigger for a set outreach sequence:
Step 1: Data Triage
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Pull a list of all Medicare clients by carrier and plan type.
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Flag anyone who moved plans last year or who has had a mid-year SEP.
Step 2: Timed Outreach
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Day 1-2 after ANOC arrives:
Text and email: “Your Medicare plan just sent your 2026 update. I’ll review your changes and reach out with your options.” (Make sure to follow CMS marketing guidelines). -
Day 3-7:
Call and leave a short voicemail: “It’s Alexandra from Best Insurance Agency. I reviewed your ANOC letter. We should book a quick call to talk through your plan’s 2026 changes and see if you need a switch.” -
Day 8-14:
Follow-up text and email: “Just checking in, do you have your ANOC letter handy? Let’s find time to review. My calendar’s filling fast for AEP.”
Step 3: Calendar Management
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Use booking links or scheduling tools to make it easy for clients to pick a time.
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Send confirmation texts or emails the day before and an hour before the appointment.
Timing note: For Plan Year 2026, ANOC must be received by Sept 30, 2025 and posted on plan sites by Oct 15, 2025. Use those dates to pace your outreach.
Fast Triage Tags: Premium, Formularies, Networks
Every client has different triggers. Tag your list fast to move high-need clients up your queue.
Premium Increase
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Clients seeing a rate hike need immediate attention.
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Script: “Your premium is going up for 2026. Let’s check if there’s a better option that fits your budget.”
Formularies Changed
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Any changes to covered drugs, especially removals, are high priority.
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Script: “Some of your medications are no longer on your plan’s list for 2026. Let’s review your options so there’s no disruption.”
Network Shifts
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Provider changes (in or out) cause confusion.
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Script: “There are changes to your doctor or pharmacy network for 2026. I can help you confirm your providers and avoid surprises.”
Switch Scenarios and Documentation
Clean plan switches require you to:
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Confirm eligibility for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if needed.
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Document all communications in your CRM.
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Provide a written summary of the switch rationale for compliance.
Scenario 1:
Premium up, but client’s prescriptions and network are stable.
Action: Compare alternatives, offer the most similar plan, and walk through costs.
Scenario 2:
Formulary change, key medication now excluded.
Action: Compare all plans for the drug, document client’s final choice, and advise on new pharmacy if needed.
Scenario 3:
Provider network change...PCP or specialist dropped.
Action: Help client verify other in-network providers or switch to a plan with their preferred doctor.
(Use the ANOC and EOC as your primary source for each plan’s 2026 changes.)
Templates: Email, Voicemail, and Text
Make outreach easy and consistent. Copy, paste, personalize.
Subject: Let’s Review Your Medicare ANOC 2026 Letter
Hi [First Name],
Your 2026 Medicare plan changes just arrived in your mailbox. I’m reviewing your Annual Notice of Change and want to make sure you’re set for next year.
Let’s book a quick call to review your plan and make sure everything still fits your needs.
[Booking Link]
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Voicemail
“Hi [Name], this is [Your Name]. I’ve reviewed your Medicare 2026 ANOC letter. Let’s schedule a call to review your options before AEP starts. You can call or text me at [Number].”
Text
“Hi [Name], it’s [Your Name]. Your 2026 Medicare update is here. Want to book a 10-minute review before AEP? [Booking Link]”
Metrics to Track Week by Week
Track these numbers to optimize your results:
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Outbound ANOC contacts sent
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Meetings booked per 50 contacts
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Kept appointments rate
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Plan switches completed
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Retention rate for current clients
Review these each week from September 30 through AEP launch. Use your CRM or agency dashboard to spot bottlenecks early. Adjust outreach sequences for lagging groups or busy segments.
September isn’t just for prepping AEP materials. It’s the month you turn the Medicare ANOC for plan year 2026 flood into loyal clients and a full calendar. Every letter is a reason to reach out, book a call, and lock in your renewals before October rush.
Want more high-performing outreach scripts, compliance-ready templates, and booking tools?
Check out the Quotit resource center, and see how you can work smarter this AEP.
This document is intended for internal use by licensed agents affiliated with Allstate. CMS marketing regulations, including the prohibition on plan-specific marketing prior to October 1, apply only to communications directed at Medicare beneficiaries. If any portion of this document is used externally or shared with clients, agents must ensure that such communications are strictly educational in nature and fully compliant with CMS guidelines.
