Key Takeaways

• Medicare Advantage plans can change their benefits each year, often reducing or eliminating extra services without direct warning.

• You can spot these changes early by reviewing your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), tracking supplemental benefit trends, and consulting a licensed agent listed on this website.

Why Annual Changes Happen in Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage plans are approved by Medicare but run by private organizations. While they must cover everything Original Medicare does, they also offer extra benefits, which are not guaranteed from year to year.

Each fall, these plans submit proposed changes to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the next calendar year. By October, you receive a document called the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). It outlines updates in:

• Benefits

• Costs

• Provider networks

These changes take effect on January 1 of the following year. That means any modification announced in the fall of 2025 goes live on January 1, 2026.

What Types of Benefits Are Most Likely to Be Dropped

Plans rarely remove core Medicare benefits. However, they often tweak or drop extra benefits, such as:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) allowances

• Transportation services

• Dental, vision, and hearing

• Meal delivery programs

• Fitness memberships

CMS allows plans to offer or remove these services each year. In 2025, there has already been a noticeable reduction in plans offering transportation and OTC benefits compared to 2024.

These services are often promotional—designed to attract enrollees during Open Enrollment. But plans may cut them to balance rising drug or provider costs.

How to Catch the Clues Before Your Plan Changes

The best way to avoid surprises is to be proactive. Here’s how to stay informed about your plan’s status:

Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC)

This is the single most important document to review. Mailed out every September, your ANOC will clearly state:

• What benefits are changing

• What costs are increasing or decreasing

• Which providers are added or removed from the network

Make it a habit to read this document cover to cover as soon as you receive it.

Monitor Declining Benefit Trends

Keep an eye on the overall trend of your plan’s extras. If you’ve noticed your OTC allowance was cut last year and now transportation is gone, it’s a red flag. This downward trend could continue.

Compare Plan Offerings Each Fall

From October 15 to December 7, during Medicare Open Enrollment, you can switch plans. But don’t wait until the last minute.

Use this period to:

• Compare your plan’s 2025 benefits with other available plans

• Identify what has been dropped or reduced

• Look at which plans are expanding benefits

Just because your plan hasn’t changed this year doesn’t mean it won’t next year.

Speak to a Licensed Agent

A licensed agent listed on this website can help review the details of your plan and spot changes that may not be obvious. They can also help you compare options based on your healthcare usage and future needs.

Timing Is Everything: The Critical 3-Month Window

Understanding the Medicare calendar helps you avoid getting locked into a plan that no longer meets your needs.

• September: ANOC arrives

• October 1: You can begin comparing plan information for the upcoming year

• October 15 – December 7: Medicare Open Enrollment

• January 1: Your new plan year begins

This timeline means you have approximately 90 days to:

• Review changes

• Decide whether to switch plans

• Enroll in a better option

Failing to act within this window can result in staying in a plan that no longer serves your needs.

Why Some Changes Catch People Off Guard

Many beneficiaries are caught by surprise each January because they assumed their plan would remain unchanged. Common assumptions that lead to confusion include:

• Believing extra benefits are permanent

• Ignoring the ANOC or mistaking it for junk mail

• Assuming all Advantage plans offer the same perks year-round

• Not realizing providers can leave a network mid-year

The reality is, most extra benefits are not permanent, and networks can evolve. Understanding this allows you to treat each fall’s ANOC and plan review as a necessity, not a formality.

The Hidden Costs of Ignoring Plan Changes

When benefits are dropped or reduced, you often end up paying out-of-pocket for services that were once included. For example:

• Losing dental coverage might mean paying hundreds for routine cleanings or fillings.

• Eliminated transportation benefits could impact your ability to attend appointments.

• A reduced OTC allowance means more out-of-pocket pharmacy purchases.

These hidden costs can add up over the course of a year and significantly impact your retirement budget.

How Medicare Oversees These Changes

CMS reviews and approves all proposed plan changes. However, it does not stop plans from eliminating extra benefits as long as they still meet Medicare’s coverage standards.

CMS requires that:

• Changes be communicated clearly to enrollees

• ANOC documents be delivered on time (by September 30 annually)

• Plans comply with all Medicare regulations on benefits and access

This oversight ensures transparency but does not guarantee consistency in extras.

What You Can Do If You Missed the Enrollment Window

If you realize a change too late, you may still have options:

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)

From January 1 to March 31, you can:

• Switch to another Medicare Advantage plan

• Drop your Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare (and possibly add Part D)

However, you can only make one change during this period, so use it wisely.

Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs)

You might qualify for a Special Enrollment Period due to:

• Moving out of your plan’s service area

• Losing other coverage

• A plan error or contract violation

If you’re eligible for an SEP, you can make changes outside the normal enrollment windows.

Best Practices to Protect Yourself Going Forward

To avoid being blindsided by changes in the future, follow these simple practices:

• Mark your calendar for late September to watch for the ANOC

• Schedule a yearly review with a licensed agent listed on this website

• Compare plans each fall, even if you think you’re satisfied with your current plan

• Keep notes on benefit trends year-over-year for your current plan

These habits can save you both time and money while protecting your access to the care and services you value.

Why This Year Matters More Than Ever

In 2025, several notable trends have already emerged:

• Fewer plans are offering generous OTC and transportation benefits

• Premiums and cost-sharing for some plans are rising

• New supplemental benefits are being introduced selectively

This means plans are shifting their benefit priorities. What you had in 2024 may not be there in 2025 or 2026. Paying close attention this year is not just advisable—it’s essential.

Staying Ahead of Medicare Advantage Plan Changes

You deserve clarity and consistency when it comes to your health coverage. That’s why reading the Annual Notice of Change, tracking benefit trends, and comparing plans during Open Enrollment are crucial steps to take each year.

Don’t assume what you have today will be there tomorrow. If you’re unsure about what’s changed or how to respond, speak to a licensed agent listed on this website. They can help you understand your plan’s future and explore your best options.