If you’re on a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan in Johnson City or anywhere in the Tri-Cities, a very important envelope should be in your mailbox by the end of September. It’s called the Annual Notice of Change, and it spells out exactly how your plan will be different next year.
Most people glance at it and set it aside. That’s understandable, but it can be a costly habit. Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, and what’s in that notice is the best clue you have about whether your current plan still fits your health, your doctors, and your budget in 2027.
What the Annual Notice of Change Tells You
Plans can change their costs and coverage every year. Your Annual Notice of Change lays out those changes side by side. As you read it, pay close attention to:
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- Monthly premium: Is it going up, down, or staying the same?
- Deductibles and copays: Look at the costs for doctor visits, specialists, hospital stays, and outpatient care.
- Drug list (formulary): Check that each of your prescriptions is still covered, and whether any moved to a higher-cost tier.
- Provider network: Confirm your primary care doctor, specialists, and preferred Johnson City-area hospitals are still in network.
- Pharmacy network: Make sure your usual pharmacy remains a preferred pharmacy.
- Extra benefits: Dental, vision, hearing, and fitness benefits can be trimmed or reshaped from year to year.
If anything in that list surprises you, that’s your signal to compare options before December 7.
Key Medicare Dates to Put on Your Calendar
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- By September 30: Your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends your Annual Notice of Change.
- Early October: Plan details for the new year become available to compare.
- October 15 – December 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can switch Medicare Advantage plans, move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or join, switch, or drop a Part D plan.
- January 1: Any changes you made take effect.
- January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, when people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change.
Five Questions to Ask Before You Renew
Doing nothing is a decision too. If your plan is still offered, you’ll generally be renewed automatically, changes and all. Before that happens, ask yourself:
1. Has my health changed this year?
A new diagnosis, surgery, or ongoing treatment can change which plan makes the most financial sense. Coverage that worked when you rarely saw a doctor may not be the best fit now.
2. Are all of my medications still covered?
Part D plans update their drug lists every year. Even if your prescriptions haven’t changed, how your plan covers them might. Keep an up-to-date list of every medication and dosage handy before you compare plans.
3. Can I still see my doctors?
Networks shift. If staying with a particular Tri-Cities doctor or specialist matters to you, confirm they’ll be in network for 2027 before you commit to a plan.
4. What would a bad year cost me?
A low premium is only part of the picture. Look at your plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit and your Part D costs so you know what you could owe if you needed significant care or expensive medications. The annual cap on Part D out-of-pocket drug costs adjusts each year, so it’s worth confirming how it applies to your prescriptions.
5. Is my Medicare Supplement still the right fit?
Medigap plans don’t follow the October to December window the same way Advantage and Part D plans do. If your supplement premium has climbed, a review can show whether another plan offers the same benefits for less. Keep in mind that outside your initial enrollment period, insurers may be able to look at your health history, so it’s smart to talk through timing with an agent.
Watch Out for Open Enrollment Scams
Fall brings a flood of TV ads, mailers, and phone calls about Medicare. Medicare will not call you out of the blue to ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank information. If a caller pressures you to switch plans on the spot or promises benefits that sound too good to be true, hang up. When in doubt, call someone you know and trust locally.
Local Medicare Help in Johnson City
Comparing plans on your own can feel overwhelming. At Widener Insurance Agency, Jeff Linville specializes in Medicare and works with retirees across Johnson City, Unicoi County, and East Tennessee. Jeff can walk through your Annual Notice of Change with you, review your prescriptions and doctors, and help you compare Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D options so you can make a confident choice before December 7.
Bring your Annual Notice of Change, your Medicare card, and a list of your medications and doctors, and we’ll take it from there.
Call: (423) 926-7151
Email: jeffl@widenerins.com
Visit: 607 Baxter Street, Johnson City, TN 37601
Hours: Monday–Friday 9AM–5PM