Medicare Part D
Before You Toss That Fall Envelope: What Your ANOC Really Says
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — The mail that lands in Schaumburg mailboxes in late September looks easy to ignore. It shouldn't be. That thick envelope from your Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan is the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), and it spells out exactly how your prescription coverage will look different on January 1, 2027.
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Will your prescriptions still be covered in 2027?
Part D plans rewrite their drug lists every year — tiers move, pharmacies change, drugs drop off. One call checks your exact medications against the 2027 plans in your area.
- Every prescription checked, name by name
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Key takeaways
- The ANOC arrives by late September and shows side-by-side changes taking effect January 1, 2027.
- Formularies can change year to year through tier moves, prior authorization, quantity limits, and step therapy.
- The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 — that is your window to switch plans if the changes don't fit.
- In 2026, Part D has a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap and a $615 maximum deductible; in 2027, the cap is $2,400 and the maximum deductible is $700. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan can spread drug costs across the year.
Drug plans are allowed to rewrite their formularies — the list of medicines they cover — every year. A pill that sat on a low tier in 2026 can move up in 2027. A drug that filled with no questions asked can suddenly require prior authorization. The ANOC is your one clean, side-by-side look at what's shifting before the Annual Enrollment Period closes on December 7, 2026.
What the ANOC actually is
The ANOC is a plain-language document your plan is required to send before each Annual Enrollment Period. It compares the 2026 plan design to the 2027 one — premium, deductible, drug tiers, pharmacy network, and utilization rules. If you only read one page of Medicare paperwork all fall, this is the one.
Your plan also sends a separate, longer Evidence of Coverage (EOC) with the full contract details. The ANOC is the summary that flags what's changing; the EOC is the fine print behind it.
How drug lists change from year to year
Plans use a few standard levers to reshape what they cover. Understanding the vocabulary makes the ANOC readable.
Tiers. Most Part D formularies group drugs into five or six tiers, from preferred generics at the bottom to specialty drugs at the top. Your share of the cost depends on the tier. A drug can be moved to a higher tier for the new plan year, which changes what you pay at the pharmacy counter.
Prior authorization (PA). The plan requires your doctor to submit paperwork showing the drug is medically necessary before it will cover it. A drug that had no PA this year can require one next year.
Quantity limits (QL). The plan caps how much of a drug it will cover in a given time period — for example, a set number of tablets per 30 days.
Step therapy (ST). You must try a lower-cost drug first. If it doesn't work or isn't tolerated, the plan will then cover the drug you and your doctor originally wanted.
Non-formulary changes. Sometimes a drug is dropped from the formulary entirely, or a generic replaces a brand. Plans generally have to give advance notice for mid-year removals, but the January reset is where most changes land.
How to read your ANOC in ten minutes
Pull out your current medication list — every prescription, with the dose. Then open the ANOC and look for:
1. The "changes to our drug coverage" or formulary section. 2. Each of your medications, one at a time. Is the tier the same? Is there a new PA, QL, or ST tag next to it? 3. The premium and deductible comparison. The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027; the annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Your specific plan's numbers may sit below those ceilings. 4. The pharmacy network section — preferred pharmacies can change, and that affects what you pay.
If something looks off, you have until December 7, 2026 to switch to a different Part D or Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. Medicare Advantage members also get a second window, January 1 through March 31, 2027, to make one change.
Local context for Schaumburg readers
Schaumburg is in Cook County, where CMS Landscape files list 58 Medicare Advantage plans from 11 carriers for 2027, down from 78 plans and 12 carriers in 2026. Of the 2026 plans, 52 are continuing, 6 are new, 17 are not returning, and 9 are renamed; 21 continuing plans change something in their terms, with the specifics in each ANOC. Clear Spring Health is not offering plans in the county in 2027. Cook County retirees still have a wide field of options during AEP, but wide choice makes reading the ANOC more important, not less — the plan you were happy with in 2026 may not be the one that fits your medication list in 2027.
Illinois SHIP counselors (the Senior Health Insurance Program) offer free, unbiased help reviewing an ANOC and comparing plans. That service is available to any Medicare beneficiary in the state.
If a covered drug changes mid-year
New enrollees and continuing members generally have a right to a transition fill — typically a one-time supply of a drug affected by a formulary change — while you and your prescriber work out next steps. Those next steps can include asking your doctor about a covered alternative, requesting a formulary exception, or appealing the plan's decision. Your plan's member services line is the starting point, and every plan is required to have a formal exceptions and appeals process.
If you're worried about spreading drug costs across the year, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you pay your Part D out-of-pocket costs in monthly installments through the plan instead of all at once at the pharmacy. Enrollment is optional and free.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Cook County
(MA penetration in Cook County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Try it
How the 2026 Part D drug cap works
Slide to your estimated yearly prescription costs and see how the new $2,100 out-of-pocket cap protects you. This illustrates the standard Part D benefit; your plan may structure costs differently.
Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered drugs reaches $2,100, you pay nothing more for the rest of 2026. Confirm details at Medicare.gov.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
When should my ANOC arrive?
What if my drug moves to a higher tier for 2027?
Does the $2,100 out-of-pocket cap apply to every Part D plan?
Do I have to do anything if I'm happy with my plan?
- CMS — Medicare Part D program rules (medicare.gov)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local SHIP.
Also for Schaumburg
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This page was last updated: October 6, 2026.