The thick envelope your Medicare plan sends every September is more important than it looks. Here's how to read it like a pro. INTRODUCTION The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is the letter your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan sends every September explaining what's changing about your coverage for the coming year. Plans must deliver it by September 30, and if you don't like the changes, you have between October 15 and December 7 to switch. It usually arrives in a thick envelope and looks...

A clear guide to what Original Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage do and don't cover when you leave the country. KEY POINTS AT A GLANCE — The Quick Version ✓ Original Medicare (Parts A & B) generally does NOT cover health care outside the U.S. — expect to pay 100% of foreign medical costs. ✓ Medigap plans C, D, F, G, M, and N include foreign travel emergency coverage: 80% of billed charges after a $250 deductible, up to a $50,000 lifetime maximum, during the first 60 days of a trip. ✓...

Why your Medigap premium went up — and the three practical ways to respond Introduction Medicare Supplement (Medigap) premiums are increasing 12% to 26% in 2026 due to medical inflation, higher utilization, and new state enrollment rules. You have three options: shop for a cheaper carrier with the same benefits, move to a different Medigap plan, or switch to Medicare Advantage. Each path has trade-offs, and timing rules apply. If your Medigap premium just jumped, you're not alone — increases...