New Medicare Advantage Annual Review Tool Helps Agents Compare Plans

Table of Contents

• Prepare for Medicare annual reviews as plan options change
• Bring client and plan information together in AMS+
• Identify changes to Medicare Advantage costs & coverage
• Find alternative Medicare Advantage plans
• Explain plan differences & coverage trade-offs
• Verify plan details before client conversations
• Track annual review progress throughout AEP
• Build annual reviews into your AEP workflow
• Frequently asked questions about the Annual Review tool

Prepare for Medicare Annual Reviews as Plan Options Change for 2027

Annual Reviews are some of the most valuable conversations you have with clients. But when carriers change their offerings, preparing for those conversations becomes more complicated. Some carriers are exiting certain counties or states, while others are narrowing their plan lineups or adjusting benefits and formularies. For clients who have stayed with the same plan for years, their coverage options may look very different in 2027.

Getting a clear picture of those options takes time. Medicare releases plan information in stages, with pricing available first, followed by formulary details, network information, and per-drug costs following later. 

However, these details often release close to the start of the Annual Election Period (AEP). Your team likely starts preparing for client meetings well before then. This creates friction because your team is trying to prepare, schedule, and learn all at the same time. On top of that, if you use multiple tools to manage your business, this information can take even longer to track down.

When this information is spread across multiple systems, preparing for each review can mean switching between tools and piecing together details before you can even begin comparing plans. Without an annual review tool, your team has to complete the following in a short amount of time:

• Collect the client’s ANOC letter to see what’s changing
• Search CMS.gov for next year's plan details
• Download plan information from your quoting & enrollment solution
• Check your agency management system (AMS) to confirm the client's current coverage
• Compare benefits, prescriptions, & costs side by side
• Schedule the meeting with the beneficiary to discuss
• Manage the quoting & enrollment process

This is a lot to do regardless of the time of year. It’s made even more time-intensive when you’re in the middle of AEP. One step to make this prep easier is to have your client and policy information in one place. The other? Have a tool that is built to compare plans, identify changes, and spotlight the biggest impacts.

Bring Client & Plan Information Together in AMS+

An industry-specific AMS helps your team keep client information organized and accessible. AMS+ brings that information together with tools designed for the needs of health insurance agencies.

The Annual Review tool in AMS+ combines client information already stored in your AMS with plan data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This lets your team compare a client's current Medicare Advantage plan with next year's coverage and available alternatives without starting from scratch.

Here's how that can help your team:

• Spend less time gathering information: Keep client details & plan data in one place
• Spot plan changes faster: Review changes to premiums, deductibles, benefits & prescriptions
• Estimate prescription costs: Use medications already on file to help estimate a beneficiary’s out-of-pocket expenses for prescriptions
• Catch plan exits early: Identify plans ending or leaving a client's county
• Compare plans side by side: View the current plan, compare up to two alternatives, or explore all eligible plans in the county
• Track review progress: See which reviews still need attention

With client information and plan data in one place, you can start comparing coverage options and identifying what has changed for the year ahead.

Identify Changes to Medicare Advantage Costs & Coverage Using AMS+

Plan changes can affect clients in many different ways. A premium might go up while other benefits improve. A plan may still cover a client's prescriptions, but with new restrictions or different estimated costs.

The Annual Review tool in AMS+ lets you review those differences side by side.

Review Changes to Plan Costs & Benefits Instantly

Comparing premiums alone doesn't tell the whole story. Costs, prescriptions, and benefits can all shape whether a plan still fits a client's needs.

The Annual Review tool in AMS+ summarizes available information about changes to a client's current plan, including:

• Premiums, deductibles, & estimated annual costs
• Prescription coverage & medication restrictions

• Supplemental benefits & other coverage details

With these in mind, your team can look beyond individual plan details and consider how changes may affect the client throughout the year.

Compare Prescription Coverage & Estimated Costs

Prescription costs can change from one year to the next. A drug that was affordable this year may cost more next year, or its coverage may change.

To estimate prescription expenses, the Annual Review tool uses available formulary and pricing information.

If a medication doesn't match a drug in the system, the tool suggests a match. You review it and confirm it's correct before it's saved to the client's record.

Find Alternative Medicare Advantage Plans

When a plan no longer fits, the next question is what else is out there. The Annual Review tool in AMS+ compares the client's current plan with up to two alternatives available in their county. A full comparison tab also lists every eligible plan in the county, so you can show clients the whole field and not just a short list. 

For some clients, staying with their current coverage makes sense. For others, changes to costs or coverage are a reason they may want to look elsewhere.

Your team can compare:

• Premiums & deductibles
• Drug coverage & estimated annual drug costs
• Supplemental benefits & out-of-pocket maximums
• Plan star ratings

The tool ranks alternatives by price and drug coverage. The tool also displays CMS star ratings, which reflect the quality and performance of a plan's contract. These ratings provide additional context when comparing options, but they don't affect how the tool ranks alternative plans.

Explain Plan Differences & Coverage Trade-Offs

Clients rely on your team for two things: explaining what the differences mean, and helping them decide what they want most from their coverage.

The Annual Review tool includes a Detailed Analysis view that provides additional context for comparing plans. 

You can see how the costs add up, making it easier to explain the differences between plans. For example, a plan with a lower premium might come with higher prescription costs or different supplemental benefits. Looking at the full picture helps you talk through those differences with your client and decide if the plan still makes sense for them.

You can also print or send a review to share with the client, or start a quote from the review using the client's information, so you don't re-enter details you already have.

Verify Plan Details Before Client Conversations

A plan comparison gives you a helpful starting point, but it may not include every detail you need to discuss coverage with a client. 

Before discussing the results with a client, make sure you account for a few important details:

• Provider networks: Available Medicare data doesn't show whether a client's individual doctors participate in a specific plan. Check the plan's provider directory or contact the plan or provider. The review includes a reminder to manually confirm doctor participation.
• Estimated costs: Cost figures are estimates based on available information. When something isn't available yet, the review shows what's still pending instead of guessing.
• Pending plan data: Medicare plan information becomes available at different times. The Annual Review tool identifies what's pending so you can revisit the comparison when more data arrives.
• Updated information: Comparisons don't refresh automatically. When relevant information changes, your team decides when to run the review again.

Track Annual Review Progress Throughout AEP

During the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), your team may be preparing for multiple client appointments while keeping track of each review and its next steps. Without a clear way to track progress, it can be difficult to tell which reviews are complete and which still need attention.

The Annual Reviews tab on the agency dashboard shows clients who need a review, their current plan, and their Rx Collect, review, and enrollment status.

Within each review, your team can:

• Track review status
• Mark a review as reviewed, which records who completed it & when
• See which reviews are flagged as out of date after information changes
• Start a quote using the client's information

Once a review is marked reviewed, it can only be unmarked during AEP (October 15th to December 7th). Every completed review also keeps a record of who completed it and when.

Learn how workflow automation in AMS+ can help your team stay on top of client follow-ups and keep reviews moving throughout AEP.

Build Annual Reviews Into Your AEP Workflow

You may already be using tools to manage your Medicare book, but an industry-specific agency management system (AMS) can take your annual review process further. AgencyBloc solutions are built for health and senior market agencies, helping you organize client data and keep key tasks moving from one central platform.

With AMS+, your agency can:

• Keep client & plan information in one organized place
• Spot clients affected by plan changes or carrier exits sooner
• Stay consistent with review tracking & follow-up

By centralizing your data and reducing the back-and-forth between sources, you can create a smoother, more consistent experience for every client.

FAQ

Is the Medicare Advantage Annual Review tool available now?

Annual Review in AMS+ is in public beta. Availability of individual features may vary during the beta, so contact your AgencyBloc Client Success Manager for information about access and current functionality. Read the full Annual Review announcement for more details.

Do I need the client’s ANOC letter to run an Annual Review?

No. The Annual Review tool uses plan data published by CMS instead of the client’s ANOC letter. Your team still reviews the results with the client before discussing next steps.

Can Annual Review verify whether a client’s doctors are in-network?

No. The available Medicare data doesn’t establish which individual doctors participate in specific plans. Your team will need to verify doctor participation through the plan’s provider directory or by contacting the plan or provider. The review includes a reminder to manually confirm doctor participation.

What does the Annual Review tool factor into medication comparisons?

The tool checks the client’s medications on file against the new plan’s formulary and pricing, factoring in days of supply, pharmacy type, timing in the plan year, etc. Cost figures are estimates, and anything Medicare hasn’t published yet shows as pending.

Which Medicare plan types does the Annual Review tool cover?

The Annual Review tool in AMS+ is built for Medicare Advantage only.

Does Annual Review automatically update when new Medicare data becomes available?

No, the agent decides when to update the review. When information changes, the tool is designed to identify that the review is out of date and allow the agent to refresh the comparison.

What happens if a client's current plan is being discontinued?

The Annual Review tool in AMS+ identifies when a plan is ending, changing, or no longer available in the client's county. Depending on the situation, it may identify an automatic transition or ask you to select a plan to compare. Review the available options with your client to determine the best next step.

Posted by Shannon Beck on Wednesday, October 28, 2026 in AgencyBloc Intelligence

1. data management
2. open enrollment
3. productivity
4. selling