What Medicare Mail Should You Keep? A Simple Guide to Medicare Notices and Junk Mail
As Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period approaches, many Medicare beneficiaries start receiving more mail, emails, and advertisements about their coverage. It can quickly become overwhelming—and it isn't always obvious which notices are important and which ones can go straight into the recycling bin.
So, what Medicare mail should you keep?
The good news is that you don't need to save every postcard, flyer, or advertisement that arrives in your mailbox. But there are a few important Medicare documents you should keep, review carefully, and know how to recognize.
Here's a simple guide to help you sort through your Medicare mail with confidence.
WATCH: What Medicare Mail Should You Keep?
When Is Medicare Annual Enrollment?
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year. During this time, Medicare beneficiaries can review their current coverage and make certain changes for the upcoming year.
As enrollment season approaches, you may notice an increase in:
Medicare plan advertisements
Insurance company mailers
Prescription drug plan information
Medicare Advantage information
Official Medicare notices
Emails and phone calls about Medicare coverage
Not all of these require action. In fact, many are simply marketing materials.
Knowing the difference can help you avoid unnecessary stress, and make sure you don't overlook something important.
Medicare Mail You Should Keep
1. Your Annual Notice of Change
If you have a Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, one of the most important documents to watch for is your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).
Your plan generally sends this notice before the Annual Enrollment Period. It explains how your plan will change for the upcoming year.
Your Annual Notice of Change may include changes to:
Monthly premiums
Deductibles
Copayments and coinsurance
Covered benefits
Prescription drug coverage
Drug formularies
Provider or pharmacy networks
Other plan rules and costs
Don't throw this document away. Keep it somewhere you can easily find it and review it before deciding whether your current Medicare coverage still meets your needs.
Even if you are happy with your current plan, changes to your benefits, prescriptions, doctors, or costs could affect you in the coming year.
2. Official Notices From Medicare
You should also pay attention to official correspondence from Medicare.
These notices may contain information about your Medicare coverage, benefits, eligibility, or other changes that could require your attention.
If you're unsure whether something is an official Medicare communication, don't automatically assume it is—or that it isn't.
When in doubt, verify the information through a trusted source before taking action.
3. Notices From Social Security
Social Security may also send important information related to your benefits or Medicare.
Keep official notices from Social Security and review them carefully, particularly if they contain information about premiums, benefits, eligibility, or other changes that could affect you.
4. Communications From Your Current Insurance Company
If you have Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or another type of Medicare-related coverage, you may receive important communications from your insurance carrier.
Not every piece of mail from your carrier requires action, but official notices about your existing coverage are worth reviewing and keeping when they contain information about your plan, benefits, costs, or changes.
Medicare Mail You May Not Need to Keep
Now for the easier part: not every Medicare-looking envelope is important.
During Annual Enrollment season, you may receive postcards, flyers, brochures, and other promotional materials from insurance companies and organizations trying to get your attention.
These may feature phrases such as:
"Important Medicare Information"
"Open Immediately"
"Your Medicare Benefits"
"New Medicare Plans Available"
"You May Qualify for Additional Benefits"
Some marketing materials are designed to look official even though they are advertisements.
Receiving one of these mailers does not mean Medicare requires you to change your plan.
Before taking action, check who actually sent the communication and whether it is related to your current coverage.
If it's clearly an advertisement and doesn't contain information you need, you generally don't need to keep it.
How to Tell if Medicare Mail Is Official
When you're sorting through your Medicare mail, start by asking three simple questions:
“Who sent it?”
Look at the name of the organization sending the communication. Is it Medicare, Social Security, your current insurance carrier, or another organization?
“Does it relate to my current coverage?”
A notice explaining changes to your current plan is much more important than a generic advertisement for a plan you don't have.
“Does it ask me to take action?”
If the communication requires you to review information, respond, or make a decision, don't discard it until you've determined what it's about.
If you're still unsure, ask a trusted Medicare advisor or contact Medicare directly using a verified phone number or website—not the contact information provided in a suspicious or unexpected message.
Be Careful With Medicare Scams
Medicare enrollment season is also a time when beneficiaries may see an increase in Medicare scams and high-pressure marketing.
Be especially cautious if someone unexpectedly contacts you and asks for personal information.
Never provide your:
Medicare number
Social Security number
Bank account information
Credit card information
Other financial information
to someone who contacts you unexpectedly and asks for it.
Be skeptical of anyone who pressures you to make an immediate decision, claims you will lose your benefits if you don't act immediately, or makes promises that sound too good to be true.
Medicare enrollment does not need to be a high-pressure decision!
Take your time. Verify the information. And talk with a trusted advisor before making a change if you're unsure.
Simple Medicare Mail Sorting System
KEEP
Keep official notices and documents related to your current Medicare coverage, including your Annual Notice of Change, important Medicare communications, Social Security notices, and plan documents.
REVIEW
Set aside anything you're unsure about or anything that discusses a change to your benefits, costs, prescriptions, providers, or coverage.
Don't throw it away until you understand what it is.
DISCARD
Once you've confirmed that a postcard, flyer, or brochure is simply an advertisement and doesn't contain information you need, you generally don't need to keep it.
When discarding documents containing personal information, consider shredding them rather than putting them directly into the trash.
Your renewal increase matters, but your funding strategy matters even more.
Don't Let Medicare Mail Overwhelm You
Medicare mail can feel confusing, especially when advertisements and official notices start arriving at the same time.
The key is to remember that more mail does not necessarily mean you need to make a change.
Start with the documents that matter most. Keep your Annual Notice of Change if you have Medicare Advantage or Part D coverage. Pay attention to official communications from Medicare, Social Security, and your current insurance carrier. And be skeptical of unsolicited advertisements or anyone trying to pressure you into making a quick decision.
If you're unsure what a Medicare notice means or whether you should make a change to your coverage, talk with a trusted advisor before taking action.
Medicare enrollment doesn't have to be overwhelming—and you don't have to sort through it alone.