The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) starts in five days! We know your plates are full with pre-enrollment activities and preparation for AEP. Below are some great ways to save time and prepare during this hectic and busy season.
Efficiency is key when using your time wisely. It is important to pre-plan any and all AEP strategy to ensure that you are meeting deadlines. We recommend you begin your planning in early March to mid-April. During this time, you can focus on reviewing your book of business and assessing clients.
Plan Selection
Make sure to select multiple plans from various carriers to present to your clients. Remember, not all plans are one-size-fits-all, and each beneficiary has unique financial and medical needs. Review your appointments scheduled with clients and see what has worked in previous plan conversations and what hasn’t been of value. Keeping a client’s past appointments in mind is very important. People are more likely to trust an insurance agent that is equipped with a wide variety of plan options, as opposed to an agent recommending only one or two options. Beneficiaries tend to stick with name brands they know, but it’s always important to recommend and review all of their options. There could be a more affordable, comprehensive product from a new carrier in the market and it’s important to have the ability to offer and recommend this option to your client.
Contracting
At this point, you should be contracted with all of the carriers participating with plans in your service areas. You can always add other contracts; it will just take more time. If you’re selling Medicare Advantage, remember, once you’re contracted, you will have to complete certification for the specific carrier. Additionally, until you have completed your certification – you will be waiting in line to receive supplies for presentations and enrollments. For the sake of time and guarantee of sale, it is best to have contracts completed early.
Complete Medicare and Fraud, Waste, Abuse Training
To sell Medicare and related products, you must complete Medicare training and Fraud, Waste, Abuse training. Many people complete this training by doing the AHIP training or fulfilling Gorman Health Courses. Make sure to double check your carriers to see if they require any specific training other than these two forms. As mentioned before, if you’re selling Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plans, carriers require additional certification before you can compliantly sell their products.
Complete Your Certification
Completing certifications requires quite a bit of time, so it is important to take time out of your day, or week to work on your certifications. It’s recommended to remove all distractions from the area in which you are taking them. Keep in mind that certifications can take a while, so be sure to complete them promptly. The longer you wait to complete your certifications, the harder it will be to obtain your supplies and enrollment materials. You’ll also risk getting a late start with helping your clients and future prospects.
If this is your first AEP, it may seem like an overwhelming and hectic time, but it’s a great time for business and building relationships with your clients. For the veteran agent, you probably thrive in this opportunity to help beneficiaries enroll in plans that help improve their daily lives.
If you have any further questions or concerns about preparing for AEP, don’t hesitate to give Agent Pipeline a call. Give us a call at 800-962-4693 today because #YouNeedAPforAEP.
