1. Review and Select Carrier Plans

Take some time to review the carriers and plans in your portfolio. When reviewing carriers, familiarize yourself with:

• Their application process
• Available plans and benefits
• Helpful tools and resources they offer

Remember to consider the unique needs of your current and prospective clients, so you can provide them with the absolute best options available. Keep the plans your clients have been loving, and also consider diversifying your portfolio with other plans from large and small carriers.

AGA Agents: Use our Medicare quote engine to review plans and find competitive options in your area.

2.  Make Sure You’re Ready To Sell

“Ready to sell” means you have completed all of the requirements needed to sell Medicare products. These requirements include passing the AHIP certification and completing all individual carrier contracts and certifications.

✔ Complete Carrier Certification

It is important to get certifications completed ahead of time to ensure you are ready to sell with the carriers and plans you wish to offer.

AGA Agents: Find carrier specific certification instructions in our agent portal or contact a member of our broker service team to ensure you are on the right path and ready to sell for AEP.

✔ Pass AHIP Exam

The AHIP certification is a two-part course that is required for all agents who wish to sell Medicare. The certification is put in place to ensure agents are Medicare compliant. The cost of the 2024 AHIP certification is $175 however, you can get a discount by being an AGA agent!

Use AGA’s unique link to:

• Automatically receive a $50 discount
• Skip the step of sending AHIP certification to AGA

You must complete your AHIP certification to sell during AEP.

3. Take Advantage of AGA Resources and Marketing Tools

AEP is the time of year when it really pays off to partner with an FMO. A great FMO should have resources and support to set you up for a successful AEP.

AGA partners have access to a wide range of agent services such as:

• Dedicated Regional Sales Manager
• Marketing Department
• Event Reporting & Coordination
• Agent Portal & CRM with Online Enrollment
• Coordinated Certification Training & Support
• Commission Team
• Compliance & Allegation Support
• Submission Department
• Contracting Team
• Marketing Co-op program
• Marketing Dollars program
• Agent Referral program

4. Review Historical Data

Analyze data from previous AEPs to identify trends, patterns, and areas of improvement. Use this data to refine your strategy and implement goals.

Brokers, assess your team’s performance during the previous AEP and identify strengths and weaknesses. Establish specific goals and objectives for the upcoming AEP based on these insights.

5. Develop a Marketing Plan

While you can’t market or sell for AEP to clients until October 1st, that doesn’t mean you need to delay your sales and marketing strategy. Get ahead of the game by:

• Defining your target market. Be specific. Instead of just “Medicare beneficiaries”, think of married couples or those turning 65 or with chronic health conditions.
• Knowing your audience. What are their interests? What do they read, watch? What are their primary concerns? Who do they follow on social media?
• Researching your competitors. What are they doing that you aren’t? How is your niche different from theirs? How can you outshine them?
• Getting your marketing channels compliant. Get your ads, websites, handouts, presentations (any marketing material) approved in advance so there aren’t any delays when it’s mission critical time.
• Calendar and plan your marketing events.
• Check in with current clients to review their current year plan benefits. Note, you can only discuss their current year, but in doing so, you will learn about what their needs are and have a warm call to make come October 1.
• Educating your audience on when AEP is and what happens during that time. Provide general educational information on what the annual notice of change  (ANOC) is and when to look for it.

6. Strengthen Your Online Presence

• Refresh Your Website: Make sure your website is up-to-date with the latest information and compliant with current regulations.
• Engage on Social Media: Increase your activity on social media platforms where your target audience is active. Share valuable content and updates in the months leading up to AEP.

By following this comprehensive checklist, you can transform the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period from a stressful time into a lucrative and efficient season. Staying prepared, leveraging available resources, and continuously improving your strategies will ensure you provide the best service to your clients and maximize your earnings this AEP!