Agents deal with complaints and corrections well after enrollment ends. Many mistakes that look like cleanup issues are actually rooted in early quoting and intake errors. This post breaks down the common enrollment errors agents overlook, explains why they happen, and shows how to fix them before they cost time, trust, or retention.
This isn’t a task checklist. It is about real mistakes agents search for in January and how to change how you work in 2026.
Agents rely on carrier summaries or outdated formularies instead of reconfirming drugs and tiers for each plan. Drug lists change year to year. Clients may also change pharmacies after enrollment, which affects coverage.
Clients see unexpected costs or prior authorization requirements that were not flagged. Those calls often start with “Why is this drug costing more than I expected?”
Networks shift annually. National directories are slow to update. Agents often check provider access once and don’t reverify before submitting.
Clients show up for appointments months later only to discover they aren’t in network. These calls usually start with frustration and require phone time to explain.
SEP timing rules and carrier processing windows are misunderstood. Agents may use the wrong effective date in documentation.
Coverage gaps show up in January, and clients may assume the agent forgot to enroll them. “I never had coverage on January 1” becomes a frequent early-year call.
Agents may estimate income too loosely or forget to ask about household changes. This shows up later when subsidies are off or clients are asked for repayment.
Incorrect subsidies are one of the most stressful January issues for clients and often damage trust.
Agents may explain benefits verbally without visual aids. Clients assume they understand copays, deductibles, and benefits.
When bills arrive or pharmacies quote prices differently, clients call confused. Agents potentially spend time clarifying rather than closing new opportunities.
Notes about special circumstances, SEP proofs, or client decisions could get buried or omitted. When issues arise, there’s nothing to reference.
You spend time rebuilding context with carriers or clients instead of resolving issues quickly.
Most happen not because of carrier mistakes but because data was assumed instead of verified. January is when real usage replaces assumptions. Clients finally see bills, network limits, drug tiers, and benefit details in real life. Errors that hide during volume show up once coverage is live.
Better intake and quoting workflows reduce the number of late-year corrections you make. January questions often come back to a misstep in earlier conversations.