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Medicare AEP Playbook for Insurance Agents

Your phones heat up when mailboxes do. The moment ANOC lands, your AEP calendar is decided. Get in early, keep it simple, and guide clients with clear steps that save time and reduce stress.

Key dates and what changed

  • AEP window
    Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Changes take effect January 1. Put these dates in every outbound message and reminder. 

  • ANOC timing
    Plans must get the Annual Notice of Change to current enrollees by September 30, 2025 for Plan Year 2026. Plans also post materials by mid-October. Anchor outreach to that delivery week. 

  • Part D redesign context
    Clients will ask about 2026 drug costs. The Part D out-of-pocket threshold is $2,100 in 2026. After an enrollee reaches that amount, they owe $0 cost sharing for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. Use that as a talking point in reviews. 

  • Prescription Payment Plan (PPP)
    Clients can spread Part D out-of-pocket costs into monthly payments with PPP. Mention it when high first-quarter fills could strain budgets.


ANOC outreach that books reviews

Treat ANOC as a trigger. Work a fixed cadence for two weeks after delivery.

Day 1–2: set the stage

Text + email
“Your Medicare plan mailed your 2026 update. I am reviewing your changes and will follow up with options. Want a quick review this week? [Booking link]”

Keep language factual. If the message is marketing, apply CMS rules for your channel

Day 3–7: move to call

Voicemail
“Hi [Name], it is [Your Name]. I reviewed your ANOC. Let’s schedule a short call to walk through your 2026 changes and confirm fit. Book here: [link].”

Day 8–14: close the loop

Follow-up text + email
“Do you have your ANOC handy? I can review 2026 changes and confirm your doctors and drugs in one quick call. I have [two times] today. [Booking link]”

Fast triage tags

Tag every client so high-need cases rise to the top.

  • Premium up
    “Your premium goes up in 2026. Let’s check lower-cost options that keep your doctors and drugs.”

  • Formulary change
    “One of your medications changes coverage in 2026. I will compare plans that keep it covered to avoid disruption.”

  • Network shift
    “Your doctor or pharmacy shows a 2026 network change. I can verify providers or look at a plan that matches your care team.”

ANOC model materials highlight these change types. Use the letter as your source in every conversation.


Your 2026 prep timeline

Use this as your working schedule from late September through AEP.

Week of Sept 22–29

  • Export your Medicare Advantage and Part D roster by carrier and plan.

  • Pre-tag high-risk clients: specialty drugs, recent plan switchers, frequent pharmacy changes.

  • Load ANOC scripts and SMS templates into your CRM and dialer.

Sept 30 week

  • Send Day 1–2 texts and emails when ANOC arrives. 

  • Offer two appointment blocks per day. Keep slots short and focused.

  • Add a short note on Part D 2026 and PPP in confirmations to reduce call time. 

Oct 1–7

  • Call all premium increases and formulary changes first.

  • Use plan websites and Evidence of Coverage for specifics.

  • Document each review in the client record with a one-line summary of advice.

Oct 8–14

  • Second pass on un-booked clients.

  • Send “last-chance before AEP” message with two time options.

  • Publish a short “What changed for 2026” post on your site and link it in reminders.

Oct 15–Dec 7 (AEP)

  • Hold daily 30-minute blocks for urgent reviews.

  • Track kept appointments and closes by list segment.

  • Push weekly recaps to your team with wins, misses, and next steps.


CRM tasks that save time

Keep the CRM usage simple. Use five fields and three automations to drive the whole season.

Five fields

  1. Triage tag: premium, formulary, network, stable

  2. Doctors: PCP and key specialists

  3. Drugs: top five, with dose and frequency

  4. Preferred pharmacy: retail and mail options

  5. Review status: not booked, booked, completed, switched, stay

Three automations

  • ANOC sequence: send Day 1–2, Day 3–7, Day 8–14 messages.

  • No-show loop: auto-text a 2-slot reschedule link after a missed call.

  • Post-review: email a one-paragraph summary and next steps with a saved template.

Proof in process
When you log advice, attach a short note like “Remain in [Plan] for 2026. PCP in-network. Insulin covered. Premium up $6. No better fit found.” That note saves time and reduces call-backs.


Quoting and plan review tips

Make plan reviews fast, consistent, and clear.

Start with the client’s letter

  • Pull the ANOC sections for premiums, drug list notes, and network changes.

  • Confirm each item in the plan’s 2026 materials. 

Build a simple side-by-side

  • Stay vs Switch on one screen.

  • Columns: premium, expected drug costs, doctor status, pharmacy fit, total annual estimate.

  • If drug costs could hit the $2,100 threshold, say so and mention PPP as a budgeting option.

Keep the script tight

  • “Here is what changed.”

  • “Here is the impact on your costs and care.”

  • “Here are your two best options and why.”

  • “Here is what I recommend and the next step.”

Confirm next steps

  • Capture a new SOA if the scope expands to a different product type.

  • Send a short written recap and store it in the client file.


Track What Matters Each Week

Review these numbers every Friday from Sept 30 to Dec 7.

  • Outbound ANOC contacts sent

  • Meetings booked per 50 contacts

  • Kept appointment rate

  • Completed switches

  • Renewal retention

If a segment lags, fix one variable at a time: message, timing, or offer.


AEP rewards agents who move first and move clean. Quotit gives you the control panel to do both. You work from one screen. You quote, schedule, document, and follow up without juggling tabs or retyping data.

Here is how Quotit helps you turn ANOC week into kept meetings and clean submissions:

  • Quoting that moves fast
    ACA, Medicare, and ancillary in one platform. Real-time plan data. Side-by-side views that show premium, drug costs, doctors, pharmacies, and a clear annual estimate.

  • ANOC-first outreach, preloaded
    Copy-ready text, email, and voicemail scripts tied to your client list. Two-week cadence that starts the day letters land. Booking links on every message.

  • Compliance built in
    eSOA with time stamps. First-minute TPMO disclaimer prompts in call scripts. Call recording mapped to the contact. Storage that keeps proof easy to find.

  • Lean CRM that shows the whole picture
    Doctors, drugs, pharmacy, triage tag, and review status on one record. One-paragraph recap templates that save time and protect your file.

When you add it up, Quotit turns a crowded season into a clear run. You start with ANOC, you give precise advice, and you end with a submission you can defend and a client who feels taken care of. That is how you keep renewals and win referrals without working longer hours.

Want to see it on your book with your scripts and tags? Book a quick demo and we will walk a live example from text to completed review.

Ready when you are.
ANOC in. Calendar full.
Clean files. Fewer do-overs.
More sales, less friction.

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