Is it too early to start prepping for AEP/OEP? Not if you want to outpace your competition, avoid the last-minute scramble, and make this your best enrollment season yet.
When it comes to Open Enrollment (both Medicare AEP and ACA OEP), the early bird doesn't just get the worm—they also get better sales, happier clients, and fewer headaches. Here’s why kicking off your prep in June is smart, strategic, and downright necessary.
You might think you have plenty of time before Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7) and ACA Open Enrollment (starting November 1) kick in, but seasoned insurance pros know the game starts months earlier. Many Medicare carriers release their annual certification courses by mid-summer. Early planning helps you navigate these training deadlines, avoid compliance pitfalls, and position yourself ahead of the pack.
Ready to get organized? Here are five essential steps insurance agents should tackle starting today.
Imagine hopping in your car for a road trip without knowing your destination. Sounds stressful, right? Your Open Enrollment strategy works the same way. Without clear sales goals, you won't know if you're on track or veering off course.
Take time now to determine:
How many new enrollments do you aim for?
What's your cross-selling target for ancillary products like dental, vision, or hospital indemnity?
What's your retention goal for existing clients?
Having clear objectives helps you allocate resources wisely, motivates your sales team, and provides measurable benchmarks to gauge your success.
>> Take a peek at our AEP/OEP Toolkit to give your goal-setting a boost!
Last year's Open Enrollment period holds valuable lessons. Take a deep dive into your data:
Which marketing tactics brought you the most leads?
Which carriers or plans performed best?
Where did you face compliance hiccups or client frustrations?
Document these insights and adapt your strategy. Don't repeat past mistakes—build upon what worked well, and you'll set yourself up for a record-breaking season.
If your quoting and client management processes felt cumbersome last year, it's probably because they were. Now’s the perfect time to evaluate:
Is your quoting platform efficient for Medicare, ACA, and ancillary products?
Can your CRM easily manage and segment your client list?
Do your tools support compliance (such as CMS-required call recording)?
If your answers are shaky, consider exploring robust, all-in-one solutions. Platforms like Quotit streamline quoting across multiple carriers and lines of business, ensuring you stay compliant, efficient, and ahead of competitors still juggling outdated systems.
As previously mentioned, Medicare certifications begin rolling out around mid-summer. Procrastination here can create unnecessary stress and even cost you sales opportunities if you're not ready to sell the latest plans come October.
Crucial certifications for health insurance agents include:
AHIP Medicare Training (America’s Health Insurance Plans)
Carrier-specific certifications (e.g., Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna)
Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) Training for ACA enrollments
Long-term care (LTC) certification (if applicable)
Continuing Education (CE) courses required by your state
Bookmark carrier certification pages, set calendar reminders, and prioritize these courses as soon as they become available. Knock certifications out early and you'll be one step ahead when the busy season hits.
Waiting until September or October to reach out to clients can leave you scrambling. Instead, draft your communications now:
Prepare educational content about upcoming enrollment dates and plan changes.
Schedule email and social media campaigns to warm up leads early.
Arrange client meetings or webinars to discuss plan updates well before enrollment kicks off.
Planning ahead gives you space to fine-tune your messaging and deliver thoughtful, personalized outreach—crucial for client retention and trust-building
Friendly Reminder: Be sure to follow the CMS Medicare Guidelines when reaching out to your Medicare clients.
Prepping early can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Quotit’s comprehensive quoting and CRM platform allows you to easily manage multi-carrier quotes, help with compliance (including CMS call recording), and streamline your entire enrollment process.
By getting Quotit in place now, you'll save countless hours later—time you can reinvest in serving clients, closing sales, and even taking an occasional break during enrollment season.
Ready to simplify your AEP/OEP prep? Schedule a demo today and discover how Quotit makes Open Enrollment your easiest—and most successful—season yet.