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Prepare for AEP 2024 Success With This Checklist
Prepare for AEP 2024
Success With This Checklist
By Austin Felch
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) 2024 is around the corner. For brokers who offer Medicare products, it’s an important time to reach out to current and potential clients and provide them with information about Medicare plans that may be right for them. AEP begins on October 15 and ends December 7.
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) 2024 is around the corner. For brokers who offer Medicare products, it’s an important time to reach out to current and potential clients and provide them with information about Medicare plans that may be right for them. AEP begins on October 15 and ends December 7.
The best way to thrive? Be prepared and organized. See Applied General Agency’s 2024 Broker’s checklist for 5 things to focus on to make the most of the Medicare AEP.
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, plans, benefits and any other helpful tools offered.
Don’t forget to remember your current and prospective clients’ needs to ensure you can provide them with the best options possible. Keep the plans your clients have been loving, and also consider diversifying your portfolio with other products, and large and small brands.
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.
3
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.
4
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. You must complete your AHIP certification to sell during AEP.
5
Develop a Marketing Plan
While you can’t market or sell for AEP to clients until October 1, 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?
• Making sure your marketing is 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.
• Scheduling and planning your marketing events.
• Connecting 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.
Take Advantage of 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 success during AEP.
For example, AGA partners have access to a wide range of agent services such as:
• Marketing Department
• Event Reporting & Coordination
• Agent Portal & CRM with Online Enrollment
• Coordinated Certification Training & Support
• Commission Team
• Compliance & Allegation Support
• Submission Department
• Contracting Team
AUSTIN FELCH, COO, joined AGA in 2019 with years of Medicare industry experience and running a national compliance program. His career has been focused on working with agents and agencies to develop compliant marketing campaigns that have the best ROI possible.
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