AEP 2022 has come to an end. It’s now time to look ahead for ways we can continue to serve beneficiaries while remaining compliant. As we begin the 2023 Open Enrollment Period, it’s important to discuss what is (and is not) allowable from a marketing perspective.
Compliant OEP Marketing Initiatives
- Engage with Clients – First things first, follow up with your clients to make sure they still have the best plan for their needs! For new enrollees, we encourage brokers to complete 30, 60, and 90-day follow-ups. If your client would prefer to make a change, you can offer to go over enrollment options with them.
- Market to Aging-In Prospects – Continue your normal marketing efforts toward new and soon-to-be Medicare beneficiaries.
- Maximize Special Election Opportunities – Whether it’s marketing 5-Star Plans, highlighting Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans, or reaching out to the Dual Eligible community, make the most of these programs that trigger an SEP.
- Service Beneficiaries Requesting Help – If you are contacted by a beneficiary inquiring about their options, you are free to discuss the OEP with them. You can mail or email marketing materials when they are requested by a beneficiary.
What You Can’t Do During OEP
- Market the OEP – You cannot advertise the OEP option to beneficiaries.
- Contact Former Clients – Every now and then, a client slips through the cracks, and you lose them. You cannot use the OEP to win them back.
- Target Beneficiaries – If you are aware of beneficiaries who enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans during the AEP, you cannot contact them with the intent of switching them during the OEP.
Just as a quick refresher, if you are contacted by a beneficiary that needs help, here is a list of allowable changes during the Open Enrollment Period:
- MA or MAPD to another MA or MAPD
- MA or MAPD to Original Medicare
- MA or MAPD to Original Medicare with a stand-alone PDP
Beneficiaries are allowed only one change during this period, which lasts from January 1st to March 31st.
As you continue to serve beneficiaries during OEP, don’t forget to utilize MedicareCENTER for accurate, more efficient quoting and enrolling. Are you looking for easy access to this information? Download and print this information to keep handy whenever you need it!
One of the more common questions agents get asked from their Medicare clients is “what is the Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty?” It is fairly easy to explain that if a Medicare member spends more than 63 consecutive days without having Part D or creditable drug coverage, they will be required to pay a late enrollment penalty should they choose to enroll in a Part D plan in the future. The typical follow-up question is “will I have a late enrollment penalty?” This is also usually pretty easy to answer, assuming the agent asks the proper questions of the client and the client responds with accurate answers about prior coverage.
We often get questions relating to the enrollment of Medicare eligible veterans outside of the Annual Election Period. In short, veterans are treated just as any other Medicare eligible person. There are a few things to note, however, when working with a veteran who is Medicare eligible. Here’s a short list of things to consider when helping veterans make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage enrollment:
