With Medicare’s Annual Election Period just around the corner, it’s time to review the Annual Notice of Change. ANOCs give beneficiaries a chance to review their current Medicare plans and change if needed. It’s the job of Medicare broker to go over these changes with their clients before AEP begins.
Why ANOCs Are Important
The ANOC is a first-touch from you before AEP to let your clients know that you are there to support them each year. It can be an opportunity to make sure your client’s current plan is still right for their health needs and budget. If not, this is the chance to search for new plans together.
Too often people receive the large ANOC documents and swiftly glance through, missing important details like changes to covered services, costs, drug coverage, or provider network. These changes are effective January 1st, and if a beneficiary misses the update, the changes could come as quite a surprise. It’s up to you to check in with your clients, stress the importance of the documents, and go over any changes and options with them before AEP begins.
Beneficiaries will be receiving a lot of communication about AEP from TV and radio commercials and mailers to their house, and brokers need to make sure they retain their clients. Too often clients will make a change because they don’t understand how it all works.
ANOCs in the Time of COVID
Prior to COVID-19, you might have scheduled in-person meetings to review a member’s ANOC, individually or in groups depending on the size of your book of business. Due to COVID, though, ANOCs will be done a little differently. Here are a few ways you can get your ANOCs done this year:
- A letter mailed to the member explaining the meaning of an ANOC. They should include your contact information for clients to ask questions or to schedule an ANOC review.
- Virtual Zoom meetings for individuals or groups
- Phone appointments with individual members
- Mass texts to existing members using ProducerMax, with a call to action to reply to schedule an ANOC review
Now is the time for beneficiaries to make any necessary changes to their Medicare plans. Make sure you’re ready for ANOCs and AEP this year with the help of Plan Advisors. We are here to ensure you are doing the best business possible.
