By Freedom Marketing Group · Published
The Annual Enrollment Period runs each year from October 15 to December 7. During it, Medicare beneficiaries can join, switch or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, with coverage starting January 1.
This page covers the parts of AEP planning that stay the same year to year. For current-year rules and plan changes, read our Medicare AEP 2026 agent guide.
Operational planning
Successful AEP agencies plan early. Licensing, carrier appointments, certifications and system testing should be done before October. Our article on why winning agencies start AEP in July covers the timeline.
Staffing
- Forecast call and lead volume by week, not just for the season
- Plan agent hours to match when consumers actually call
- Have backup routing for overflow and after-hours calls
- Account for longer conversations as plans change
Lead formats during AEP
Inbound calls and live transfers keep agents talking instead of dialing, which helps during a short, busy season. Web leads can still work if your team can respond within minutes. Compare them in web leads vs inbound calls vs live transfers.
Metrics to watch
- Answer rate and abandoned calls
- Agent response latency for web leads
- Enrollments per agent hour
- Cost per enrollment by source
Compliance considerations
Medicare marketing is subject to CMS rules covering TPMO disclaimers, Scope of Appointment, consent and call recording. Rules change, so confirm current requirements with CMS guidance and your carriers. This is educational information, not legal advice.
See how our Medicare inbound calls and live transfers are delivered, screened and routed to your agents.
Related resources
Educational information only; not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm regulatory requirements with qualified counsel and current official guidance.