When is a good time to start preparing for AEP?

Answered by 5 licensed agents

Start reading and preparing late September or early October. Agents are allowed to tell you about the new plans coming for the next year starting 10/01 but cannot submit an application until 10/15. I hope this helps.

Answered by Edward Smith, ChFC, CRPS, AIF on June 30, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH, GA, IN, KY & SC

Answered by Edward Smith, ChFC, CRPS, AIF Medicare Insurance Agent
It is a very good question and there are various timelines to follow.

Periodically, you can check mainstream media to identify what changes are happening in the healthcare industry. Mainstream media may leak information or make announcements based on what insurance carriers may release on their own news releases.

If you have a Medicare Supplement or Medigap plan, you can get ahead of the curve. Medicare Beneficiaries have anniversaries at different times of the year. You do not have to wait for annual enrollment period to change a Medicare Supplement or Medigap plan.

Agents usually can only start certifying in late June and it can take independent agents several months to certify for the new annual enrollment period as insurance carriers have different release dates for agents to complete certification requirements for that carrier.

Annual Notice of Changes (The Insurance Industry calls it ANOC for short) usually comes out in September. Please make note of all of the changes that will take place January 1st should you decide to keep your current plan.

One thing that is important is making sure all of your information such you keep a list updated of you current doctors and specialists, as well as all of your medications (Make sure to make note of exact name of prescription as it could be a brand name or generic), the dose, and frequency you take your prescriptions as well as preferred pharmacy or pharmacies. Some agents have different resources that can share with you to update this information and some even update the information on Medicare.gov.

From October 1st - October 14th, Medicare agents or brokers can review the upcoming year's plans with you. However, please note that Medicare agents or brokers cannot make any changes until the official Annual Enrollment Period begins. Annual Enrollment Period is from October 15th - December 7th of each year. Any changes will take place on January 1st.

Answered by Steven Whetstine on June 29, 2025

Agent Licensed in AZ, ID, IN & 6 other states

Answered by Steven Whetstine Medicare Insurance Agent
The new Medicare plans become available for general public knowledge October 1st but no applications can be submitted until October 15th. I think a great time to start preparing for AEP would be in September just to make sure plans are in place, however, at the very least start October 1st.

Answered by Michael Andrews on June 30, 2025

Broker Licensed in CT

Answered by Michael Andrews Medicare Insurance Agent
Always. Need to be prepping year round with people you couldn't help as well as those you can. Make sure to be keeping notes on them also.

Answered by Holt Rushing on June 30, 2025

Broker Licensed in MS, AK, AL & 29 other states

Answered by Holt Rushing Medicare Insurance Agent
It should be on your radar when you receive your Annual Notice of Changes in the mail in late September.

However, companies don't release all their plan details until October 1st—even to agents! This means that the first week of October, companies are getting all of the links and Summary of Benefits live, and the agents are devouring them to figure out all the details.

Doing some preliminary research in the first week of October is okay, but you'll likely get the best info after the 7th of October and afterward.

Answered by Stuart Graham on June 30, 2025

Broker Licensed in GA, AL, LA, MS, SC & TN

Answered by Stuart Graham Medicare Insurance Agent

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