Western Asset Protection (WAP) continues to gear up for Medicare’s annual election period. We know this is the busiest time of year for Medicare sales agents. It’s a great opportunity, but it can also get overwhelming. The good news is that you’re not alone. Here at WAP, we are ready to support you with supplies pick up between October 1 and December 7 – so you have everything you need to make this the best AEP ever. Log in to your WAP Agent Portal for the most up to date information available.

When opportunity knocks, you have to be ready to open the door.

This AEP, opportunity will be knocking. According to Fierce Healthcare, a report from the Better Medicare Alliance found that Medicare Advantage enrollment hit 26 million in 2021. Over the last decade, enrollment has almost doubled, and enrollment is still rising. Every day, 10,000 Americans age into Medicare, and 42% of all Medicare beneficiaries enroll in Medicare Advantage.

There’s a lot to be said for online conferences. You get the same information you would get at an in-person conference – possibly even more if you can watch recordings of sessions after they go live – but with no travel required. You can attend a conference anywhere in the world, and you don’t have to pay for a flight or hotel room. It’s better for your wallet, it’s better for the environment, and it might be better for your personal schedule, too.

Now is the time to compliantly communicate with clients and prospects before AEP. If you haven’t started, don’t wait. With everything that’s happened in the last year, your Medicare enrollees may have even more questions than usual. Below are eight ways to connect before AEP, as well as a list of compliance reminders.

As the Arizona reopening benchmarks develop, Western Asset Protection is taking all the safety precautions and steps to prepare for a return to the recently remodeled, new WAP office. We are assessing the situation and will continue to follow the state guidelines as well as take precautions to keep our employees, agents, agencies and partners safe. 

The next annual enrollment period will be here soon. Hopefully, you’ve already started your AHIP training. (We’ve got tips here to help you with that.) It’s also time to start building your marketing strategy.

We’ve seen just how much can change in a year. From finances to health, major shifts can happen overnight. If your clients have experienced a change in their situation, their current Medicare plan may no longer suit their needs.

As an independent agent, you are running your own business. Because of this, you should give some thought to the type of business structure you want to use. An LLC provides many benefits and is worth considering.

The new AHIP 2022 training begins on June 21, 2021. This is an important requirement for all Medicare brokers that represent MAPD and PDP plans with most key insurance carriers. This certification must typically be satisfied before you are ready to sell for 2022.

More than 10,000 seniors age into Medicare each day. During the last enrollment period, 36% of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, an increase of 9% compared to the previous year, according to the American Journal of Managed Care.