Medicare AEP Readiness
10-Day Medicare AEP Preparation Checklist for Agents
Use this ten-day Medicare AEP checklist to prepare territory, lead vendors, budget, CRM, follow-up, calendar and campaign tracking before October 15.
Reviewed and updated October 5, 2026. Written from RiseGen's experience serving independent insurance agents for over 10 years and operating insurance lead generation and sales technology.
Days 10-8: confirm readiness and territory
Verify current licensing, certifications, carrier appointments, plan-year resources and any organization-specific requirements. Confirm which states and counties you can responsibly serve and how appointments will be handled.
Review current CMS and carrier guidance directly. This checklist supports campaign operations and does not replace compliance, legal or carrier instructions.
- Confirm licensing, certifications and carrier readiness
- Define states, counties and selling method
- Reserve appointment and follow-up time
- Identify any operational gaps before ordering
Days 7-6: select the lead strategy
Choose the Medicare opportunity type, vendor, exclusivity model, territory and delivery expectations. Review minimums, replacements, campaign pacing and any restrictions before approving the order.
Set a budget and volume that can be sustained and completely worked. Avoid solving uncertainty by purchasing more leads than the operation can handle.
- Document lead type and source
- Confirm exclusive, shared, aged or recycled status
- Review targeting and replacement terms
- Match weekly volume to capacity
Days 5-3: configure the operating system
Test lead routing, CRM access, phone and permitted messaging workflows. Create dispositions, appointment stages and follow-up tasks so every new record has a clear path.
Prepare scripts and templates through the appropriate compliance and carrier review process. Confirm that team assignments and notifications reach the correct person.
- Test CRM and lead routing
- Verify phone, email and permitted SMS workflows
- Create dispositions and next-action rules
- Confirm agent assignments and calendars
Days 2-1: test and launch
Run a complete test from lead receipt through assignment, first contact, appointment scheduling and reporting. Review the first-day calendar and reserve time for rapid response and daily pipeline cleanup.
On launch day, monitor delivery and assignments without interrupting the campaign unnecessarily. Address confirmed technical or data problems quickly while allowing the agreed campaign enough time and volume to develop.
- Complete an end-to-end delivery test
- Review launch-day availability
- Set daily and weekly audit times
- Know who handles vendor or routing issues
Frequently asked questions
When does Medicare AEP begin in 2026?
Medicare Open Enrollment begins October 15, 2026, and ends December 7, 2026.
When should agents order AEP leads?
Timing depends on the vendor's fulfillment process and the agent's readiness. Confirm the launch date, delivery expectations and capacity before placing the order.