The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, usually called AEP, runs from October 15 to December 7 every year. During those weeks, people on Medicare can switch or join Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, with coverage starting January 1. For agents and agencies, it is the busiest stretch of the year, and the lead flow has to be ready before it starts.
Why demand spikes
Outside AEP, most beneficiaries cannot change plans without a qualifying reason. Inside it, everyone can, and plans advertise heavily to remind them. Consumers go looking for information at the same time, which is why Medicare lead volume climbs in the weeks before October 15 and stays high until the window closes.
Preparing your lead flow
- Line up data early. Decide how many leads a day your team can actually work, and arrange delivery before the rush rather than during it.
- Use fresh and aged together. Fresh leads go to the agents who can call immediately; aged leads keep everyone busy and feed follow-up sequences.
- Pick the delivery method now. Ping post, API or CSV, matched to the system your agents already use, so nobody is copying records by hand in November.
- Agree the fields. Know what each lead will contain before the first one arrives.
Preparing your team
Agents need to be licensed and ready to sell the plans they will discuss, with scripts that follow current CMS marketing rules. Those rules cover how beneficiaries may be contacted and what must be said and recorded, and they change from year to year, so check the current guidance each season. Opt-in leads make this easier: the consumer asked to be contacted, and the proof of consent travels with the lead.
What comes with our Medicare leads
AC&C Media Group's Medicare leads are consumers over 65 who filled out a short form asking for information about Medicare coverage. Each lead comes with first and last name, full address, phone number, email, IP address and the date and time stamp of the form fill, with Jornaya or TrustedForm depending on what you need. They are available fresh or aged, and all of our consumer lead data is TCPA compliant.
After AEP
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period follows from January 1 to March 31, when people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change. Demand is lower than during AEP but steady, and aged leads from the fall often work well then. Plan the January flow before December ends.
If you want to talk through volume, timing or delivery for this season, contact us.
This article is general information about enrollment periods and is not legal or compliance advice. Agents are responsible for following the rules that apply to them.