Thank God - Last Week Of AEP

[insurance0707]

Well it's been another year of AEP, I hope you guys haven't had heart attacks or nervous breakdowns from another year of this. I also hope those with families understand your neglect of them for the last couple of months. Any words of wisdom from other agents about anything they've learned about making it easier for the next year. I guess my words of wisdom are keep a copy of the medicare ID # and date/password of your clients medications. Although, knowing Medicare the list will not show up. (Just like they did this year, the emails I sent from Medicare's website of the lists for the the last 2 years now can't be pulled up and you can't even email info to clients)

Anyways, it is what it is. If there's anything you've learned about making AEP easier on clients and ourselves would love to hear it

 

[G.Gordon]

1. The last business day of September an envelope, one per client, with a drug list request and scope and instructions are mailed.
2. As soon as we get them in, we start running comparisons and mailing printed results, emailing to those that like such. If they need to switch, we write on the top, CALL US, YOU NEED TO SWITCH, if they need to stay, we write "You can stay on the same plan".
3. Excel data bases with logs of list received, results mailed, action needed, contact made, etc keep the flow going.
4. We use the same mailing service to drop a simple black/yellow, MEDICARE MADE EASY post card to every senior in our county that is not a client.

We're at about 93 new since October 1, over 650 plan comparisons ran, between 300-400 trasactions via applications or m.gov switching of pdp plans.

Ask for referrals, tell every contact to tell a friend.

I've had one day off since late October that was Turkey day, ran appointments today, got two more new clients. They want to see me, they have to take what is left of the schedule. Working till 3pm the 7th, then popping the bubbly and calling it done.

 

[MedicareAgent]

i'm going to have to start requesting doctors they want to see also, i ran drugs but found many doctors left one network to another.

 

[insurance0707]

Good Post G. Gordon and good advice. I'll be doing that next year. I seemed to be like a deer caught in the headlights with the onslaught of calls from clients day after day, month after month.... that's a much better approach. Thank you.

 

[G.Gordon]

We have a doctor/hospital space at the bottom of our form. We meant to put, "For those on MEDICARE ADVANTAGE", but left it off. Every client listed their doctors and preferred hospital... or every hospital they ever saw.

 

[Newby]

1. The last business day of September an envelope, one per client, with a drug list request and scope and instructions are mailed. 2. As soon as we get them in, we start running comparisons and mailing printed results, emailing to those that like such. If they need to switch, we write on the top, CALL US, YOU NEED TO SWITCH, if they need to stay, we write "You can stay on the same plan". 3. Excel data bases with logs of list received, results mailed, action needed, contact made, etc keep the flow going. 4. We use the same mailing service to drop a simple black/yellow, MEDICARE MADE EASY post card to every senior in our county that is not a client. We're at about 93 new since October 1, over 650 plan comparisons ran, between 300-400 trasactions via applications or m.gov switching of pdp plans. Ask for referrals, tell every contact to tell a friend. I've had one day off since late October that was Turkey day, ran appointments today, got two more new clients. They want to see me, they have to take what is left of the schedule. Working till 3pm the 7th, then popping the bubbly and calling it done.

That's a very smart way to work MAs.

 

[MedicareAgent]

These might be stupid questions but...
Do you include a return address envelope stamped?
How do you mail specifically to seniors in your area.

 

[Newby]

These might be stupid questions but... Do you include a return address envelope stamped? How do you mail specifically to seniors in your area.

You don't mail stamped envelopes. You mail business reply envelopes.

With business reply envelopes you only pay postage on the ones who mail them back.

 

[MedicareAgent]

Thanks Newby.
I just got up and already learned something new.

 

[G.Gordon]

We mail to current clients, we want to get their plan review done, get them talking to friends, start the activity. We do not include a envelope, it is up to them to mail it back, they don't have a problem with it.

The post cards go to non-clients.

Buying list is simple and cheap. The first post card should have a return service request so you can take off bad addresses, then eliminate the line that indicates return service requested. That or include "or current resident" so that it gets left no matter what.

This is the second year to do the post card and we picked up several clients, some said "you mailed this last year and I didn't listen, I should have".

We dropped it three times this season.