Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
Also called: SEP, Medicare SEP
A Special Enrollment Period (SEP) lets someone change Medicare coverage outside the usual windows because of a qualifying event, such as moving, losing employer coverage or qualifying for Extra Help.
SEPs are triggered by life events, so they show up all year. Each SEP has its own rules for who qualifies and how long the window lasts.
For marketing, SEPs are a reason to keep in touch with clients between enrollment periods. A move, a retirement or a change in employer coverage is often the moment a client needs their agent again.
Agencies that only market during AEP miss the clients whose needs change in the other ten months.
"A client who moved last month may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, so their agent should call this week."
How can Medicare agencies follow up on Special Enrollment Period opportunities year-round?
Track life events in the CRM, such as moves, retirements and changes in employer coverage, and trigger a follow-up from the client's agent when one is recorded.