OEP is a crucial opportunity to help your clients optimize their coverage. But make sure you stay compliant during this period. Keep these best practices in mind.

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OEP is beneficiary-driven – not agent-driven.

What you CAN do:

Respond when beneficiaries reach out to you. If someone already enrolled in Medicare Advantage initiates contact, you can provide education, answer questions, and help them understand their options during OEP (January 1 - March 31). You can guide them through a plan change if it aligns with their needs.

What you CAN’T do:

Send unsolicited communications about MA OEP or reference it unless the beneficiary brings it up first. You cannot target beneficiaries based on AEP decisions or purchase lists, use OEP to reach clients you missed during AEP, market OEP as a way to switch plans for any reason, or contact former clients who chose a different agent during AEP.

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Eligibility + one-time election

What you CAN do:

Help a beneficiary make their one OEP election if they’re eligible and haven't already used it. You can verify their current MA enrollment, confirm they understand this is a one-time opportunity, and process a change that truly serves them

What you CAN’T do:

Assume eligibility or skip verification steps. You cannot proceed without confirming the beneficiary is enrolled in MA, that they haven’t already made an OEP election, and that they qualify for the enrollment period. Missing these checks is a serious compliance error.

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Documentation

What you CAN do:

Protect yourself with strong documentation. You can (and should) record how contact was initiated, document eligibility verification, capture beneficiary intent, and note the rationale behind any plan change. Assume every enrollment will be audited.

What you CAN’T do:

Rely on memory or incomplete records. You cannot skip documentation or assume informal notes will hold up under review. If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen.

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