The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is the window each fall — October 15 to December 7 — when people with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan. Changes made during AEP take effect January 1.
AEP is the single busiest stretch of a Medicare agent's year. The bulk of Medicare Advantage and Part D enrollments and plan changes happen in these eight weeks, which is why agents lean on automation, renewal reminders, and dashboards to keep up.
AEP is distinct from the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31) and from Special Enrollment Periods, which are triggered by qualifying life events outside the annual windows.
General information for licensed insurance professionals, not legal or compliance advice. CMS rules change — confirm the current plan-year Medicare Communications & Marketing Guidelines. Smart Agent CRM is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or CMS.
Smart Agent ships with AEP and the rest of the Medicare workflow built in. See it on a 30-minute demo.
