First and foremost, congratulations on a successful Annual Enrollment Period! Whether you are still pushing through the final stretch or enjoying some well-deserved time off, we want to wish you the happiest of holidays. May this season bring you time to rest, moments of gratitude, and renewed inspiration as you look ahead to the year to come.

Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout the year—especially during such a demanding AEP. Because of your commitment and professionalism, we continue to grow, better serve our clients, and make a meaningful impact in the communities we support. We are truly grateful for your partnership and look forward to an exciting new year filled with continued collaboration and even more success.

Finally, a big congratulations to our top EP performers—we are incredibly proud of you!

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and an amazing year ahead! 

Mai-Lee and Colan 

Mai-Lee Coddington
Regional Sales Director, SW

Colan Mouton
Regional Sales Director, NE

During our recent National Call, we covered several timely Medicare updates and action items every agent should have on their radar as we close out the year and prepare for what’s ahead. Read below for the quick recap!

• 2026 Medicare Part B Updates
  • The standard Part B premium will increase from $185 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026.
  • The Part B deductible will increase from $257 in 2025 to $283 in 2026.
  • Please also remember to review IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) levels—those amounts will be higher as well.
• Opportunities Through December 31
  There are still plenty of ways to help clients this month, including several Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs):
  • 5-Star plans like Devoted in many markets
  • Individuals leaving employer coverage
  • Those eligible for the FEMA disaster SEP
  • C-SNP and D-SNP opportunities, depending on the market
• Plan Exits
  Many beneficiaries still don’t realize their plans are ending.
  • You can enroll these clients through December 31.
  • Additionally, individuals affected by a plan exit have a Special Enrollment Period that extends through February 28, during which they have guaranteed-issue enrollment into a new plan.

Open Enrollment Period (OEP) – January 1 through March 31

We also reviewed Medicare Open Enrollment (OEP) and what agents can and cannot do:

• What OEP Is:
  OEP runs from January 1 to March 31, and anyone with a Medicare Advantage (MA) or MAPD plan may make one plan change during this time.
• Who Can Use OEP:
  Only individuals currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan.
  • Clients on Original Medicare only cannot enroll in MA during OEP unless they qualify for a separate SEP.
• What Changes Are Allowed:
  • Switch from one MA/MAPD plan to another.
  • Drop MA/MAPD and return to Original Medicare, with the option to add a standalone Part D plan.
    • Important: If a client plans to pair Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement, ensure the Med Supp is approved first. Writing the Part D before Med Supp approval can cancel their MA plan. If they are denied Med Supp, they could be left without healthcare coverage.
• Effective Dates:
  Any OEP change becomes effective on the first of the following month:
  • Written in January → Effective February 1
  • Written in March → Effective April 1
• Compliance Reminder:
  CMS has strict rules surrounding OEP.
  • Agents cannot actively market or advertise OEP.
  • You can assist clients who contact you seeking help or expressing dissatisfaction.
  • Clients receive only one election during OEP.

Please reach out to your local DSM or RD if you have any questions or need support.

Well folks, we’re nearing the finish line of AEP—and right in the heart of gratitude season. In the middle of all the hustle, we hope you can take a quiet moment to reflect on what you’re truly thankful for.

We want you to know how grateful we are for you. Our agents across the country continue to show up, work tirelessly for their clients, and support their families with so much dedication. AEP asks a lot from each of us, and we see the heart, effort, and commitment you bring every single day.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we hope you’re able to step away, recharge, and enjoy time with the people who mean the most to you.

We’re so close to the finish—let’s gooooo!

Colan Mouton
Regional Sales Director, SE

Mai-Lee Coddington
Regional Sales Director, SW

October 15: First Day of AEP!
October 15 – 16: Pre-AEP Contest (Veterans) (Rookies)
October 24: Contest Winners Announced
October 31: Happy Halloween!
November 10: November National Call – Click to Register

This AEP, Let’s Grow Like McDonald’s Used To — But Keep Clients Like Chick-fil-A

Ok, y’all know I’m in Texas — and while we don’t do much fast food, if I had to choose, I’m picking Chick-fil-A over McDonald’s any day.

As we head into Annual Enrollment Season next week, I want to take a moment to wish each of you a successful and fulfilling season. This is the time when all your preparation, dedication, and heart come together. It’s our “Super Bowl,” as Colan would say with his sports analogies (lol), and we couldn’t be prouder of the passion you bring to serving Medicare beneficiaries.

I recently came across an article comparing McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A, and believe it or not, it reminded me of us here at UIG. McDonald’s has tens of thousands of locations, while Chick-fil-A has only around 3,000. Yet Chick-fil-A’s average revenue per store is about $9 million, compared to McDonald’s at roughly $4 million. (Don’t quote me—I’m going off memory!)

So, what’s the difference? McDonald’s focuses on constant promotions to attract new customers, while Chick-fil-A emphasizes retaining and deepening relationships with the ones they already have. Their growth comes from loyalty, not just volume.

That’s a powerful reminder for us as independent Medicare brokers. We work hard to earn our clients’ trust and guide them through important decisions—but that relationship shouldn’t end once the application is signed.

In past AEPs, many of us have focused on bringing in new clients, then waited until Open Enrollment (Jan. 1–Mar. 31) to reconnect with existing ones. While that’s common, it’s more important than ever not to put current clients on the back burner. If they don’t hear from you, they may look elsewhere for support—especially with all the changes coming in 2026!

Even a small touch—a quick email, a friendly call, or letting them know you’ll be available during OEP—shows you care and helps keep that relationship strong. Retention builds stability, referrals, and long-term success, much like Chick-fil-A’s strategy.

So this AEP, let’s do both: continue to grow with new clients and make sure our existing ones feel valued and supported.

Here’s to a fantastic AEP season. Thank you for all you do—and for the heart you bring to this business. Let’s make it one to remember, for both new and loyal clients alike.

Mai-Lee Coddington
Regional Sales Director, SW

Think about a basketball team or a football team on game day. No matter how great they are, they never take the field cold. They stretch, run drills, and build energy before the whistle blows. Why? Because warm-ups create stamina and sharpen performance when it counts.

AEP is less than a month away, and too many agents are treating September like the off-season. The mistake is thinking you can pick up right where you left off on October 15. In reality,  without momentum and strategy built now, you risk starting AEP rusty and unprepared.

The time to warm up is today. Turn your leads back on, start seeing clients, send those postcards and letters, and have the daily conversations that build rhythm. There’s plenty of business that can be written now, from ancillary products like hospital indemnity to life insurance, especially with September being Life Insurance Awareness Month. Do not wait until the season starts to get ready. Build your momentum now and hit AEP at full speed.

Here are a few ways you can take action right away:

• Set a goal for the number of client conversations you will have this week,

• schedule at least one appointment every day,

• review your pipeline for cross-selling opportunities, and

• reach out to past clients who may need a plan review.

These simple steps will sharpen your skills, build your stamina, and put you ahead of the competition so you can dominate this AEP season.

Colan Mouton
Regional Sales Director, NE

This month’s National Call was all about gearing up for the biggest opportunity of the year—AEP! Now is the time to sharpen your focus, lock in your strategy, and get ready to win this season. Success doesn’t happen by chance—it happens when you prepare with purpose.

Ask yourself the questions below, and if you need an extra push or support along the way, your DSM or RD is ready to back you up. Let’s make this AEP your best one yet!

✅ Is your game plan locked and ready to go?
✅ Have you reached out to your clients with letters or postcards to stay top of mind?
✅ Are your sales kits fully stocked and ready to close deals?
✅ Do you know the plan exits and flips in your area so you’re ahead of the curve?
✅ Have you turned your leads back on and opened the pipeline?
✅ Are your personal affairs in order so you can give 100% this season?

And don’t forget—we’ve got two contests running this AEP: one for our seasoned veteran agents and one for our rookies just starting out. Click below for all the details and get ready to compete!

Pre-AEP Contest – Veterans
Pre-AEP Contest – Rookies

October 6:  National Call – Click to Register
October 6: SunfireTraining(Right After the National Call)
October 1 – 14: Pre-AEP
October 15 – 16: Pre-AEP Contest (Veterans) (Rookies)
October 15 – December 7: AEP Season