Steps to Get Ready for OEP: Federal & State Exchanges

We’ve probably all bought a new piece of furniture with assembly required and promptly tossed the instructions to the side. We could wing it, right? Maybe so… But we don’t recommend going rogue when it comes to putting together your strategy for the ACA Open Enrollment Period.

As OEP approaches, there are five essentials steps agents should take to be ready-to-sell.

We’ll be focusing on the OEP preparation steps that new agents need to take. These steps are mostly the same for returning agents, with a few differences. We’ll mention those when appropriate.

Additionally, preparing for OEP can be different based on if you’re selling on the federal or state exchange(s), or both. We’ll note these differences as well, so you can be prepared to sell on both exchanges.

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1. Complete the FFM Certification & State Training — Late Summer

All agents selling Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans are required to complete certification or training, depending on which exchange they are selling plans in.

For the federal exchange, agents are required to complete the Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) certification. Completing the FFM certification covers you to sell in all FFM states.

Each state-based marketplace has its own training.

The Federally Facilitated Marketplace (FFM) Certification

New-to-the-marketplace agents will have to complete the full version of the FFM certification. Agents can complete this training through CMS’ MLMS platform or an approved vendor, such as HealthSherpa.

Those who have previously completed the FFM certification are able to take a condensed version of the training. You’ll be automatically enrolled in this condensed training if you’ve successfully completed training for the plan year prior.

Read our in-depth guide to becoming FFM-certified for more information and helpful tips.

State-Based Marketplaces

State-based marketplaces (SBMs) are operated independently by the state, rather than overseen by the federal government. Agents enrolling clients residing in SBM states must complete training through the state’s platform.

Training start dates, deadlines, and links vary by state. OEP end dates may also differ in some states. The start of OEP begins on November 1 for all states.

Here are the links to the SBMs Ritter currently works with:

• Connect for Health Colorado
• Georgia Access
• Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange
• Maryland Health Connection
• GetCoveredNJ
• New York State of Health
• Pennie
• Virginia Health Benefit Exchange

2. Complete Carrier Contracts — Late Summer/Early Fall

Before selling ACA plans, agents and brokers must contract with carriers available in their market within the states they’re licensed to sell these products in. As a Ritter agent (registering with our site is free!), you can complete carrier contracts within the Ritter platform in just a few steps.

1. Log in to the Ritter Platform
2. Select the Contracts tab
3. Click Contract Now*
4. Select Under 65 Health as the product
5. Select the states that you are approved to sell in

^*Newly registered agents must speak with their sales specialist to unlock Contract Now.

We publish a blog post with ACA insurance sales contract reccomendations each year. You can also reach out to Ritter’s team of sales specialists for assistance or recommendations for your market.

Completing carrier contracts allows you to have a full portfolio of products for a variety of clients in your book of business. Consider adding carriers that offer benefit-rich plans; Ritter has many to offer!

3. Become an ACA Pro — All Year Long

To properly advocate for and serve your marketplace clients, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the products in your portfolio and how the exchanges operate.

We’ve created a number of resources and training opportunities to help agents to learn about and stay up to date on this line of business.

• Surviving OEP Page — This central hub has all the information you need to prepare for OEP, including categories of helpful blog posts and other resources. We update this page throughout the year to include information relevant to agents before, during, and after OEP.
• Under-65 Health Products Page — Our Ritter Docs Under-65 Health page hosts information about each product’s carriers, certification information, and other helpful notes for agents! This page gets updated frequently to keep you up to date!
• Webinars and In-Person Events — Hear product and industry professionals share their knowledge live or on demand.
• ACA eBook — Download our comprehensive guide that explains what you need to know about the ACA and how to master the market.
• Knight School — Our self-guided online training modules are available whenever you are.
• Ritter Blog — We’re constantly adding new posts about a variety of health insurance topics and newsworthy ACA updates.
• ASG Podcast — Our in-house podcast covers industry news and helpful tools for agents.

4. Market Yourself — Before October

Are potential clients aware of your services? Generate ACA leads by connecting with existing clients and marketing your business to new clients.

Some carriers have marketing materials available for agents to use. These can be either carrier-specific or generic, so you’re sure to find something that works for you. You can find these resources on most agent portals on carrier websites.

We recommend getting in touch with your local community — you can easily meet in person, after all!

Since your clients are under 65, most of them are also online. Use social media and other digital resources to share your business.

Read our ACA eBook_ for more tips on how to market ACA plans to your clients and community!

You can also participate in HealthCare.gov’s Find Local Help, also referred to as “Help on Demand.”

To participate in this program for federal exchange states, agents must complete the “Help on Demand” training course after completing the FFM certification. This supplementary training is brief and educates agents on how to take advantage of the tool. Read our post to learn how to add your information to Find Local Help

CMS will then verify your information and you can move forward with finalizing your Find Local Help page. Follow this guide to get in touch with potential clients!

Most state marketplaces provide an option that’s similar to this federal program; check with the exchanges that you’re selling in for their option. Then, familiarize yourself with their requirements to participate if you’re interested.

5. Start Selling ACA Plans — November 1

When OEP’s just around the corner, it’s time to start meeting with clients and finding the right plan for them.

If you can, discuss coverage options with your clients before November 1. There aren’t rules against these conversations.

Federal exchange clients can enroll through HealthSherpa, another direct enrollment partner, or HealthCare.gov. Clients in SBMs will enroll through their state’s marketplace platform.

Consider core coverages as well as supplemental coverages, such as marketplace dental plans which can be sold during the OEP. Consider stand-alone ancillary or complimentary products that can be sold at any time of the year and do not need to be connected to the marketplace medical plan.

Ancillary and other complimentary products can be great additions for clients who need to opt for a Bronze-level plan in order to cut costs.

Hopefully we’ve given you helpful instructions to follow before the OEP arrives this November. We are always here if you need additional guidance or have questions. We look forward to seeing your success this fall!

Register with our site to gain free access to our full library of tools and resources. If you have any questions or want product details or contracting assistance, get in touch with the Ritter sales team and start earning more selling ACA insurance.

CONTRACT AND EARN!

Want to earn a virtual $5 Amazon gift card for getting a new ACA contract?

Participate in our Best OEP Yet program, and you’ll not only prepare for the busy season but also earn incentives!

Agents who qualify can:

Attend webinars and complete action items to earn $5 Amazon gift cards.

Stack your earnings by crossing off one item from each step within the designated time frames.

The first 25 agents to complete one qualifying task from each and every step earn a $50 Amazon gift card (on top of previous completion earnings)!

To qualify for rewards, participants must be direct to Ritter with an appointed or pending contract. The Your Best OEP Yet qualifying period is from 8/27/25 to 11/30/25. Only steps completed within this period, with the exception of a portfolio review between 6/1/25 and 8/31/25, are eligible for rewards. Participants will only be rewarded once for each step. Participants can earn a maximum of three (3) step rewards totaling $15 in virtual Amazon gift cards. Participants among the first 25 to complete all three tasks within the qualifying period will earn one (1) additional $50 virtual Amazon gift card. All qualifying events can be found at RitterIM.com/your-best-AEP-yet. In order to receive virtual Amazon gift cards from this program, participants must use the email address associated with their RitterIM.com profile when registering for qualifying webinars or signing up for tools.

No payment or purchase necessary. Ritter is solely responsible for the distribution of any prizes. Distributions will be made as soon as processing is complete following a qualifying event. Final distributions will be made by 12/14/25. Restrictions may apply. Rewards will be delivered while supplies last. Ritter will make final determinations of all qualifying actions.