When you’re thinking of everything you need to do to prepare for appointments this Annual Enrollment Period, be sure to think of things outside your memorized to-do list.
Pens? Check. Scopes of Appointment? Check! Enrollment kits? You bet.
But have you thought about what else you might need to do so you’re prepared for any unpredictable situation?
Listen to this article:
Know Your Routes
GPS is great, but if there’s a bad connection, it might fail you. Review your route before leaving, especially if you’re unfamiliar with your destination. If necessary, print out directions from Google. When punctuality is of utmost importance, it doesn’t hurt to consider more than one route. You never know when you’ll come across road work or an accident causing a detour.
When punctuality is of utmost importance, it doesn’t hurt to consider more than one route.
If you do rely on your phone for GPS, make sure you keep a phone charger in your car. Another option would be getting a device that’s used solely for GPS so you can conserve your phone battery for calls from clients.
Plan Your Meals
It’s possible that you may have a morning appointment, an afternoon appointment, and even an evening appointment all in one day. Sometimes your day may get busier than you had planned, and before you know it, it’s nine o’clock and you haven’t eaten all day. Not good!
To be on your “A” game, you have to take care of yourself. Not eating can cause fatigue, lack of concentration, and even irritability. The last thing you want is to be “hangry” when meeting with your clients. If you know you’re going to be on the road all day, start your day off with a healthy breakfast. You can also try meal prepping so your lunch is in the fridge and ready to go for the day ahead. Keeping healthy snacks in your car is also a great way to prepare for days that you might have to eat something on your way to an appointment.
Check Your Mindset
This may seem like a given, but it’s a good idea to check your attitude before going into any appointment. Life happens and frustrating things come about. Maybe you got stuck in a traffic jam or spilled coffee on your shirt (stay tuned for that one!). Either way, you should never take out your own frustrations on your client. A first impression is a big deal. Making a bad one could potentially make or break a sale. Even if it isn’t your first time meeting with a particular client, always practice the three Ps: professionalism, positivity, and patience.
A first impression is a big deal. Making a bad one could potentially make or break a sale.
In the same light, try to avoid preconceived notions or judgmental thoughts before and during an appointment. Things like the condition of a client’s house, their clothes, or their lawn don’t mean anything in terms of the Medicare coverage they need. Try to keep an open mind!
Keep an Extra Set of Clothes
Spills happen. It’s even more unfortunate when they happen directly on you right before an important meeting. It’s not a bad idea to keep an extra set of clothes in the trunk of your car for situations like this. There could be other factors besides spills that would prompt you to freshen up. On a hot day, you might get sweaty and want to change before your next appointment. Keeping deodorant, mints, floss, and even a toothbrush in your trunk may also come in handy.
If you don’t want to keep an entire extra set of clothes to leave in your car, we suggest keeping a spot treatment, like Tide to Go, in your glove box for the smaller mishaps.
Refresh Your Memory
“What kind of plan did Susan want to discuss?” “What is Jimmy’s son’s name?” These may be questions you ask yourself before an insurance meeting to get ready. Or, you could ask your own digital assistant these questions and receive quick answers with Integrity’s latest tool, Ask Integrity! This was designed specifically to help agents easily prepare for client appointments. With the digital assistant feature, you can utilize a variety of voice prompts to:
- Recall client details pulled from your MedicareCENTER CRM
- Summarize previous appointments via notes stored in MedicareCENTER
- Hear a summary of recorded calls & store notes hands-free
For more details on Ask Integrity, check out our blog post. To get started with this tool and Integrity’s entire technology Suite of Solutions, complete a quick and free sign up with MedicareCENTER!
We want our agents to have their best AEP yet, and that means being ready for the unexpected. The more prepared you are, the more success you’ll have when meeting with your clients and making sales. The team at Ritter Insurance Marketing is always in your corner to help you with anything that comes your way this AEP!
Editor’s Note: This was originally published in November 2019. It has been updated to include the most relevant information for 2025.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.
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