Medicare Agents, Don’t Forget You Have the DST Election Period Available During 2026 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment

January 5, 2026
Brent Veazey

Our previous article on the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period below discusses many aspects of success that Medicare agents can execute. With Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment now here, we want to remind you of one more opportunity you can take advantage of if you use it correctly.

The DST election period allows Medicare clients who missed their initial enrollment for specific reasons to enroll in coverage during this period.

The Agent MUST confirm that the client lived in or lives in an impacted area at the start of the SEP eligibility period.

Confirm the client lives in a county declared an emergency.

If a client meets one of these qualifications, Medicare agents must do the following:

If the client does not have proof, they can verbally attest to the disaster that impacted their ability to enroll in Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Plan coverage during AEP.

After verifying eligibility, complete the application process.

On the application form, use the election code SEP DST.

We’re providing a spreadsheet of current active disaster declarations nationwide, including the dates of the SEP and the counties each declaration covers. This resource is a starting point for Medicare agents to verify whether the listed states are still active.

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With AEP ending on Sunday, Dec. 7, we’re stepping into what could be an especially important Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) starting Jan. 1, 2026. This window is crucial for many beneficiaries, so Medicare agents should prepare now to support Medicare clients who may need to make a change.

The MA Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP) runs Jan. 1 – March 31 each year and applies only to beneficiaries already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. During this period, MA clients can switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare with a standalone Part D plan.

Medicare Supplement enrollment is not guaranteed during MA OEP since medical underwriting typically applies. Since many clients aren’t aware MA OEP exists, this period gives a trusted advisor a major opportunity to help a client who’s not happy with the MA plan they enrolled in during AEP.

How to Set Yourself Up for a Strong 2026 MA OEP

Review your client list – Identify your current MA clients and review your notes on them for their concerns, past issues, or risk factors to find the MA clients who may not be completely happy with their current MA pian. Schedule early January follow-ups with these MA clients to see how they feel about their current MA health plan.

Educate clients about the MA OEP – Many of these MA clients don’t realize there’s a “second chance” to make a change from Jan. 1 – March 31. Remind them that they can make a change during this period if their new plan isn’t a good fit.

Set expectations and prepare – To build trust, let unhappy clients know you’ll explore better options if needed, but options can vary by market and medical needs.

Find Your MA Clients with Chronic Health Conditions – Review your completed HRAs to identify your MA clients with chronic health conditions who may qualify for a C-SNP plan. Evaluate C-SNP plans available in the client’s area to determine if a C-SNP plan is a better fit for them in 2026.

What to Say When You Reach Out

A conversational tone works best:

“Now that AEP is ending, it’s a good time to double-check your plan to make sure it works for you. From January through March, you can change to another similar health plan if your current one isn’t working for you.”

This approach reinforces you as a proactive, supportive advisor that’s not just chasing a sale.

A Big Opportunity for Agents Who Act Early

Agents who treat MA OEP as an afterthought miss out on helping clients who regret their AEP MA choices. But those who communicate early, review plans, and educate clients not only retain business, they strengthen long-term client loyalty.

Now is the perfect time to increase outreach, perform plan audits, and prepare for possible adjustments during MA OEP. This is a pivotal period for both beneficiaries and the agents who support them.

The Agility Advantage

Agility delivers insights like this to help you stay ahead in the evolving Medicare market, offering regional market support and dedicated resources for agents and new agents to use instantly.