Agent Survival Guide | Empowering Insurance Agents to Survive Today and Thrive Tomorrow

Are you trying to plan a Medicare educational event, but you want to make sure you stay compliant? From agent do’s and don’ts to how to set up your educational event, we teach you how to do just that!
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! 
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
Do's and Don'ts of Medicare Compliance
FAQs & Guidelines on Compliant Medicare Marketing Materials
How to Organize a Turning 65 Seminar on a Budget
How to Stay Compliant During All Medicare Sales
Rules for Hosting a Compliant Medicare Sales Event
What Not to Say During Medicare Educational and Sales Events
 
References:
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024, September 10). Medicare Marketing Guidelines. CMS.gov. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/managed-care-marketing/medicare-guidelines
National Archives and Records Administration. (n.d.). Federal register. Federal Register . https://www.federalregister.gov/
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Sales events are a great way to generate Medicare leads. Learn best practices and how to stay CMS compliant while hosting a Medicare sales event in this episode!
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
📰 Get Field Notes delivered to your inbox!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
CMS Improves Plan Transparency and Choice with 2027 MA and Part D Final Rule
How to Host a Successful Medicare Sales Event
How to Stay Compliant During All Medicare Sales
Carrier Pages on Ritter Docs
Rules for Hosting a Compliant Medicare Educational Event
What Not to Say During Medicare Educational and Sales Events
 
References:
“Medicare Advantage Communication Requirements.” Federal Register, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422/subpart-V. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.
“Medicare Part D Communication Requirements.” Federal Register, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-V. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.
“Medicare Marketing Guidelines.” CMS.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov/medicare/health-drug-plans/managed-care-marketing/medicare-guidelines. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

When stepping into the ACA marketplace, you’ll obviously have a plethora of different plans to offer to your clients. What if we told you there was an easy way to break down the different types of plans you could be selling in hopes of helping your clients better understand what they’re buying into? In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide Podcast, we’ll be guiding your next sale to a podium finish by breaking down the ACA metal tiers!
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
ACA 101: Selling Under-65 Health Insurance 
ACA in 2027: CMS Changes, Fraud Prevention & Identity Proofing ft. Arthur Barlow  
Understanding ACA Plan Metal Tiers 
 
References:  
Average monthly marketplace premiums by metal tier: KFF State Health Facts. KFF. (2025, November 3). https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/average-marketplace-premiums-by-metal-tier/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22%3A%22Location%22%2C%22sort%22%3A%22asc%22%7D  
Health Insurance Marketplace. (n.d.-a). Health plan categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold, & Platinum. HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/choose-a-plan/plans-categories/  
Lewis, B. E. (2026, March 25). What are the four metal tiers of Affordable Care Act Health Plans?. GoodRx. https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/aca/aca-tiers-of-coverage  
Quality ratings of health plans. HealthCare.gov. (n.d.-b). https://www.healthcare.gov/quality-ratings/  
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

We all know that MA Plans are non-commissionable, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be curious about making a sale. In this episode, we’ll be diving into payments and fees that can come with selling Medicare plans.
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
7 Actions You Can Take If Your Medicare Plans Go Non-Commissionable
8 Reasons Why Insurance Agents Should Sell ACA Plans
ACA 101: Selling Under-65 Health Insurance
A Quick Guide to Cross-Selling Ancillary Insurance with Medicare Products
How to Explain the Real Cost of a Funeral & Help Your Clients Plan for One
Selling Hospital Indemnity with Medicare Advantage: Is It Worth It?
 
References:
Alerion Advisors. (n.d.). Are brokers still in the crosshairs? policy and market updates for 2026. Rebellis Group. https://partners.rebellisgroup.com/download-webinar-are-brokers-still-in-the-crosshairs-policy-and-market-updates-for-2026
(2008, September 18). Part D Communication Requirements. Federal Register. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-423/subpart-V
National Archives and Records Administration. (2005, January 28). Medicare Advantage program. Federal Register. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-B/part-422
Q2 impact report. NABIP. (n.d.). https://nabip.org/
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Are you ready for go-time? In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide podcast, we're covering the 4th quarter and the essential details, dates, and what it means now that prep time is over.
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!   
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!  
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
8 Reasons Why Insurance Agents Should Sell ACA Plans
Busy ACA Agent’s Sales Calendar
Everything You Need to Know About the ACA OEP
Federal Judge Strikes Down ACA Marketplace Rule Provisions
Free Guides
Guiding Your Clients from the Marketplace to Medicare
 
References:
Norris, Louise. “What Are the Deadlines for the ACA’s Open Enrollment Period?” Healthinsurance.Org, 10 Aug. 2026, www.healthinsurance.org/faqs/what-are-the-deadlines-for-the-acas-open-enrollment-period/.
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Opinions expressed by interview guests are their own and not representative of Ritter Insurance Marketing or Integrity. The Agent Survival Guide Podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

As we get older, we have more time to experience what life has to offer. However, with age also comes wear and tear on certain senses. In this episode, we’ll be teaching you how to identify clients who might need help taking care of these important factors of life.
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
Client Sync Consumer User Guide
Cross-Sell to Fill Coverage Gaps or Unmet Needs
IntegrityCONNECT
Why Trust Is an Insurance Agent's Most Important Non-Renewable Resource
 
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Preventing oral diseases and conditions in communities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/?CDC_AAref_Val=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Foralhealth%2Fbasics%2Fadult-oral-health%2Ftips.html
Cohen, R. A., & Bottoms-McClain, L. (2024, April 26). Dental Care Among Adults Age 65 and Older. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db500.htm
Hibbler, R. (2024, January 5). The importance of Eye Care and annual exams. Tapestry 360 Health. https://tap360health.org/the-importance-of-eye-care-and-annual-exams/
Persky, W. (2025, August 11). The problem with Medicare Advantage Plans. Microscopic New Live Site. https://www.microscopiccolitisfoundation.org/blog/the-problem-with-medicare-advantage-plans
U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Dental services. Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/dental-services
Why dental care is important for your overall health. UI Health. (2024, January 3). https://hospital.uillinois.edu/mile-square-health-center/patient-resources/blog-and-news/dental-health-is-important
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Jeff is back for another Content Corner episode with Sarah!  Hear about the newest Content Library series and shareables for the month of October. No tricks – just spooky treats to delight your clients!
 
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
4 Ways to Keep Trick-or-Treating Safe
5 Spooky Stories for Halloween
Best Practices for Using Ritter’s Content Library
Content Corner: Fundamentals of Senior Finance
Content Library: Cooking for Beginners ft. Jeff Snyder
Content Library Homepage
Fun Halloween Ways to Get Fit
Fun Tricks for Tasty Halloween Treats
Ready-Made Marketing for Insurance Agents: Inside the Content Library
The Content Library: Content Marketing for Insurance Agents
Trick-or-Treating Without Overeating
Why Do We Feel Fear?
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Opinions expressed by interview guests are their own and not representative of Ritter Insurance Marketing or Integrity. The Agent Survival Guide Podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for October 9, 2026:
6 Days Until AEP 2027!
2026 Kindle Lineup & Accessories
Medicare Advantage Mapped
KFF MA Plan Options for CY 2027
$90 Rebate for Qualifying Medicare Beneficiaries
 
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
📰 Get Field Notes delivered to your inbox!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Ritter Resources
 
2026 Kindle Lineup & Accessories:
“Amazon introduces a completely redesigned Kindle family.” Aboutamazon.com, Amazon, https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-kindle-lineup-2026, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
 
Medicare Advantage Mapped:
“Every Medicare Advantage plan, mapped for agents.” Windermerefinancial.com, Windermere Financial, https://windermerefinancial.com/medicare-plan-map, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
 
KFF MA Plan Options for CY 2027:
“The Average Medicare Beneficiary has 28 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Options for 2027.” Kff.org, KFF, 1 Oct. 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/the-average-medicare-beneficiary-has-28-medicare-advantage-prescription-drug-plan-options-for-2027/.
 
$90 Rebate for Qualifying Medicare Beneficiaries:
“Fact Sheet: 2026 Medicare Costs.” Medicare.Gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dec. 2025, www.medicare.gov/publications/11579-medicare-costs.pdf.
“Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Announces Medicare Improvement Fund Payments for Seniors.” Whitehouse.gov, The White House, 2 Oct. 2026, https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2026/10/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-medicare-improvement-fund-payments-for-seniors/.
“Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate Frequesntly Asked Questions.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 3 Oct. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-improvement-fund-premium-rebate-frequently-asked-questions.
“Medicare Monthly Enrollment.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 23 Sep. 2026, https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-beneficiary-enrollment/medicare-and-medicaid-reports/medicare-monthly-enrollment.
“More than 20 million Medicare beneficiaries may get one-time $90 payment – here’s who qualifies.” Cnbc.com, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026, https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/05/medicare-part-b-beneficiaries-90-payment.html.
“The Medicare and Medicaid Improvement Funds: Budgetary History and Projections.” Cbo.gov, Congressional Budget Office, https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59115#_idTextAnchor009, Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.
“Who Qualifies for the New $90 Medicare Part B Rebate?” Kiplinger.com, Kiplinger, 6 Oct. 2026, https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/who-qualifies-for-the-new-medicare-part-b-rebate.
 
Resources:
5 Ways Insurance Agents Should Be Using Ask Integrity
2027 Medicare Advantage & Part D Premiums, Enrollment, and Plan Trends
ACA in 2027: CMS Changes, Fraud Prevention & Identity Proofing ft. Arthur Barlow
Beyond the Benefits: Navigating Coverage Gaps in 2027 ft. Jameson Keller
Getting Started Selling Group Ancillary Benefits ft. Max Ravenelle
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Ever wonder what it would take to branch out into group benefit sales? We did too, and Max Ravenelle, Director of Group Sales at Ritter Insurance Marketing was kind enough to answer the call and Sarah’s questions.
 
Contact Max Ravenelle by email at M.Ravenelle@ShieldsBrokerage.com or call 603-418-0805 to learn more!
 
Additional Episodes Like This One:
How to Stay Top of Mind & Build Trust That Drives Growth ft. Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Saksa
Making Cross‑Selling Less Awkward for Insurance Agents ft. Demetri Simos and Dawn Myers
Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities ft. Bobby Nerem & Danica Stover
 
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Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Opinions expressed by interview guests are their own and not representative of Ritter Insurance Marketing or Integrity. The Agent Survival Guide Podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for October 2, 2026: CMS announces enrollment projections for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D costs, and the general market outlook insurance agents should know about in coverage year 2027. Listen for our takeaways and insight!
 
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
📰 Get Field Notes – our monthly newsletter – sent directly to your inbox!  
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
5 Ways Insurance Agents Should Be Using Ask Integrity
ACA in 2027: CMS Changes, Fraud Prevention & Identity Proofing ft. Arthur Barlow
Escaping the Procrastination Station | Monday Motivation
How to Stay Top of Mind & Build Trust That Drives Growth ft. Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Saksa
Ritter Resources
The Part D Cliff & Costs for 2027
 
References:
“2026 MA and Part D Landscape State Fact Sheet.” CMS.Gov, www.cms.gov/files/document/2026-ma-part-d-landscape-state-state-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.
“CY2027 Landscape Data.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 28 Sep. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage.
“Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2026.” CMS.Gov, www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2026. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.
“Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 28 Sep. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2027.
“Medicare Advantage in 2026: Enrollment Update and Key Trends.” Kff.org, KFF, 5 Jun 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-advantage-in-2026-enrollment-update-and-key-trends/.
“Medicare Part D Enrollment, Premiums, and Cost Sharing in 2026.” Kff.org, KFF, 11 Jun 2026, https://www.kff.org/medicare/medicare-part-d-enrollment-premiums-and-cost-sharing-in-2026/.
“State by State 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Face Sheet.” Cms.gov, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 28 Sep. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-landscape-state-state-fact-sheets.pdf.
 
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Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance    
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The 4th quarter is here and AEP 2027 is just around the corner! Listen to learn about what agents should focus on in Q4, from important dates to content suggestions for the busy enrollment season.
 
Read the text version
 
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the show
📧 Connect with a member of the Ritter Team
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
📰 Get Field Notes – our monthly newsletter – sent directly to your inbox!  
💌 Questions? Feedback? Topic suggestions? Email us! ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com
 
Resources:
7 Reasons Clients Switch Medicare Plans During AEP
Escaping the Procrastination Station
How to Stay Top of Mind & Build Trust That Drives Growth ft. Bjorn Piltingsrud and Andrew Salksa
Learn More About IntegrityCONNECT
Ritter & Integrity Solutions for Industry Disruption in 2027
Ritter Insurance Marketing Resource Links
Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities ft. Bobby Nerem & Danica Stover
 
References:
“National Day Calendar.” Nationaldaycalendar.Com, National Day Calendar, 5 May 2026, nationaldaycalendar.com/.
 
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Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Agents can’t control plan or benefit changes, but clients still look to us for help navigating their coverage. Jameson Keller, Chief Commercial Officer at NCD joins Sarah to talk about the challenges facing insurance agents this coming enrollment season. Learn how we can step up to educate ourselves and help our clients address coverage changes.
 
Find NCD Online:
Learn More About NCD
NCD in Ritter Insurance Marketing’s Certification Center
 
More Episodes Like This One:
Finding Opportunity Despite Medicare & ACA Market Challenges
Insurance Agents Can Generate More Leads with a Referral Marketing Strategy
Making Cross‑Selling Less Awkward for Insurance Agents ft. Demetri Simos and Dawn Myers
Overcoming Burnout in Insurance Sales ft. Dan Spitale
Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities ft. Bobby Nerem & Danica Stover
 
Get Connected with the ASG Podcast & Ritter Insurance Marketing:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
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Opinions expressed by interview guests are their own and not representative of Ritter Insurance Marketing or Integrity. The Agent Survival Guide Podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

The Friday Five for September 25, 2026:
CMS Rebrands ICHRA as CHOICE
SCAN Announces Co-Branded Plan Locations
CMS Temporary Moratorium on New ACA Agent/Broker Registration
The Part D Cliff & Costs for CY 2027
Ritter Summits Recap
 
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🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
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🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Register for Ritter’s National Summit
 
CMS Rebrands ICHRA as CHOICE:
“CMS rebrands ICHRA.” Becker’s Payer Issues, beckerspayer.com, 3 Sep. 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/ichra/cms-rebrands-ichra/.
“Explaining Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs).” Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, healthsystemtracker.org, 22 Oct 2025, https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/explaining-individual-coverage-health-reimbursement-arrangements-ichras/.
“Growth Trends for ICHRA & QSEHRA Volume Five: 2025-2026.” HRA Council, https://www.hracouncil.org/resources/Documents/2026%20HRA%20Council%20Data%20Report%20-%20PDF%20Version.pdf, Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.
“HRA Council Data Report Hub.” HRA Council, hracouncil.org, https://www.hracouncil.org/report, Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.
“ICHRAs, a growth opportunity for insurers, face uphill battle.” Healthcare Dive, healthcaredive.com, 8 Apr. 2026, https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/ichras-individual-coverage-health-reimbursement-arrangements-adoption-challenges/816878/.
“ICHRA enrollment nearly triples as Americans shift to ‘cash-for-coverage’ plans.” Benefits Pro, benefitspro.com, 21 Jan. 2026, https://www.benefitspro.com/2026/01/21/ichra-enrollment-nearly-triples-as-americans-shift-to-cash-for-coverage-plans/.
“ICHRA market doubles to 500,000 enrollees: Report.” Becker’s Payer Issues, beckerspayer.com, 12 Aug. 2026, https://www.beckerspayer.com/payer/ichra/ichra-market-doubles-to-500000-enrollees-report/.
“Report: ICHRA enrollment triples in 2026.” Christensen Group Insurance, christensengroup.com, 6 Feb. 2026, https://www.christensengroup.com/article/report-ichra-enrollment-triples-in-2026.
“What is the CHOICE Arrangement?” Remodel Health, remodelhealth.com, 3 Sep. 2026, https://remodelhealth.com/blog/what-is-the-choice-arrangement.
 
SCAN Announces Co-Branded Plan Locations:
“SCAN and COSTCO Launch Landmark Partnership to Reimagine Healthcare for Older Adults.” Scanhealthplan.com, SCAN Health Plan, 18 Aug. 2026, https://www.scanhealthplan.com/about-scan/press-releases/costco-partnership.
“Walmart and Scan to Launch Co-Branded Medicare Advantage Plan.” Scanhealthplan.com, SCAN Health Plan, 16 Sep. 2026, https://www.scanhealthplan.com/about-scan/press-releases/scan-walmart.
 
CMS Temporary Moratorium on New ACA Agent/Broker Registration:
“Agent groups speaking out against possible moratorium on new ACA brokers.” Insurance News Net, insurancenewsnet.com, 16 Sep. 2026, https://insurancenewsnet.com/innarticle/agent-groups-speaking-out-against-possible-moratorium-on-new-aca-brokers.
“Federal Marketplace (FFE and SBE-FP) Anti-Fraud Actions.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, cms.gov, 22 Sep. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/federal-marketplace-ffe-sbe-fp-anti-fraud-actions.
“Trump Bans New Obamacare Agent Registrations in Latest Limits.” Bloomberg Law, news.bloomerglaw.com, 22 Sep. 2026, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/trump-bans-new-obamacare-agent-registrations-in-latest-limits.
 
The Part D Cliff & Costs for CY 2027:
“8 Changes Coming to Medicare in 2027.” Kiplinger, Kiplinger.com, 3 Sep. 2026, https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/changes-coming-to-medicare-in-2027.
“2026 Medicare Part D Bid Information and Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration Parameters.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, cms.gov, 28 Jul. 2025, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-part-d-bid-information-and-part-d-premium-stabilization-demonstration-parameters.
“Announcement of Calendar Year (CY) 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS.gov, 6 Apr. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-announcement.pdf.
“CMS’s Decision to End Temporary Subsidies to Medicare’s Stand-Alone Drug Plans Could Mean Larger Premium Increases for Some Beneficiaries Next Year.” KFF, kff.org, 29 Jul. 2026, https://www.kff.org/quick-insights/cmss-decision-to-end-temporary-subsidies-to-medicares-stand-alone-drug-plans-could-mean-larger-premium-increases-for-some-beneficiaries-next-year/.
“How Much Does Medicare Part D Cost?” GoodRx, goodrx.com, https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/medicare/how-much-medicare-part-d-cost, Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.
“Medicare Part D 2027 National Average Monthly Bid Amount Information.” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS.gov, 28 Jul. 2026, https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-part-d-2027-national-average-monthly-bid-amount-information.
“Part D Costs on the Rise Due to IRA’s Benefit Redesign.” Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, crfb.org, 5 Aug 2026, https://www.crfb.org/blogs/part-d-costs-rise-due-iras-benefit-redesign.
“The Uncertain Future of Medicare Part D and Options for Reform.” American Enterprise Institute, aei.org, 10 Sep. 2026, https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/the-uncertain-future-of-medicare-part-d-and-options-for-reform/.
 
Resources:
5 Ways Insurance Agents Should Be Using Ask Integrity
ACA in 2027: CMS Changes, Fraud Prevention & Identity Proofing ft. Arthur Barlow
How to Organize a Turning 65 Seminar on a Budget
Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities
 
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Ready to streamline everyday tasks with Ask Integrity AI? This powerful digital agent was built just for insurance agents. In this episode of the ASG Podcast, we’re digging into the features, where they fit into your business processes, and the prompts to use for best results.
 
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Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
2027 ACA & Medicare Cost Projections
Finding Opportunity Despite Medicare & ACA Market Challenges
Get Access to IntegrityConnect
Introducing the Integrity Health Plan
Learn More About AskIntegrity
Turning Life Changes into Sales Opportunities
 
Follow Us on Social!
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Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

Building a relationship with a client is just like any other relationship—it needs to start with a strong foundation. In this episode of the ASG Podcast, we’re going to be showing you what behaviors a client will appreciate in an agent
 
Read the text version
 
Get Connected:
🤝 Register with Ritter Insurance Marketing – the FMO that powers the Agent Survival Guide Podcast!  
📧 Connect with the Ritter Insurance Marketing Sales Team Near You!
📢 Submit a shoutout to be read in a future episode  
🎙️ Be a Guest on the ASG Podcast  
💌 Send feedback, questions, and topic suggestions to ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.
 
Resources:
Are You Offering Multiple LTC Insurance Options?
Boost Business Selling Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Handling Difficult Clients: Tips for Agents
How Field Agents Can Differentiate from Call Centers
How to Prevent Insurance Agent Negligence
How to Retain Insurance Customers
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Do's and Don'ts
Ritter AEP Reflection Sheet
Ritter Follow-Up One Sheet
Ritter Follow-Up Guide
The Complete Guide to Client Loyalty and Retention
 
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Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     
Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  and Bluesky, https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjrueppel.bsky.social 
Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.