What happens if an unsolicited enrollment application is received before AEP?

When an unsolicited enrollment application is received before the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), it is retained until the AEP starts. This is in accordance with regulations that govern Medicare and other healthcare enrollment processes, which stipulate that new enrollments can only be processed during designated enrollment periods. Retaining the application allows for streamlined processing once the AEP begins, ensuring that applicants can then be enrolled without any delays caused by the cutoff before the enrollment period.

This practice helps maintain order and ensures compliance with federal and state guidelines regarding enrollment to prevent issues that could arise from processing applications outside of the established timeframes. Thus, retaining the application until AEP starts ensures that all applicants are treated fairly and given the opportunity to enroll as soon as they are eligible.