Selling Medicare can be a strong independent income — renewals pay you for years. Here's the exact path to getting licensed and selling in 2026.
Complete your state's pre-licensing course, pass the health (and often life) insurance exam, and submit your application with a background check. This is your legal foundation to sell.
To sell Medicare Advantage and Part D, nearly every carrier requires the annual AHIP certification (about $175, you need 90% to pass, three attempts) plus CMS Fraud, Waste & Abuse training. The CY2027 AHIP exam releases June 22, 2026 — certify early to be ready-to-sell before AEP.
You must be appointed with each carrier whose plans you want to sell — usually through an FMO/upline that provides contracts, training, and support. Certifications must be done before appointments activate.
Most carriers require Errors & Omissions coverage — commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate. It protects you against claims of mistakes or omissions in the advice you give.
From day one, track clients, SOAs, commissions, renewals, and chargebacks. New agents don't need an expensive CRM — most start with own-once Excel + Google Sheets toolkits and add automation later. Getting this right early protects the renewals that become your long-term income.
These free tools handle one client at a time. Our Excel + Google Sheets toolkits run your whole book — client CRM, 60-day renewal radar, IRMAA appeals, commission & chargeback tracking, and compliance logs. Built for agents, instant download, no monthly fee.
New here? Start for $7.49 →Don't buy the whole system on faith. Grab the Medicare AEP Tracker — your daily command center for enrollment season — for $7.49, instant download. See exactly how our Excel + Google Sheets tools work, then scale up to the full agent CRM when you're ready.
Get the $7.49 AEP Tracker →The dates, penalties, IRMAA brackets, and compliance rules agents reference all season — one page, 2026-current. Get it free, plus occasional tools that save you time.
Get a state health insurance license, complete AHIP certification and FWA training, get appointed with carriers (usually through an FMO), carry E&O insurance, and set up a system to track clients, compliance, and commissions.
AHIP certification costs about $175 for three attempts, and you need to score 90% to pass. The CY2027 exam releases June 22, 2026.
Yes. Most carriers require Errors & Omissions coverage, commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, as a condition of appointment.
Figures on this page are verified against U.S. government primary sources: