ACA renewals don’t need to be 30-minute ordeals.

Most of the time, the client wants one thing: “Just make sure I’m covered and my savings don’t get messed up.”

This post gives you a simple structure you can run in 5 minutes.

It includes:

• A tight agenda (what to cover and what to skip)
• The verification points that actually matter (income + household)
• A quick documentation checklist so you stay compliant
• Script lines you can use word-for-word

Efficiency is the selling point.
You’re not rushing the client. You’re protecting them and protecting yourself.

Say this at the top of the call: “My goal is to renew your coverage fast and correctly. I’m going to ask a few verification questions, then we’ll lock your plan in. Should take about 5 minutes.”

This gives you permission to lead.

Cover this (in order)

• Confirm identity + contact info
• Confirm household size (who’s in/out for 2026)
• Confirm income estimate for 2026
• Confirm any changes (job coverage offers, address, life events)
• Confirm plan decision (keep vs change)
• Confirm effective date + next step

Skip this (unless the client asks)

• Explaining how subsidies work from scratch
• Comparing 8–10 plans “just to look”
• Deep-dive plan education
• Long stories about past claim issues

Renewal calls are not education calls. They are verification + decision + submission.

Minute 0:00–0:45 — Set the frame + confirm contact

Script:

• “I’m going to confirm a few details so your renewal is accurate and your savings stay correct.”
• “Best email and phone number for your account?”
• “Any address changes since last year?”

Why this matters: wrong contact info causes missed notices, missed deadlines, and client frustration.

Minute 0:45–2:15 — Verification (the two big levers)

1) Household size (must be correct)
Ask:

• “Who will be on your tax household for 2026?”
• “Any changes since last year — marriage, divorce, pregnancy, a child moved out, someone moved in?”

Plain-English clarification if needed: “The Marketplace cares about who’s on the application because it impacts your savings.”

2) Income estimate for 2026 (must be realistic)

Ask:

• “What do you expect your total household income to be for 2026?”
• “Is that steady each month, or does it change during the year?”

If they hesitate, use this: “Give me your best estimate. If it changes later, we update it — but we don’t want to guess low or high today.”

Why this matters: income + household size drive eligibility and savings. Get these wrong and you risk repayment surprises or loss of savings.

Minute 2:15–3:15 — Changes screen (quick yes/no filter)

Ask these as rapid yes/no:

1. “Did anyone start a new job or get offered job-based coverage?”
2. “Any changes to household members or dependents?”
3. “Any move to a new county or ZIP?”
4. “Any major changes in medications or doctors you need in-network?”
5. “Any major premium change you’re worried about?”

If all are “no,” you’re in the fast lane.

Minute 3:15–4:15 — Plan decision (keep vs change)

Use a simple decision line: “If nothing major changed, the fastest option is usually renewing your plan. If something changed, we compare.”

Then ask one question: “Do you want to keep your current plan, or do you want me to check for better options?”

If they say “keep it,” confirm:

• Premium
• Deductible
• Network satisfaction (one line)

Script: “Any issues with your doctors, prescriptions, or using the plan this year?”

If they say “I want to check,” you still keep it tight:

• Compare 3 plans max
• Focus on their top priority (premium vs deductible vs network)

Script: “What matters most this year: lowest monthly premium, lowest deductible, or keeping the same doctors?”

Minute 4:15–5:00 — Confirm, document, and close

Close with certainty:

“Perfect. I’m submitting the renewal with: [household], [income estimate], and [plan choice]. Your coverage start date will be [effective date] as long as the first premium is paid.”

Then one next step:

“I’ll send you a quick confirmation message today. If anything changes — income, job coverage, household — tell me right away so we can update it.”

That’s it. Done.

These are the minimum points you should confirm on every renewal:

• Full name + DOB
• Best phone + email
• Home address + ZIP/county
• Household members on the application (and tax household)
• Expected 2026 household income estimate
• Job-based coverage offers (yes/no)
• Plan decision (keep vs change)
• Effective date expectation + first premium reminder

Most renewals won’t require you to upload documents during the call.

But you should be prepared, because the Marketplace can request verification for things like income, citizenship, or immigration status.

Have-ready documentation (if requested)

• Income proof examples (client-specific): recent pay stubs, W-2, most recent tax return, or self-employment records
• Social Security numbers (when applicable)
• Citizenship or immigration documentation (when applicable)
• Current coverage details/policy numbers (if they have other coverage)
• Employer information if job-based coverage is offered
• HRA notice (if an employer offers an HRA)

Agent protection line: “Sometimes the Marketplace asks for proof to confirm what we enter. If they do, I’ll tell you exactly what to upload and where.”

ACA RENEWAL — 5-MIN CALL NOTES

Client:

• Name:
• DOB:
• Phone:
• Email:
• Address/ZIP:

Verification:

• Household members on application (2026):
• Tax household changes? Y/N (details):
• Expected 2026 household income:
• Income steady or variable? (notes):
• Job-based coverage offered? Y/N (details):
• Move/change of county/ZIP? Y/N
• Doctors/Rx changes? Y/N
• Client priority: Premium / Deductible / Doctors / Rx / Other

Plan Decision:

• Keep current plan? Y/N
• If change: compared (max 3) plans:
• Selected plan:

Closeout:

• Effective date explained:
• First premium reminder given:
• Next step sent (confirmation + any doc requests):

Agents waste time on renewals because they think they have to “teach ACA” every time.

You don’t.

You need to:

• verify what affects eligibility,
• document it,
• and move to decision fast.

This structure gives you permission to be efficient and a path that protects you from complaints later.

Then run renewals in batches: 10 calls, same structure, clean files, less chaos.