As the old joke goes, the scariest words in the English languageare "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you".

Regardless of their party affiliation or perspectives on theissues, most brokers would agree that lawmakers have not done themmany favors in 2017. All of the dithering over repealing andreplacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in nothing butmore confusion. Many longtime health insurance carriers announcedtheir intent to drop out. Add in a shortened open enrollmentperiod, and the stage is set for a stressful fall.

Related: 10questions to ask at open enrollment time

Or is it? Here are seven reasons why open enrollment actuallymay go smoother this year.

Reduced uncertainty

Uncertainty is one of the greatest challenges any broker canface. A year ago, the industry was speculating about who would winthe presidential election and control Congress, and whetherWashington would mend or end the ACA.

Now it's clear that neither will happen in the immediate future.Although that's far from the desired outcome for most brokers, thisat least makes it easier to plan for next year and possiblybeyond.

Related: Chaosbreeds opportunity

"The absolute earliest anything could change in the individualmarket is 2019," said Terry Frett, senior benefits consultant forR&R Insurance in Waukesha, Wisconsin "We are too far gone now.Carriers have already had to file rates, which would make changeimpossible for 2018."

Shorter window

This year, open enrollment starts on Nov. 1 and continuesthrough Dec. 15. This means the selling period is cut in half, fromthree months in 2015 and 2016, to just 45 days.

Related: Avoidthese 12 common open enrollment mistakes

Admittedly, this is a two-edged sword as brokers strive toaccomplish the same amount of work in half the time. But it canalso provide an incentive for clients to get on the ball, becomebetter organized, and start early to meet the deadline.

Think of this year's open enrollment as running a half-marathoninstead of a full 26.2 mile race. The pace will be faster and itmay be painful at times, but it will also be over much faster.Plus, it will leave time to do last-minute shopping and enjoy theholidays!

Prioritized preparation

The shorter open enrollment period creates a sense of urgencyamong clients and an opportunity to lay important groundwork beforeNovember 1. Smart brokers will spend September and October gettingthemselves up to speed on the latest regulatory and marketplacedevelopments; learning about the specific needs of their clients;and holding as many educational meetings as possible. When openenrollment starts, they can spend less time explaining and moretime enrolling.

The good news is that most employers want their broker to takethe lead, especially with a condensed period in which to makecomplex decisions. According to BenefitsPRO's 2017employer survey, 56 percent of employers feel their broker helpswith enrollment, and 19 percent say their broker conductsenrollment.

The next two months are also the time to step up clientcommunications. Eighty-three percent of employers surveyed saidthey are satisfied with the level of ongoing communications withtheir broker, while 16 percent said they would like morecommunication.

Technological advances

Broker technology continues to advance, and clients andemployees are increasingly adept at using that technology to makeinformed choices. Brokers who feel they need more staff to meet thechallenges of a shorter open enrollment may find that technologycan fill many of their needs without the overhead.

How important is technology? Seventy-three percent of employersrated it as "a must have" in BenefitsPRO's 2017 employersurvey. Now is the ideal time for brokers to not only assess andupgrade their own technology as needed, but also determine whichtechnology best serves the needs of their clients. For example,many employees may prefer receiving plan information online or in aPDF format that they can share with their family instead of hearingit in a meeting.

Putting technology to work in September and October can helpalleviate the inevitable time and labor crunch that is coming inNovember.

Increased reliance

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made an insightful (ifconfusing) comment during the Iraq War:

There are known knowns. These are things we know that weknow. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are thingsthat we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns.There are things we don't know we don't know.

Related: 5HSA FAQS brokers can help HR answer

This neatly sums up the health insurance industry in the fall of2017. However, as bewildering as things may seem to brokers, theyare far more confusing to clients. More than ever, they are lookingto brokers not simply as vendors, but as valued business partners.Brokers who can make themselves indispensable during openenrollment may find opportunities to increase their sales longafter December 15.

Partnership approach

The days of Lone Ranger brokers (if they ever existed) are longgone. More than anything, employers expect their broker to be aproblem solver, whether alone or as part of a team.

This requires understanding the limitations of what a broker canaccomplish and partnering with a client's accountant, attorney orother professional as needed. This approach also offers a moreholistic approach to the client's business and shows how a decisionin one area can have an impact on others. Brokers should also beprepared to recommend outside professionals as needed.

Teamwork is a great way to share both the workload and theresponsibility. As a bonus, building working relationships withrespected professionals may lead to client referrals down theroad.

Expanding portfolio

As challenging as the health insurance business has become, itremains foundational to brokers and clients alike. Seventy-sevenpercent of employers in BenefitsPRO's 2017 employer surveysaid it is the most important benefit they offer.

Selling health insurance — and doing it well — can open the doorfor ancillary products. Brokers who understand client needs anddetails about their plans also know which products can fill in thegaps. Voluntary benefits will play an increasing important role incoming years, says Fred Joyner, owner of Carolina BenefitAdministrators in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"What we have been suggesting is to be proactive and takeadvantage of ancillary products to supplement your income," hesays. "Look at fixed indemnity-type products, where the policy pays`X' amount for a hospital stay or office visit."

Moving forward

This year's open enrollment will be a challenging time foreveryone involved. However, brokers who are up to the test can makethings much smoother for their clients this fall and for themselvesin the future.

"My advice is to take care of your immediate clients first,"says Terry Frett of R&R Insurance in Waukesha, Wisconsin. "Weare being proactive by sending clients educational information sothey will know what is happening this year. The three mostimportant reminders are that open enrollment will be during acompressed time period this year; that the policy they have in 2018will not be the same one that they have this year; and that theycan expect a minimum 20 percent rate increase."