CMS released this 2014
Medicare Marketing Guidelines Questions & Responses back in July of 2013,
but is a great reference tool for agents.
You can view the
report HERE.
Here are some agent
highlights:
Q: How should a Plan/Part
D Sponsor
handle a request to
enroll at an
educational event?
R: If a beneficiary
requests to enroll at an
educational event, the
Plan/Part D Sponsor
representative may
provide a business card.
Please refer to MMG
section 70.8.
Q: Are seminars for current
members to
inform them about
their benefits and
plan services
considered
educational?
R: Section 70.8 states
that educational events
should not discuss
plan specific premiums
and/or benefits or
distribute plan specific
materials. CMS
recognizes the need for
Plans/Part D Sponsors
to educate their current
members about their
benefits and plan services.
Although these member
events discuss plan
specific information,
CMS does not consider
them to be true
marketing/sales events.
Therefore, these
events can be considered
educational. However,
it is the responsibility of
the Plan/Part D
Sponsor to ensure the event
conforms to all other
aspects of 70.8.
Q: Can we attend events
(like a Senior
Expo) where there is
food available
for the attendees as
long as we (the
health plan) are not
the ones
providing the food?
R: Yes. As long as
Plans/Part D Sponsors are not
the ones providing or
subsidizing the meals.
Q: Are non-health care
related products
required to be
documented on a
scope of appointment?
R: Yes. Non-health care
related products must be
documented on a scope
of appointment form.
Plans/Part D Sponsors
must follow section 160.
Q: Does the scope of
appointment have
an expiration date?
R: No. The scope of
appointment does not have an
expiration date, but
the meeting must remain
specific to the agreed
upon scope.
More great information is in the CMS report.
