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how can sales agents make unsolicited direct contact with potential medicare enrollees

by Mr. Tevin Grimes IV Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Agents maymake unsolicited direct contact with potential enrollees usingonlythe following methods: • Conventional mail and other print media (e.g., advertisements, direct mail). • Email - provided all emails contain an opt-out function.

Due to a change reflected in the 2019 MCMG and now in the Medicare Advantage & Part D Communication Requirements, agents are permitted to make unsolicited direct contact with potential enrollees via email. However, the email must have an opt-out option in order to remain compliant.

Full Answer

Can a Medicare agent contact potential enrollees via email?

Aug 20, 2018 · Can I Use Direct Mail or Print Advertisements to Market Medicare Plans to Potential Enrollees? Yes. The limits on direct contact to unsolicited Medicare prospects do not include conventional mail or other print media. Can I Market Medicare Plans Door to Door? Only in certain situations. You can leave information, such as leaflets or fliers, at a residence only if …

Can agents make unsolicited direct contact with beneficiaries?

Oct 19, 2018 · Brokers Can Now Initiate Unsolicited Contact Through Email. The Medicare Marketing Guidelines for 2019 have loosened the rules around unsolicited contact. Sections 30.6 and 40.2 allow brokers to initiate contact via email, conventional mail, and print media. This includes communication and marketing for sales and retention.

Can I send unsolicited direct messaging to potential enrollees?

Agents may only make unsolicited direct contact with potential clients using the . following methods: • Conventional mail and other print media (e.g., advertisements, direct mail) • Email - provided all emails contain an opt-out function (text messaging, including. messaging on social media platforms, falls under unsolicited contact and is not permitted) NOT. E:

Can a broker initiate unsolicited contact through email?

Mar 27, 2012 · This includes unsolicited phone calls, emails, text messages or knocking on your door. Direct mail is allowed because you can then contact the company or representative. Door hangers, leaflets and flyers are prohibited. A representative may not approach you and ask about your Medicare eligibility or current plan.

Can an agent solicit Medicare Advantage prospects through email?

The only caveat: If you are initiating contact via email, you're required to include an opt-out opportunity. Direct unsolicited contact, such as text and direct messaging over social media, falls into the same category as unsolicited phone calls and door-to-door solicitation. This means it is not permitted.Oct 19, 2018

What is considered unsolicited contact for Medicare?

Unsolicited Contact: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) states that agents cannot make direct unsolicited contact. This is anyone who has NOT given explicit permission to contact.Feb 28, 2019

What is Medicare solicitation?

People representing Medicare plans aren't allowed to:

Come to your home uninvited to sell or endorse anything. Call you unless you're already a member of the plan. If you're a member, the agent who helped you join can call you. Require you to speak to a sales agent to get information about the plan.

How do you attract Medicare patients?

Here are five ways on how to attract Medicare patients to your clinic to grow your market share in the Medicare space.
  1. Home Health Care. If your clinic offers home health services, promote them. ...
  2. Health Screenings. ...
  3. Mental Health Services. ...
  4. Telehealth. ...
  5. Patient-Provider Matching.
Aug 4, 2021

Can you cold call Medicare?

CMS has strict guidelines around contacting Medicare beneficiaries. In general, you can't market through unsolicited direct contact. (Often referred to as cold calling and includes going door-to-door.) Referred beneficiaries must contact you or the plan directly.Jun 16, 2021

What is a personal individual marketing appointment?

Personal/individual marketing appointments typically take place in the Medicare beneficiary's home; however, these appointments can also take place in other venues such as a library or coffee shop. All one-on-one appointments with Medicare beneficiaries are considered to be marketing/sales events by CMS.

What actions are prohibited during marketing sales events?

Cannot send unsolicited text messages and leave voicemail messages. May call or visit beneficiaries who attended a marketing/sales event prior permission is given and documented. Cannot approach beneficiaries in common areas (i.e. parking lots, hallways, lobbies, sidewalks).

What is CMS marketing rule?

Marketing Rules

CMS also regulates marketing and plan presentations, including when you're allowed to market, and how you market. Agents must wait until October 1 to begin marketing next year's plans to potential beneficiaries and cannot enroll members until October 15.

What are CMS permission to call guidelines?

Permission to contact is a rule that exists in order to protect existing or new medicare beneficiaries from medicare agents that use unethical marketing tactics. Such unethical tactics have previously made beneficiaries feel as if they were obligated to go with a specific plan all though they did not like the plan.May 4, 2021

Is selling Medicare lucrative?

Is Selling Medicare Lucrative? In short, yes. The average Medicare Advantage policy pays around $287 a year in commission if the purchase replaces an existing plan. However, you can get approximately double that — $573— if you write up a new Medicare Advantage plan for someone who hasn't had one before.Feb 22, 2022

Who approves Medicare marketing materials?

CMS
All marketing materials need to be filed and approved by CMS. Agent created communications to members do not need CMS approval. Any agent created communication must follow the CMS Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines.

Who is Medicare through?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency that runs Medicare. The program is funded in part by Social Security and Medicare taxes you pay on your income, in part through premiums that people with Medicare pay, and in part by the federal budget.

What is a consumer facing website?

Consumer-facing websites that promote a specific carrier or a group of carriers’ Medicare Advantage or Part D products must be submitted to CMS for approval . This is typically accomplished through the carriers. You may refer to the specific carrier’s policy regarding website review.

What is marketing material?

Marketing materials contain some plan-specific information, such as benefits, premiums, and comparisons to other plans. Marketing materials are subject to CMS review, whereas non-marketing materials are not. During presentations, you should never attempt to mislead your clients, willingly or unwillingly.

What is scope of appointment?

Scope of Appointment. Scope of Appointment means just what it says. It’s a form outlining exactly what you’ll be presenting to a client during a meeting. The SOA ensures that potential enrollees will not be pitched plans other than those they originally requested.

What are the Medicare marketing guidelines for 2019?

The Medicare Marketing Guidelines for 2019 have loosened the rules around unsolicited contact. Sections 30.6 and 40.2 allow brokers to initiate contact via email, conventional mail, and print media. This includes communication and marketing for sales and retention.

What is CMS review?

CMS conducts prospective and retrospective reviews of marketing materials . These include, but are not limited to, accepted (File &Use) materials, approved materials, documents in the marketplace, as well as materials associated with marketing activities.

What is content in marketing?

Content – based on the exclusions in the definition of marketing and marketing materials and the type of information that would be intended to draw attention to a plan or influence a beneficiary’s enrollment decision, marketing activities and materials include: Information about benefits or benefits structure;

What is MMG 90.9?

The updated MMG has revised this subsection’s language to: 1) describe the review process as including prospective and retrospective marketing materials, 2) increase the listed review materials, and 3) detail the potential action needed from Plan/Part D Sponsors if errors are found. The new language reads:

What is 120.4.4?

120.4.4: Payments Other Than Compensation. The language update in this subsection is only reflected in the notes. The clarification references how items paid for outside of compensation must be paid at fair market value and outside of enrollment numbers. The subsection and new note language read:

What is marketing appointment?

From CMS guidelines: Marketing appointments are individual appointments designed to steer or, attempt to steer, potential enrollees toward a plan or limited number of plans. All individual appointments between an agent and a beneficiary are considered marketing/sales appointments regardless of the content discussed.

Is cold calling allowed in MA?

Virtually all ‘cold calling’ or unsolicited marketing of MA and PD products is prohibited. This includes unsolicited phone calls, emails, text messages or knocking on your door. Direct mail is allowed because you can then contact the company or representative. Door hangers, leaflets and flyers are prohibited.

What is Medicare marketing guidelines?

Formally known as the Medicare Marketing Guidelines (MMG), CMS’ regulations are now named the Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMG). One of the biggest changes in the new guidelines is how marketing materials are categorized. In the past, all marketing materials were subject to review by CMS.

When is Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period?

The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP) which would normally take place from January 1 through February 14 is being replaced with the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP). The new OEP will occur between January 1 and March 31 annually beginning in 2019.

Can beneficiaries call a beneficiary who attended a sales event?

Calling beneficiaries who attended a sales event, unless beneficiary gave permission at the event for a follow-up call ( documentation of permission to be contacted must be obtained and saved, i.e., Permission-to-Contact form) Permission given to be contacted applies only to the entity from which the individual requested contact, for the duration of that transaction, for the scope of product (i.e., MAPD or PDP) as previously discussed or indicated on a reply card Calling beneficiaries to confirm receipt of mailed information, except as permitted Calling former members who disenrolled, or current members who are voluntarily disenrolling, to market plans or products, except as permitted

Can you leave information at a beneficiary's residence?

Leaving information at a beneficiary’s residence if a pre-scheduled appointment at a beneficiary’s residence becomes a “no show” Using mail and other print media to contact beneficiaries (i. e., advertisements, direct mail) Discussing plan specifics at an informal event after the beneficiary approaches your table or kiosk

What is the penalty for misusing Medicare name and marks?

In general, it authorizes the Inspector General of DHHS to impose penalties on any person who misuses the term Medicare or other names associated with DHHS in a manner which the person knows or should know gives the false impression that DHHS has approved, endorsed, or authorized it. Offenders are subject to fines of up to $5,000 per violation or in the case of a broadcast or telecast violation, $25,000.

What is co-branding in Medicare?

Co-branding is defined as a relationship between two or more separate legal entities, one of which is an organization that sponsors a Medicare Plan. Co-branding is when a Plan/Part D sponsor displays the name(s) or brand(s) of the co-branding entity or entities on its materials to signify a business arrangement. Co-branding arrangements allow a Plan/Part D sponsor and its co-branding partner(s) to promote enrollment in the Plan. Co-branding relationships are entered into independent of the contract that the Plan/Part D sponsor has with CMS.

What is MCMG in Medicare?

The Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMG) interprets and provides guidance on the marketing and communication rules for Medicare Advantage (MA-only, MA-PD) plans (also referred to as “plans”), Medicare Prescription Drug plans (PDP) (also referred to as “Part D sponsors”), and except where otherwise specified, Section 1876 cost plans (also referred to as “plans”) and employer/union-sponsored group MA or Part D plans. These plans are governed under Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR.), Parts 422, 423, and 417. These requirements also apply to Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs), except as modified or clarified in state-specific marketing guidance for each state’s demonstration. Such state-specific guidance for MMPs is considered an addendum to the MCMG, and will be posted to

How long does Medicare last?

An individual who is aging into Medicare eligibility, typically the seven month period consisting of three months prior to the individual’s birth month, the individual’s birth month, and three months following the individual’s birth month.

What is the Spanish version of Medicare?

Section 1140 of the Social Security Act The Spanish version of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program Mark may be used in place of the English language version on materials produced entirely in Spanish. The two (2)-color version is preferred, but the grayscale, black and negative versions may be used.

What is enrollment material?

Enrollment materials are materials used to enroll or disenroll a beneficiary from a plan, or materials used to convey information specific to enrollment and disenrollment issues such as enrollment and disenrollment notices.

What is joint enterprise?

A joint enterprise is a group of organizations that are state-licensed as risk-bearing entities that jointly enter into a single contract with CMS to offer a Regional Preferred Provider Organization (RPPO) Plan or PDP in a multi-state region. The participating organizations contract with each other to create a single “joint enterprise” and are considered an “entity” for purposes of offering

Important Medicare Guidelines Update

Permission to Contact

  • Every interaction with a potential client has a starting point. Due to a change reflected in the 2019 MCMG and now in the Medicare Advantage & Part D Communication Requirements, agents are permitted to make unsolicited direct contact with potential enrollees via email. However, the email must have an opt-out option in order to remain compliant. Add...
See more on ritterim.com

Scope of Appointment

  • Scope of Appointment means just what it says. It’s a form outlining exactly what you’ll be presenting to a client during a meeting. The SOA ensures that potential enrollees will not be pitched plans other than those they originally requested. In 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) removed the requirement for SOAs to be recorded 48 hours in advanc…
See more on ritterim.com

Marketing Rules

  • CMS also regulates marketing and plan presentations, including when you’re allowed to market, and how you market. Agents must wait until October 1 to begin marketing next year’s plans to potential beneficiaries and cannot enroll members until October 15. In the CMS MA & Part D Communication Requirements, CMS differentiates between materials that are considered “non-…
See more on ritterim.com

Events & Appointments

  • The types of presentations you host throughout the year typically fall under one of three categories; educational events, sales events, and individual appointments. Educational events must be advertised as such and be designed to inform Medicare beneficiaries about the parts of Medicare in general. When holding an educational event, you: MAY: 1. Distribute educational ma…
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Secret Shoppers

  • Staying compliant should be a year-long objective for every agent. Annual Enrollment is the culmination of revised CMS Medicare Advantage & Part D Communication Requirements, new 2022 plans, and all kinds of potential enrollees, some of which could be secret shoppers. CMS secret shoppers measure quality of service and compliance with Medicare regulations as a way …
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Websites

  • Consumer-facing websites that promote a specific carrier or a group of carriers’ Medicare Advantage or Part D products must be submitted to CMS for approval. This is typically accomplished through the carriers. You may refer to the specific carrier’s policy regarding website review. CMS has increasingly cracked down on websites in recent years, so it’s important to be s…
See more on ritterim.com

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