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.
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?
What is considered unsolicited contact for Medicare?
What is Medicare solicitation?
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?
- Home Health Care. If your clinic offers home health services, promote them. ...
- Health Screenings. ...
- Mental Health Services. ...
- Telehealth. ...
- Patient-Provider Matching.
Can you cold call Medicare?
What is a personal individual marketing appointment?
What actions are prohibited during marketing sales events?
What is CMS marketing rule?
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?
Is selling Medicare lucrative?
Who approves Medicare marketing materials?
Who is Medicare through?
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...
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…
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-…
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…
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 …
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…