You can provide food at your Medicare Marketing and Sales Event, however, you are only allowed to provide “refreshments and light snacks.” You are not allowed to provide (or pay for) meals. You will have to use your best judgment on the food you provide. It is your responsibility to ensure everything provided cannot be considered a meal.
Full Answer
What are the regulations for marketing a Medicare sales event?
· The purpose of a Medicare sales or marketing event is to get potential enrollees interested in a particular plan or a limited number of plans. To help solicit enrollments, CMS allows you to discuss plan-specific information (such as premiums, copays, etc.) and distribute and/or collect enrollment applications.
What types of Medicare events can I hold?
· Sales Events. A plan sponsor of a MA plan may host an event and discuss their plans. They can offer a gift or prize to all participants as long as the value does not exceed $15. The gifts can not be in the form of cash. Endorsements. Representative can not say-The government wants you to join our plan because it helps them. I am certified by Medicare to sell …
Can I show a Medicare beneficiary at an event?
While Medicare Advantage “plans” are specific benefit packages offered by a Medicare Advantage “organization,” in this chapter, “plan” is used both to refer to the MA plan and to the …
Can a plan sponsor of a Medicare plan host an educational event?
· 10 Agent Marketing Guide/Medicare PERMITTED AGENT ACTIVITIES Permitted agent activities include, but are not limited to: • Conducting sales presentations • Holding one …
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).
Which of the following is considered by CMS to be a sales and marketing event?
What Does CMS Consider a Sales Event or Appointment? An activity will be considered a sales event or appointment if it is designed to persuade potential enrollees to choose a specific plan (or set of plans), according to CMS.
What is considered marketing material as defined by CMS guidelines?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) defines “marketing materials” more broadly than the public's general concept of advertising. Marketing materials are any materials developed and or distributed by entities covered by the Medicare Marketing Guidelines (MMG) and are targeted to Medicare beneficiaries.
What is an informal marketing sales event for Medicare?
Informal sales events are held in a less structured style or in a less formal environment. And, typically utilizes a table, kiosk, or a recreational vehicle (RV) staffed by a plan representative who can discuss plan products. Remember, beneficiaries must approach agents first.
When must a marketing sales event be reported?
Report all marketing/sales events (including additional events reported throughout the month) prior to advertising the event or 10 calendar days prior to the event's scheduled date, whichever is earlier.
How do you market a Medicare Advantage Plan?
Medicare Advantage Marketing to current patientsTargeted mail and emails for patients 65+Reminders for current patients during open enrollment.Informational blogs and social media posts.Posters in your office.Referring patients to an informational page on your website with a lead capture.More items...
What are marketing guidelines?
Content Marketing Guidelines are a set of instructions indicating tone, voice, length, style and topics on how your brand should communicate to your target audience. Let's go into why you need to make this document, even if you're a smaller business, and how to go about doing it.
What are Medicare communication materials?
The purpose of these materials is to draw a beneficiary's attention to a certain plan and influence their decision. These pieces could potentially include information on the plan's benefit structure, cost sharing, and measuring or ranking standards.
What is 1 CMS marketing rule that impacts how Medicare insurance plans market to consumers?
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 some examples of informal events?
Informal EventsTreasure Hunt. Rules.Roadies. Rules.Street Play. Rules.Wordsworth. Rules.Waste Management. Rules.Photography. Rules.Food Carnival (Take it Easy) Rules.Fastest Finger First. Rules.More items...
Which of the following must you not do when marketing UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage?
Mailing a marketing brochure to the consumer via postal mail. As an agent, you must not do which of the following when marketing UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans to consumers? Use providers or provider groups to distribute printed information comparing benefits of different health plans without approval.
What type of event is an agent conducting when he presents plan information that includes benefits and cost sharing?
Marketing events are different than educational events because they allow you to steer members to a specific plan by providing information about plan benefits, plan cost sharing and a plan's provider network.
How to distribute giveaways?
Distribute giveaways with your contact information on it 1. Use absolute or qualified superlatives. Give away promotional items that include plan name, logo, toll-free number, and/or carrier website 2. Use contact information provided by attendees for raffles or drawings for any other purpose.
What is the responsibility of a carrier for a sales event?
Exact reporting deadlines and requirements vary from carrier to carrier, but carriers are responsible for maintaining accurate records of all their agents’ educational events and informal and formal sales events. The earlier you submit your events to carriers, the sooner you’ll be able to start advertising them.
How to promote a gathering?
You can promote your gathering online, via direct mailers and flyers, or through other forms of media. However, if you cancel the event at least two days in advance, it’s a good practice to notify potential attendees via the same advertising channels you used to promote the event.
Do you have to disclose the products you plan on reviewing?
Additionally, you must include the following disclaimer on all advertisements and invitations for your event: “For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call <insert phone and TTY number>.”.
What happens if you don't register an event with a carrier?
Furthermore, if you fail to register an event with a carrier, you could lose out on sales commission and have your contract revoked.
Is an educational event considered a marketing event?
Note: Any event not advertised as “educational” can be viewed as a marketing event and should be registered as one.
Do you need to register sales events?
Do you need to register sales events? Exact reporting deadlines and requirements vary from carrier to carrier, but carriers are responsible for maintaining accurate records of all their agents’ educational events and informal and formal sales events. The earlier you submit your events to carriers, the sooner you’ll be able to start advertising them.
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.
Can a representative talk about life insurance?
Your meeting with the representative must be focused on the Medicare plans and healthcare related products. The representative, who may be an agent for other insurance lines, can not discuss any other products such as life insurance, annuities, home or auto insurance. The purpose of this rule is to avoid confusing the beneficiary with discussions of other topics. Representatives may not ask you for referrals of your friends and family. They may leave sales material, for all lines, but they are not allowed to talk about.
Can a plan sponsor give cash?
A plan sponsor of a MA plan may host an event and discuss their plans. They can offer a gift or prize to all participants as long as the value does not exceed $15. The gifts can not be in the form of cash.
What is Medicare marketing guidelines?
The Medicare Marketing Guidelines (MMG) implement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) marketing requirements and related provisions of the Medicare Advantage (MA, MA-PD ) (also referred to as Plan), Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) (also referred to as Part D Sponsor), and except where otherwise specified, Section 1876 cost plans (also referred to as Plan) rules, (i.e., Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 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. State-specific guidance is considered an addendum to the MMG. State-specific marketing guidance for MMPs will be posted to http://www.cms.gov/Medicare-
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 marketing 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 promotional activity?
Generally, promotional activities are designed to attract the attention of prospective enrollees and/or encourage retention of current enrollees. In addition to the guidance on nominal gifts, any promotional activities or items offered by Plans/Part D Sponsors must:
When do Part D sponsors receive EOB?
Part D Sponsors must ensure that enrollees who utilize their prescription drug benefits in a given month receive their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) by the end of the month following the month in which they utilized their prescription drug benefits.
What is a Part D sponsor?
Plans/Part D Sponsors must ensure that materials developed by a third-party providing information on a subset of plan choices that lists, compares, or names available plans, must prominently display the following disclaimer on all materials:
What is a Part D call center?
Part D Sponsors must operate a toll-free pharmacy technical help call center or make available call support to respond to inquiries from pharmacies and providers regarding the beneficiary’s Medicare prescription drug benefit; inquiries may pertain to operational areas such as claims processing, benefit coverage, claims submission, and claims payment. This requirement can be accommodated through the use of on-call staff pharmacists or by contracting with the organization’s PBM during non-business hours as long as the individual answering the call is able to address the call at that time. The call center must operate or be available during usual business hours, which CMS interprets to mean during the entire period in which the Part D Sponsor’s network pharmacies in its plans’ service areas are open (e.g., Part D Sponsors whose pharmacy networks include twenty-four (24) hour pharmacies must operate their pharmacy technical help call centers twenty-four (24) hours a day as well).
What is a third party marketing organization?
Third-party marketing organizations are entities such as a Field Marketing Organization (FMO), General Agent (GA), or similar type of organization that has been retained to sell or promote a Plan’s/Part D Sponsor’s Medicare products on the Plan’s/Part D Sponsor’s behalf either directly or through sales agents or a combination of both.
How to find new clients for Medicare Advantage?
Marketing is always a great way to find new clients for Medicare Advantage plans. However, with everything that goes along with Medicare Advantage there are rules on how you can market those plans. One of the ways in which agents like to reach out to potential new clients is through events. There are two forms of presentations that an agent can take part in during the AEP and other times of the year to market to potential enrollees:
Who must use CMS approved scripts and presentation provided by the Plan/Part D sponsor?
Agents representing a particular plan sponsor must use the CMS approved scripts and presentation provided By the Plan/Part D sponsor.
What is the purpose of a marketing/sales event?
The purpose of a Marketing/Sales Event is to steer potential enrollees toward a particular plan or a limited set of plans. During the event, the agent is allowed to educate those who attend the Marketing/Sales Event about Medicare Advantage, Part D, and other Medicare programs which also makes the sales presentation an Educational Event. However, there are separate guidelines for the agent during a Sales Presentation.
What is an educational event for Medicare?
Educational events are strictly designed to inform the people that attend about Medicare Advantage, Prescription drug, or other Medicare programs without going into the specifics of a particular carrier. Of course, there are more detailed guidelines to protect attendees from dealing with an unwanted sales presentation.
Do you need a scope of appointment for a one on one meeting?
If a beneficiary requests a one-on-one meeting then the beneficiary must fill out a Scope of Appointment form prior to the appointment. Scope of Appointment forms are not required during a Formal Marketing/Sales Event.
What are Medicare marketing guidelines?
The Medicare Marketing Guidelines provide guidance on the do’s and dont’s of providing food and drinks at Medicare events. Before you call a caterer, you will want to ensure you are adhering to the Medicare Marketing Guidelines (MMG) for providing food and refreshments at Medicare events. You do not have to flip through ...
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What is the nominal gift requirement for MMG?
Any meals provided must comply with the nominal gift required listed in MMG section 70.1.1, meaning that any meal provided (whether to a group or an individual) cannot exceed a nominal value per person. (e.g., if you scheduled an event with 20 attendees, and you are planning to provide meals for each person and spend $300 on the meals in total; the value of each meal, per anticipated attendee, is a nominal $15.
Can you provide food at a Medicare event?
You can provide food at your Medicare Marketing and Sales Event, however, you are only allowed to provide “refreshments and light snacks.”. You are not allowed to provide (or pay for) meals. You will have to use your best judgment on the food you provide.
What are the two types of Medicare events?
In general there are 2 types of Medicare Events you can hold, Educational Events and Sales Events.
What to do if you want to grow your Medicare client base?
If you’re looking to grow your Medicare Client base then you will eventually want to consider hosting a Medicare Sales Event or an Educational Event.
What can a local rep do for you?
In some cases, a local rep may be able to assist you at your event in some way. They may be able to help hand out materials, or even speak to your audience about a specific product.
Can you show a Medicare beneficiary on a carrier website?
At your event, you are allowed to show a Medicare Beneficiary anything on a carriers website, but avoid digging into the specific s. You could utilize a Scope of Appointment (SOA) to collect information compliantly, and make an appointment to discuss at a later time.
What should a carrier use for a sales event?
Most carriers have a specific presentation to use for your sales event as well as signage, flyers, forms, etc. Agents should work with their FMO and their local field rep for the carrier in question to get everything in order before your event.
Can you require a prospect to fill out contact information to RSVP?
You cannot require potential prospects to fill out contact information to RSVP to your sales event. Your marketing materials must also contain the disclaimer: “For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings call <phone number and TTY number>".
What is formal sales event?
Formal Sales Event: In this type of sales event an agent can present a carrier specific presentation to invited attendees.