Medicare Blog

what is allowed at a marketing event for medicare sales

by Felix Langosh Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

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.

Here's what you need to know: 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.

Full Answer

What are the regulations for marketing a Medicare sales event?

15 rows · Oct 07, 2021 · You must adhere to certain regulations for marketing your sales event. When creating ads or invites, you cannot require potential attendees to provide contact information to RSVP for the event. While you may plan to educate attendees on Medicare programs during your presentation, you cannot say your event is “educational.”

How do I advertise a Medicare educational event?

Mar 01, 2018 · Brokers Are Allowed to Do These Things During an Event or Appointment Brokers are allowed to do the following during a sales event or appointment. Educate potential enrollees Discuss plan-specific information Collect plan applications Brokers Must Avoid These Activities During an Event or Appointment

What are the marketing guidelines for Medicare Advantage?

Jun 26, 2017 · 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.

What types of Medicare events can I hold?

Jul 02, 2018 · 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.

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.Mar 1, 2018

Can you provide food at a marketing sales event?

Brokers are allowed to provide “refreshments and light snacks” at marketing and sales events. However, brokers are not allowed to provide (or pay for) meals.Jun 14, 2017

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.Sep 9, 2021

Can you advertise for Medicare?

Medicare private plans are allowed to conduct certain activities. For instance, companies can market their plan through direct mail, radio, television, and/or print advertisements. Agents can also visit your home if you invite them for a marketing appointment. Never feel pressured to join any plan.

Which of the following must you not do when marketing UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage?

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.

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.

What are the 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 is bundling at a sales event?

Bundling is a marketing strategy where companies sell several products or services together as a single combined unit. The bundled products and services are usually related, but they can also consist of dissimilar items which appeal to one group of customers.

What are the three main ways in which Medicare sales occur?

There are three different types of Medicare products sold by agents and brokers: Medicare Supplement plans (Also called Medigap plans), Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D Rx plans. While some agents sell all three, others prefer to specialize in only one – either Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement.Mar 10, 2017

Can I advertise Medicare on Facebook?

If you sell Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage, you can target your ad to users who are close to age 65 (or older) and live in your state (or one of the areas you sell). ... When your clients see your ad it gives them an easy way to hit the “share” button and post something about the service you provided.

How do you market Medicare on Facebook?

Use these tips to make sure you're taking advantage of Facebook in the best way to market to the Medicare-eligible community.Post the content they want. ... Post frequently. ... Promote your posts. ... Run an ad. ... Follow these compliance tips.Mar 1, 2021

Can social media be used to market Medicare Advantage plans?

Generic materials can advertise the services you offer as an agent. You don't need prior CMS or carrier approval to share such materials on your social media sites as long as you don't include any plan-specific details or carrier brand names and logos.Nov 7, 2018

What are the activities that are prohibited during sales events?

The following activities are prohibited during sales events and appointments. Conducting health screenings and similar activities that give the impression of “cherry-picking”. Even requiring an email, phone number, or address before an individual can RSVP for an event online or through mail is prohibited.

What is sales event?

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. The inclusion of plan-specific information, sales techniques, and the collection of applications differentiate these events from educational events.

What information is used to notify winners of a raffle?

Use personal contact information collected during the event, which the broker has indicated will be used to notify winners of a raffle or similar activity, for any other purpose. If brokers include sign-in sheets at their events, it must be clearly indicated that providing any contact information is completely optional.

What can a broker do during an appointment?

Brokers are allowed to do the following during a sales event or appointment. Educate potential enrollees. Discuss plan-specific information. Collect plan applications.

Who is responsible for submitting sales scripts to CMS?

Before brokers conduct sales events or appointments, they must submit all sales scripts and presentations to the insurance company they represent. The insurance company is then responsible for submitting those sales and marketing items to CMS for approval.

Can brokers educate clients?

Brokers can still educate their clients during a sales event or appointment, but they will still have to follow CMS’ rules for sales events and appointments.

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 ...

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 is the purpose of 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.

Why do you need to communicate in Medicare sales?

Because such activities are the nature of a Medicare sales event, you must communicate this in any marketing material you create (such as ads and invitations) to promote the upcoming event.

How to advertise a sales event?

Compliantly advertising your sales event is half of the journey. To make it all the way, here are the activities you shouldn’t do during events for existing clients and prospective enrollees: 1 Don’t give attendees the impression that providing any contact information is necessary. You must clearly state on the event sign-in sheet that providing any personal contact information is optional. 2 Don’t use personal contact information provided by raffle participants for any other purpose besides to notify them of any winnings. 3 Don’t conduct health screenings or other similar activities that could give the impression of “cherry picking.”

What are the two types of marketing events under Medicare?

There are two main types of Marketing/Sales events under Medicare regulations – Formal and Informal . 1- Formal marketing/sales events are typically structured in an audience/presenter style with a salesperson or plan representative formally providing specific plan sponsor information via a presentation on the products being offered.

Can educational events be advertised as sales?

Educational events ARE NOT marketing/sales events and can only be advertised as educational.

Is an educational event a sales event?

Educational events may not include any sales activities such as the distribution of marketing materials or the distribution or collection of plan applications. Educational events must be explicitly advertised as “educational,” otherwise they will be considered by CMS as sales/marketing events.

What are the Medicare marketing guidelines?

The Marketing guidelines reflect CMS' interpretation of the marketing requirements and related provisions of the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit rules (Chapter 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 422 and 423).

Can Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans use one document?

The guidelines allow organizations offering both Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans the ability to reference one document when developing marketing materials.

What are the two types of events that Medicare can hold?

In general there are 2 types of Medicare Events you can hold, Educational Events and Sales Events. The educational event is meant for you to share information, and answer any questions your prospects or their care-givers may have. An educational event is not intended for sales activities like distributing plan specific marketing materials ...

What is Medicare Educational Event?

A Medicare Educational Event gives agents an opportunity to get in front of prospects and their caregivers who are looking to learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D and other Medicare related programs.

What is SOA in business?

You could utilize a Scope of Appointment (SOA) to collect information compliantly, and make an appointment to discuss at a later time. 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.

How much notice do you need to give for a cancellation?

If you have to cancel an event, there are best practices you should be aware of. You should strive to give your attendees at least 48 hours notice of the cancellation. Along with the following best practices, you should follow up with your carriers as they may have specific requirements regarding event cancelation.

How long do you have to stay at a venue after the start time?

You or your rep must remain their until at least 30 min. after the original start time.

When do you have to fill out a registration form?

In most cases they will require you to fill out a form detailing your event. You will normally be required to submit the registration the month prior to the event, so make sure you understand the timeline of the requirements before setting an event date.

Can you compare a carrier plan to another?

Compare one carrier’s plan to other by name without first getting written consent from all carriers involved in the comparison or without having careful studies or statistical data to back up comparisons.

When will CMS update the MCMG?

Note: CMS has released updates to the 2019 MCMG in the form of a memo in August 2019. Many of the guidelines from the 2019 MCMG, including the ones we just mentioned, as well as the updates from the 2020 MCMG memo, are still relevant for 2021.

What is the primary focus of a presentation?

Giving Your Presentation. Remember, during educational events, your primary focus is to educate attendees. It is not to lead or attempt to lead attendees toward a specific plan or set of plans. Follow the guidelines below to help ensure your compliance.

What platform do you use for a virtual presentation?

If you are holding a virtual presentation, you will need to choose an online platform (e.g., Skype, Zoom, Facebook Live), instead of a physical location, for your event. Your carriers will likely have specific rules for virtual events, so check with them first.

Can Medicare send secret shoppers?

Keep in mind, carriers may send secret shoppers to your educational events. If you violate CMS’ Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines, you could be subject to: Medicare beneficiaries need your expertise, and you need their trust and business.

Can you market Medicare plans?

During them, you cannot market specific plans. If marketing is your goal, you must hold and follow CMS’ guidelines for a Medicare sales event. As for the when and where, educational events may be held in a public venue. Under no circumstance should you hold them in in-home or one-on-one settings.

Can you hold a virtual Medicare event?

The answer will depend on health of your state and counties, the lockdown or restrictions of states and counties, and if your carriers are even allowing in-person member events at this time. In some cases, you may be able to hold a compliant virtual Medicare educational event, but again, check with your carriers first.

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