Medicare scope of appointment 2021 is important when meeting clients

Medicare scope of appointment 2021

By Ed Crowe | Agent blog | 0 comment | 4 July, 2020 | 0

Medicare scope of appointment 2021

If you are meeting with a client to discuss either MA (Medicare Advantage) plans or Part D (prescription drug) plans, you will need a Medicare scope of appointment 2021. In order to be compliant with CMS regulations.

What is a scope of appointment:

A scope of appointment is a form that both the client and Medicare sales agent need to sign. It basically gives the agent permission to discuss specified Medicare products with the client and additional products that are listed. This was put into place by the CMS in order to protect Medicare clients from unethical sales agents who might try and sell products that the client does not actually need or want. Before you speak with a client about either Medicare Advantage or Part D(prescription drug plans) you must get a signed scope of appointment.

The most desired time to collect a scope is 48 hours before your appointment, however this is not always possible.

Fortunately, in 2018 CMS changed the 48 hour requirement. Now it is acceptable to take the SOA right before the appointment as long as you list the reason for doing so on the form. When your client decides to talk about products not covered on the original scope, you are required to stop the meeting and fill out another scope that includes the topics you will discuss in the next portion of your meeting. If client/clients decide to discuss topics that are not health related, you must schedule another meeting with them specifically for this purpose.

CMS requires agents to keep SOA forms on file for no less than a 10 year period. This is the case even if you did not make a sale.

If you need a scope of appointment form; click the link below to download one.

Medicare scope of appointment form

All Medicare sales agents must obtain a scope of appointment if:

1. You are meeting with new clients.
2. Anytime you are doing a personal appointment with a either new or existing clients; the location does not matter.

Medicare sales agents do not have to have a scope if:

You are conducting either a formal or informal sales event, because these events are reported to CMS before hand. (You will need one if you write a plan for someone however)
When you host an educational event, you cannot distribute or collect Scopes. You may collect business reply cards and hand out your business card. You may collect scopes immediately after the educational event ends.
When speaking with a client/clients about Medicare Supplements, you do not need a scope. Although, it is a good idea to get one; since you will most likely discuss Part D plans as well.

More details are available on the Medicare Scope of Appointment form 2021 and educational events in the 2020 Medicare Communication and Marketing Guidelines document (MCMG) Read the memo from CMS highlighting the MCMG changes for 2020 via the 2020 MCMG CMS memo

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