Medicare Scope of Appointment
The Medicare Scope of Appointment is a form which Medicare beneficiaries must sign prior to attending an appointment to purchase a Medicare Advantage (MA or MAPD) or Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP). CMS initially required the scope to be signed 48 hours prior to the sales appointment. The requirement now to sign it before you conduct the presentation. It is no longer required 48 hours ahead of time. The scope should be done at the meeting prior to discussing any plan details or specifics. If you would like to review the recent rule changes regarding the Medicare Scope of Appointment form requirements, click here for the CMS update
The intent of the form is to protect consumers from unwanted solicitation from agents or brokers offering the plans. Anyone who conducts a face to face appointment must to obtain a signed scope of appointment form. The initial roll out did not require a signed scope when there was not a face to face meeting. More recent clarification has made it necessary to obtain a scope even when conducting Medicare meetings non face to face. We strongly suggest agents get a signed scope for any meeting in person, by phone or email regardless of the rules. You should keep the signed scope with the application.
CLICK HERE for Generic Scope Form
Recorded Webinar on when to use a scope and recent rule changes regarding them
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Product types on the form
The Medicare Scope of Appointment form lists several health based products agents can discuss with clients. Product types include:
- Stand-alone Part D Drug plans (PDP plans)
- Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) (MA or MAPD plans)
- Dental/Vision and Hearing Plans
- Hospital Indemnity or reimbursement products
- Medicare supplement plans. (Also called Medigap)
Medicare Scope of Appointment forms: Medicare supplement sales only
You do not need a Medicare scope of appointment form when you sell a Medicare supplement plans. If there will also be discussion about a stand alone part D plan, a scope would be needed. If, during the Medicare supplement presentation, the topic of stand alone part D plans or Medicare Advantage plans comes up, a scope of appointment form should be taken.
Submitting the Scope of Appointment form:
You should submit the signed and initialed Medicare Scope of appointment form with the application. If you do the application electronically, you must send it in separately. If you do not make a sale, the scope should still be taken and kept on file for no less than a period of 10 years.
Form variations
There are numerous versions of the Scope of appointment form. Some carriers (insurance companies) have their own forms. You can also use an approved generic scope instead of the carrier specific form. Click here for generic Scope
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