Key Takeaways

  • Medicare puts strict protocols on what plans can and cannot do to market their offerings.

  • The Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMG) is a set of rules that insurance companies selling plans must follow.

  • This FAQ walks through both permitted and prohibited communication and marketing rules for Medicare plans.

The Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines, formerly known as the Medicare Marketing Guidelines, are rules that private insurance companies selling Medicare plans must follow when promoting their products.

In this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) developed for us by the Medicare Rights Center, we examine these communications and marketing guidelines in depth, exploring:

  • The difference between marketing and plan communications
  • How, where, and when plans can market to beneficiaries
  • Electronic communications guidance
  • Rules for marketing and communication outside of the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 - Dec. 7)