It can happen at any time of year, but is especially true during Open Enrollment: private insurers, brokers, and marketers barrage adults in Medicare’s target age range with plan advertising and enrollment advice.
Understandably, these adults often reach out to aging services professionals to help sort through the information. While most ads, solicitations, and communications are legitimate, some walk the line. That’s why we paired up with the Medicare Rights Center to help you and your clients distinguish between the two.
Experts at the Medicare Rights Center examined the Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines—which are the official rules that private insurance companies selling Medicare plans must follow when promoting their products—and distilled them into an easy-to-reference guide.
This guide defines the difference between plan marketing and plan communications. It also covers common outreach strategies—including in-person meetings, electronic communications, and phone calls—and how, when, and where plan representatives can use them.
Download this FAQ for answers to 12 important questions:
- What are the Medicare Communications and Marketing Guidelines (MCMG)?
- What is the difference between plan marketing and plan communication?
- What are Medicare’s rules for marketing materials?
- How can plans market to and contact beneficiaries during Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7)?
- What are Medicare’s rules for how and when Medicare Advantage and Part D plan representatives can call beneficiaries?
- What are Medicare’s rules for Medicare Advantage and Part D plan electronic communications with current enrollees?
- Where (what locations) can Medicare Advantage and Part D plan representatives contact Medicare beneficiaries?
- What are the rules for a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan’s educational and marketing events?
- Can Medicare Advantage and Part D plan representatives give gifts to beneficiaries?
- What can happen at an appointment with a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan representative?
- How can Medicare Advantage and Part D plans market to and contact beneficiaries during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (MA OEP)?
- What are some tips to help beneficiaries understand the benefits that a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan is offering?
- We encourage you to bookmark and share this PDF today.
