RHODE ISLAND SENIOR BEAT
RELEASE: Friday, September 26, 2008
BY: Larry Grimaldi, Chief of Information & Public Relations
MEDICARE SETS NEW GUIDELINES FOR MARKETING OF
HEALTH INSURANCES AND PART D PLANS
CRANSTON --- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its final regulation regarding the marketing of health insurance plans such as Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Medicare Part D). Marketing for these plans will begin on October 1. The annual open annual enrollment starts on November 15 and runs through December 31. All plans must be in compliance with these guidelines in order to market their plans. The regulation finalizes the marketing revisions for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans that CMS issued on May 16 of this year. Congress had already approved these changes in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.
These provisions prohibit:
 Providing meals to beneficiaries as part of marketing activities. Telemarketing, door-to-door solicitation, and other sales contacts made without the beneficiary's express invitation.
Cross-selling of non-health care related products during any sales, marketing or presentation for an MA plan or Medicare Part D plan.
Conducting sales presentations or distributing and accepting plan applications in provider offices and other places where health care is delivered.
Conducting sales activities, distributing or collecting applications at education events.
In addition, the regulation requires that agents and brokers be licensed and appointed in accordance with state laws.
The marketing provisions must be put in place by October 1.
CMS also issued an Interim Final Rule that would implement other provisions included in the new law. A key marketing provision in these regulations specified how agents and brokers are paid for signing up a beneficiary designed to eliminate incentives for agents or broker to move to beneficiaries from plan to plan. This practice is known in the industry as "churning".
During the annual open enrollment period, is it wise to remember that Medicare does not go door-to-door or call beneficiaries to sell them a "new" Medicare plan, pedal a new Medicare card or claim to be working on Medicare's behalf.
If you feel that you have been scammed by someone who claims to represent Medicare, report it to 1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227) or call Rhode Island SMP (Senior Medicare Patrol) at 462-4444.
Calling all volunteers: The Senior Journal cable television program is devoted to exploring the issues of growing older in Rhode Island through the personal perspectives of seniors.
Programs are produced by senior volunteers and are sponsored by the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) with the support of COX Communications. Programs are aired on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., Mondays at 7:00 p.m., and Tuesdays at 11:30 a.m. over statewide interconnect channel A.
The Senior Journal is looking for people to join the crew. There are openings for camera personnel, timers, soundboard operators and other jobs for the program.
For more information, contact Libby Arron, crew chairperson, at 944-1292.
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