With the passing of MIPPA in 2008, there were a few changes that Medicare health and drug plans must now follow when marketing to eligible beneficiaries. Most notably, as of Sept. 18, 2008, Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) are not allowed to engage in cold-calling and door-to-door solicitation without the potential enrollee initiating contact. One important exception is that agents who enrolled beneficiaries into MA or PDP plans may contact those enrollees without solicitation.
MIPPA also requires MA plans and PDPs to include the plan type in the plan’s name; however, this change is not effective until January 1, 2010. Plans are no longer allowed to display names or logos of co-branding network providers on plan members’ ID cards. Plans are not permitted to distribute or make available to beneficiaries at an educational event any materials that include plan-specific information or show bias to a plan, such as a plan enrollment form.
For a summary of these Marketing Guidelines refer to HAP’s chart,
Medicare Drug Plans: Marketing Activities. For authority language, see CMS’s
Marketing Guidelines for PDPs and Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MA-PDs).
You also can read more detailed information on marketing by visiting the
Marketing section of HAP’s
Medicare Part D SHIP Resource Guide.
