Should there be stricter regulations on Medicare Advantage marketing and sales practices?
Answered by 40 licensed agents
Short answer - yes and long answer it's complicated. Deceptive marketing is a problem with some marketers using confusing and misleading messages. Not to forget the people turning 65 that get a overwhelming amount of marketing calls, emails, and letters. To the point that a person feels as if they are underseige. While most agents are ethical who actually care about clients, there are definitely bad actors out there who game the system and chase commissions. People then get put into a plan that does not meet their needs.
The intent of stricter regulations is good but it could also hinder the good agents but adding more red tape to do the right thing. Not every agent is going to be deceptive. Most agents have good intentions and want to do right by the client.
I think there should be on the TV commercials. Those ads should be taken off TV. Medicare makes it hard for agents and brokers but let commercials get away with a lot.
Yes! there should be advertising on TV focusing on the local community where the Medicare Advantage plans are being sold. Celebrities should not endorse plans for money. Be honest about their endorsements. Nothing's for free; it's baked into the plan.
No. The regulations make is harder for honest people and the seniors. The issues is that the dishonest people are NOT following the rules. Calling Seniors with permission to contact forms. They are signing them up without Scope of Appointments.
The high pressured scammers are the problem and not following any rules. I get calls every 10 minutes from people trying to pressure me and make false claims about insurance and I am a broker!!
Most of the advertising done by Third Party Marketing Organizations in regards to Medicare Advantage are at best misleading and often flat out lies. Claims that "EVERY SENIOR GETS A FOOD CARD, GROCERY CARD or FLEX CARD" or "EVERY SENIOR GETS DENTAL IMPLANTS" just aren't true, and the agencies buying the leads generated from this false advertising know this. It's classic "BAIT and SWITCH," and it should be illegal.
Regulations help keep the industry coloring inside the lines, but we need to address the egg before the chicken. I believe having advocates for both the beneficiary (you) and the broker (me) in front of lawmakers would create more balanced and effective policies.
Yes there should be! I know Medicare beneficiaries are tired of everyone calling & texting them. Please do not give everyone your Medicare #. Guard it like your Social Security # & only give it to people you know & trust.
Yes, most definitely! Some of my clients get bombarded with daily phone calls multiple times a day. Blocking those calls doesn't work, as the callers just call on a different number. Several of my clients have been duped into thinking they are buying a Medicare Supplement policy when they are buying a Medicare Advantage policy that isn't in the local network. Luckily, we have been able to reverse the problem.
Yes, I do believe so, especially for call centers. The same compliance parameters apply to all of us, but call centers do the most damage. Their aggressive and high-pressure marketing practices give the industry a bad name.
The regulations on Medicare Advantage marketing and sales practices are already very strict, so no, I don't believe they should be stricter. That could potentially limit the good information that an agent can share.
Yes, for the simple fact a lot of seniors don’t know who is on the other end of the calls they get bombarded with. It’s important to use someone who’s knowledgeable and trusted.
I'm sure most of you will remember this: A few years ago, there were many TV commercials featuring celebrities like Joe Namath, William Devane & Jimmie Walker which initially caused a multitude of problems for seniors who were about to become Medicare-eligible. They misinformed the public and caused many people to switch to another plan when they ALREADY had the VERY SAME plan with another insurance company in their possession.
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) forced these commercials to be redone and to eliminate the misleading information but still used those same celebrities as if nothing was wrong. This was a prime example of the need for greater supervision of these overly frequent TV commercials.
Moreover, there are Medicare agents who are known as "captive agents". These folks can only sell healthcare plans for one company. Therefore, it is incumbent upon you to find 2nd and sometimes 3rd opinions from independent representatives who are affiliated with various companies who can offer both Med. Supplements, as well as Med. Advantage plans. There is a wide difference between these two plans. In my opinion, it is essential to find an honest broker who can describe the major differences between those 2 plans. Moreover, the most expensive plan is NOT always the best plan. Check out the premiums along with the value of a plan's annual deductible if you're interested in an Advantage plan.
There are already strict marketing practices in place for agents. Although some may not follow the rules in place and particularly seems to be issues with call centers mostly those from outside the USA. Its always helps to get to know your agent and more than just an unknown voice on the other end of the phone.
There are very strict rules about unsolicited contact with a Medicare Beneficiary. The problem is lack of enforcement. If you get one of those calls, tell them it sounds good, but why would want to deal with a criminal? The centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) does not police these plans,but rather allows the MAPD plans to police themselves. Kind of like the fox guarding the Chicken Coop!
There should be stricter regulations on Medicare Advantage marketing and Sales practices. There has been too much bait and switch with agents and how they conduct business for far too long. Clients are the priority, and with that, our duty is to make sure they have the best coverage now and in the future. We need more penalties for negligent agents when dealing with Medicare Advantages.
Heavens yes!!! I'm of the age and I get 10 or more calls a day. They are robo calls so it is hard to stop them. We as agents are not allowed to call potential clients out of the blue. They have to give us permission to call. So how do these companies on robo calls get away with it. It is drummed into our heads when we take our yearly exam that we can' t do it, yet here are my 10 - 15 calls per day.
Yes, absolutely there should be stricter guidelines and rules that agents must follow when marketing and enrolling Medicare beneficiaries in Part C plans. And the private carriers of the Medicare Advantage plans should be overseeing their brokers who are contracted with them to ensure that they are following all the rules that apply.
CMS is very strict on how Agents and Agencies can market and sell. Agents are not allowed to cold call, door knock, or use unsolicited texting. Agents must have permission to contact before calling a prospect. Agents must document with a Scope of Appointment what products are to be discussed prior to meeting with a prospective client. All sales calls are to be recorded. Agents must use CMS approved disclaimers and receive prior approval from the companies when marketing specific plan benefits.
Many new laws have been passed over the years. I do not have any thoughts on this subject and focus on keeping in line with current regulations and client expectations with unbiased political thoughts.
The biggest problem I see in the marketing and sales practices is the overseas calls that just won't stop. Senior's phones ring off the hook all day every day, and when they answer the person switches them to a plan they don't know. Yes, this should be more tightly regulated.
There are very strict rules regarding Medicare advantage sales practices. The one rule I wish they would force agents to do, which is what I regularly do is explain all your options which are other plans such as Medicare supplement, also known as medigap plans. These actually have much better coverage. But in the event that they are not affordable to you, that's why there's Medicare advantage plans
CMS already has very strict regulations on Medicare Advantage marketing and sales practices. The problem is, there are call centers that don't follow those rules and illegally call Advantage plan members without prior permission and push them to change their plan without doing all the due diligence with the client. Clearly the plans are not terminating their contracts with call centers who do this illegal practice!
Say the tell telemarketing calls need to be gotten under control. My clients get tired of receiving multiple calls Per Day from those who want to promise them something/a plan that they do not qualify for.
That’s a great question, and honestly, it’s something a lot of people have been talking about lately.
There’s been a big increase in Medicare Advantage ads on TV, online, and even through phone calls and mail — and not all of it is helpful or accurate. Some of the marketing can be confusing or even misleading, which is why there’s been more attention on whether there should be tighter rules in place.
In fact, Medicare has already started cracking down a bit by adding more guidelines around how plans and agents can advertise. The goal is to protect people from being misled or pressured into a plan that doesn’t really suit their needs.
That said, I believe there’s a balance. There should be strong protections in place for consumers, but we also don’t want to make it harder for people to get real help from licensed agents who are trying to do things the right way.
When I work with clients, my focus is always on clear information and honest guidance — no pressure, just support.
No, the regulations on sales and marketing are very strict, and each year CMS works to remove bad actors from the extremely regulated industry. There must be a level of accountability among clients who will abuse the Medicare Advantage program.
Yes. The agents and telemarketers that disregard the Medicare rules and constantly call prospective beneficiaries should lose their licenses. I get complaints all the time about the continuous calls regarding Medicare.
There are already stringent rules for Marketing and sales practices. The problem stems from undertrained call centers and new agents making errors. Always defer to an agent who fully explains your options and lets you decide what's best for you.
No it is killing my business relationships with my clients I personally service my clients for 16 years . Yes on those telemarketing ppl yes they lie and cheat.I am considering a change my clients do not want to be recorded. I love my clients and the love me. This is just more than I can take.
Yes, stricter regulations can help protect seniors from misleading or aggressive Medicare Advantage marketing and ensure agents provide clear, accurate plan information. Transparency and accountability are key to maintaining trust in the system.
I absolutely believe that the advertising of Medicare Advantage plans should be more closely regulated. I speak with a lot of seniors whose knowledge of what was available to them was grossly limited. They made poor decisions about their care based on the limited knowledge they had. Medicare Advantage plans are not always the best choice for people's care.
At the same time, I believe this is a problem, not with agents, but with the insurance carriers and their marketing tactics. I don't think this can be solved with another form agents have to get signed in order to conduct business (there are enough of those already). There needs to be more truth and transparency in the marketing of these products.
Absolutely. Most local agents and brokers are doing what's in their clients best interests. The larger problem lies in the call centers, where they don't always follow the rules. Medicare beneficiaries are often switched to plans that they later find don't work with the medical providers or prescription drug plans.
No. There are so many restrictions now that it is incredibly difficult for those of us that are following all the rules. I understand the regulations are to protect beneficiaries & for the people who aren't doing right but they're not following the rules anyway. So, it just makes it harder for the rule followers. I understand the need for regulations, I just feel like there should be stricter punishments for the ones breaking the rules.
I believe that telephonic sales should be limited drastically. Most of my client's report getting more than 10 or more Medicare related phone calls a day. The first question most of the callers ask is how old are you? There has to be some way to stop these harassing calls.
Currently there are very strict guidelines in place. Coupled with the requirement to complete annual certification along with ethics training, Medicare Advantage marketing is very well regulated.
