Medicare Marketing

The federal government issues guidelines for marketing Medicare health plans and prescription drug plans to protect beneficiaries from overly aggressive behavior by insurance agents.

One area of particular concern is sales to people who are eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and who may have fragile health. Serving these clients requires an understanding of both programs and careful examination of Medicare health or prescription drug plans to ensure the best fit for the client.

Below is a September 2009 letter the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Oregon authorities sent to care facility directors about guidelines for marketing to people eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, or dual eligibles.

A list of prohibited marketing behavior - which applies to all sales of Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and sales of Medicare Advantage plans - is also provided here.

• Federal-state letter to care facility directors about marketing to Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries
• Prohibited/allowed agent behavior
• News Release:
  Federal-state effort to protect Medicare/Medicaid patients from inappropriate marketing