What is a Medicare Scope of Appointment?

A Medicare Scope of Appointment (SOA) is a form used in the United States by Medicare beneficiaries when meeting with a Medicare sales agent or broker to discuss Medicare Advantage (Part C) or Medicare Prescription Drug (Part D) plans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) require that a SOA be completed and signed by the beneficiary before the agent or broker can discuss or present specific plan options.

The purpose of the SOA is to protect Medicare beneficiaries by ensuring that they only receive information about the specific Medicare plans they are interested in and have consented to discuss. This helps prevent aggressive or unwanted sales tactics and ensures that beneficiaries receive information that is relevant to their needs and preferences.

Here’s how the Medicare SOA process typically works:

1. The beneficiary and the agent or broker have an initial discussion about Medicare.
2. If the beneficiary expresses interest in learning more about specific Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, the agent or broker provides them with an SOA form.
3. The beneficiary must complete and sign the SOA form, indicating which types of plans they are interested in discussing. The form specifies the date and scope of the appointment.
4. Once the SOA is completed and signed, the agent or broker can only discuss the plans that the beneficiary has indicated interest in. They are not allowed to present or promote other plans during that appointment.
5. After the appointment, the beneficiary can choose to enroll in one of the discussed plans if they wish, but they are under no obligation to do so.

The SOA is designed to protect Medicare beneficiaries and ensure that they receive information that is tailored to their preferences. It is an important tool for maintaining transparency and preventing potential abuse in the sales of Medicare-related insurance products.