What is a Scope of Appointment(SOA)?
Medicare's Scope of Appointment is a simple signed agreement between agent and client that must be completed before any such meeting between the two when discussing plan materials. This signed document is mandatory and standard procedure when discussing Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. On the form the agent and client are able to check off products they wish to discuss, the conversation needs to follow the guidelines to what exactly is checked off and nothing more.
SOA Timeline
A signed scope is good for up to twelve months prior to a client meeting. Once this twelve months has passed or the meeting is ran, a new scope is to be completed for a follow up meeting. There are a few exceptions to the rule that we will discuss below:
1. One exception to the rule occurs when you are in the final four days of an election period, during this time frame a 'same day' scope is able to be collected by the agent.
2. Exception two occurs when the client walks into the agent's office without a scheduled appointment, this is a beneficiary initiated meeting called a 'walk-in' and is treated as a same day scope situation.
3. The last exception occurs when the client calls the agent without a scheduled appointment, this is also a client-initiated conversation and so the 48-hour rule is bypassed.
Forms of Collecting an SOA
There are various ways in which to collect a 48-hour scope of appointment, from using carrier sites to collect them to completing a paper scope and submitting it afterwards.
How Long Must the SOA be Held
The SOA must be held for a minimum of ten years even if a sale is not made during the course of the meeting. Whether it is in-person or over the phone you must hold that scope for ten years.
