CMS requires agents to obtain a Scope of Appointment (SOA) before they meet with a prospect on Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans. There are a few exceptions. UnitedHealthcare produced a pretty comprehensive job aid for agents (UHC SOA Job Aid). On the last page, it lists three situations when a SOA is not required.
My advice: Obtain an SOA every time.
Branded vs. Generic SOAs – Agents like to use a generic SOA because they need the flexibility of presenting any number of plans based on the prospect’s needs. Some companies allow agents to use a generic SOA and others do not.
Below are a list of MAPD & PDP companies and links to their approved SOAs:
- Aetna – Not available yet
- Anthem (WellPoint) – Generic SOA & Generic Guidelines: Anthem only uses a generic SOA
- Arcadian – SOA English & SOA Spanish: They will accept the generic Scope of Appointment
- Care Improvement Plus – SOA: CIP will accept the generic SOA (Updated 11/15/10)
- Carilion – SOA: They will accept the generic SOA
- CIGNA – SOA: They will NOT accept the generic SOA
- Coventry – SOA PDFs: They will accept the generic SOA. This link is to Coventry’s website. You can download the SOA and other useful tools.
- HealthSpring – SOA: They prefer their company specific SOA
- Humana – SOA: They prefer their company specific SOA
- Optima – SOA: They prefer their company specific SOA
- Today’s Options – SOA: They will accept any CMS approved SOA
- Sterling Health Plans - SOA: They will accept the generic SOA
- UnitedHealthcare – SOA, Generic SOA, Generic SOA Fax Cover Sheet
- Universal Health Care – SOA, Automated Scope of Appointment Line: They will accept any CMS approved SOA
I’ll post additional updates and links as they become available. I hope this helps!
Posted by Ryan Kimble 
