The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced that new call-recording regulations will need to be followed for the 2023 Annual Election Period (AEP) season. With AEP just around the corner, this announcement has put many agents that offer Medicare solutions into scramble mode.
What does this new regulation specifically require?
As a reaction to misleading advertising practices, CMS mandated a new ruling that includes a call-recording component. The rule applies to call centers and brokers. Carriers, as well as The National Association of Health Underwriters, met with CMS and it was affirmed that recorded calls would be required beginning October 1, 2022. Agents who don’t comply will find themselves subject to enforcement. There is a slim chance that enforcement will be delayed for a year, but that is unlikely to happen.
SMS Solutions
Senior Market Sales® (SMS) is introducing some of the best call-recording solutions. They will not only help agents comply with new CMS regulations but will also allow them to operate using mobile phone technology while away from the office. These solutions will allow agents to initiate and receive recorded calls from almost anywhere. It will be compatible with both landline and mobile devices. Plus, it will retain your calls for up to 10 years as long as the account remains active.
These solutions will not require agents to change how they do business and will be offered at no cost. However, agents will need to be contracted and doing business with SMS to participate.
One solution will integrate into Lead Advantage Pro®, the proprietary tool from SMS that lets agents take prospects from lead to enrollment in one place. As a second option, Medicare Insurance Direct® (MID), a client-facing technology solution that pairs an agent’s advice with the convenience of self-enrollment, will also have call-recording capability.
The implementation of the MID solution means that agents who use that tool can now enroll clients into a Medicare Advantage plus Part D or Part D plan telephonically. This is a first for MID.
The mobile phone and Lead Advantage Pro solution have many attractive features including:
- 10-year retention capability
- Easy one-click call recording
- Integration with Lead Advantage Pro and Medicare Insurance Direct sites
- Call recording from desktops, laptops and mobile devices
- Free call recording for producing agents contracted with SMS
- An agent dashboard that allows users to easily search and retrieve recorded calls
- Additional business phone system features such as video conferencing, text messaging, voicemail transcription and mobile app
Your Next Step
Want to know more? Call an SMS Med Solutions marketing consultant at 1.888.747.3810.
A Little More About SMS
SMS is a national insurance marketing organization, representing top Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, annuity, life, long-term care and travel insurance carriers in all 50 states. More than 70,000 independent insurance agents rely on Senior Market Sales for proprietary technology, competitive insurance products, expert training and service to help them leverage their time, make more money and put their business in a position of distinction. Founded in 1982, Senior Market Sales is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2020, SMS joined the Alliant Insurance Services family of companies.
Log In
