SOA (Scope of Appointment)
A CMS-required document capturing which Medicare product types a beneficiary has agreed to discuss with an agent, collected at least 48 hours before the sales meeting.
Full Definition
The Scope of Appointment (SOA) is a CMS compliance document required for all personal Medicare marketing appointments — whether telephonic, video, or in-person. Agents must collect a signed SOA at least 48 hours before discussing any Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, or Part D plan, unless the meeting is walk-in or the beneficiary specifically waives the 48-hour rule. The SOA identifies the specific product categories (MA, PDP, MedSupp, etc.) the beneficiary agrees to review. Discussing product types outside what the beneficiary authorized is a CMS marketing violation and can trigger agent termination, commission clawback, and disenrollment. SOAs must be retained for 10 years. CMS updated the SOA rule effective October 1, 2022 and again in the 2024 Final Rule.
Example
Before an AEP appointment, an agent texts the beneficiary an electronic SOA via DocuSign selecting "MA-PD" and "Medicare Supplement." The beneficiary signs at 10 AM Tuesday; the earliest the agent can present plans is 10 AM Thursday.
Related Terms
- MCMG (Medicare Communications & Marketing Guidelines) — The CMS rulebook that governs how Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, FMOs, TPMOs, and agents may market and communicate with beneficiaries.
- TPMO (Third-Party Marketing Organization) — Any entity that markets Medicare Advantage or Part D plans but is not the plan sponsor — including lead vendors, call centers, FMOs, and independent agents.
- Medicare Advantage (Part C) — Private insurance plans that deliver Medicare Part A and B benefits (and usually Part D) as an alternative to Original Medicare.
- AEP (Annual Enrollment Period) — The October 15 – December 7 annual window during which Medicare beneficiaries can enroll in, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage and Part D plans.