A Voice Scope of Appointment (Voice SOA) is a recorded verbal agreement that documents which Medicare products a beneficiary gives an agent permission to discuss during a telephone appointment.
For a telephonic Medicare sales appointment, the agent should obtain the Voice SOA before beginning plan-specific marketing or sales discussions. The recording should identify the beneficiary, the agent, the date, the product categories authorized for discussion, and confirm that there is no obligation to enroll.
For the 2027 plan year, CMS removed the fixed 48-hour waiting period. Beginning October 1, 2026, an SOA may be obtained immediately before the appointment, including on the same call, but it must still be completed before the agent begins discussing specific MA or Part D plans.
A practical Voice SOA opening would be:
“Before we discuss Medicare plan options, I need to document the products you would like to review today. This does not obligate you to enroll, and we will only discuss the product types you authorize.”
The agent would then confirm permission to discuss applicable categories, such as:
The Voice SOA does not replace recording the full Medicare sales or enrollment call when call-recording requirements apply. Agents should use a compliant telephony platform, retain the recording according to CMS and carrier requirements, and follow any carrier-specific Voice SOA script. CMS guidance recognizes telephonic recording as an acceptable method for documenting the SOA for a telephone appointment.
This script is meant to fulfill the CMS requirement of a Scope of Appointment for individuals that have agreed to be contacted regarding plan options/benefits or are current clients that have purchased a product through your agency.
1.1: Thank you for calling {AGENCY NAME HERE}. My name is {Agent Name}, a licensed sales agent. We are an insurance agency, and are not affiliated with the federal government. Also, I need to let you know that we do record all of our calls for quality and accuracy. Please say YES if I have your permission to continue.
>> Must obtain a clear YES, or explain to the consumer that you cannot continue with call.
1.2: Thank you, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with today? (Document First and Last Lead Name).
1.3: Ok {Lead Name} and in the event we get disconnected or I would need to contact you again, what is a good phone number to reach you at?
1.4: Great. If you need to contact me I can be reached at (xxx-xxx-xxxx). And, do you give permission for {AGENCY NAME HERE} and its employees to contact you at the number provided?
2.1: “In your area, we have a wide variety of plans. I’d like to give you a brief overview of each of these plans, then we can decide which plan might be best for you based on your needs. Would that be ok?” (An affirmative response is required). Inform caller of available plans in the area (mention ALL that are available).
Ok {Lead Name}. We may discuss several types of health plan options today, including Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Prescription Drug Plans, Hospital Indemnity and Dental-Vision-Hearing plans. This will help us find a plan that may fit your specific needs and budget. I need to verify some additional information and read some required disclaimers, and then I’ll be able to provide you a health plan comparison. Please say yes, if I have your permission to discuss such plans with you today, (Today’s Month/Date/Year) (require “Yes”).
2.2: Please be aware that you are not required to give any health-related information unless it will be used to determine your enrollment eligibility in the plan. If you choose not to provide the health information that is necessary to determine enrollment eligibility, then you may not be able to enroll. There is no obligation to enroll. Your current or future Medicare enrollment status will not be impacted and automatic enrollment will not occur.
2.3: Please note that we do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. You can go to Medicare.gov or call 1–800 MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
2.4: As an OPTION, if you prefer to communicate via email and would like to provide it for me today, I will add it to your profile. By opting in your email, you agree to receive communications for quotes, virtual enrollment options, enrollment status and future potential changes in Medicare, to name a few. If you agree, I will add your email to your profile now. Please note, you are not required to add your email and it is not required for me to continue providing help today.
2.5: And lastly {Lead Name}, do you make your own healthcare decisions?
IF NO: “Ok {Lead name}. I can still provide plan information today, but would need to have a POA or authorized representative/legally recognized by the state on the phone, if you decide to enroll.
We hope this article provided you with valuable insights into the Voice Scope of Appointment (SOA) process, complete with an approved script to guide your client interactions. By following this process, you can ensure compliance while making the SOA experience smooth and efficient for both you and your clients.
For added convenience, don't forget to download the Scope of Appointment form in PDF format.
Related: https://www.psmbrokerage.com/blog/medicare-scope-of-appointment-form-download