In MA marketing, which statement about free-look or inducements is correct?

• A. Offering gifts or incentives that could bias choice is allowed.
• B. Gifts or inducements require CMS approval.
• C. Gifts must be donated to charity.
• D. Free-look or inducement practices that unduly influence plan selection are prohibited; marketers must avoid gifts or incentives that could bias choice.

Answer: (D)

In Medicare Advantage marketing, the guiding idea is to protect beneficiaries’ ability to choose without pressure from gifts or incentives. The rule is that free-look or inducement practices that unduly influence plan selection are prohibited; marketers must avoid gifts or incentives that could bias choice. This means you can’t offer perks or incentives specifically designed to sway someone to enroll in a particular plan, even during a free-look period, because the goal is for decisions to be based on plan facts and benefits, not on rewards.

That’s why the correct statement is that practices that could unduly influence enrollment decisions are prohibited. The other options don’t fit because CMS does not require approval for gifts to be offered, gifts aren’t mandated to be donated to charity, and the idea that offering gifts that could bias choice is allowed is directly contrary to the policy.