CMS Pub. 100-16, ch. mc86c17d, § 40.2

Whether Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled during a face-to-face interview or by mail,

the plan should verify all information. If the enrollment application is being completed

in person, the applicant’s Medicare card should be used to verify the spelling of his or her

name and to confirm the correct recording of sex, Health Insurance Claim Number

(HICN), and the beneficiary’s type of entitlement, i.e. whether entitled to both Parts A

and B, or Part B only. The plan must obtain the applicant’s permanent residence address

and verify that he/she resides within the service contract area. If enrollment assistance is

given by telephone, a back-up system should be established for verifying this

information. For example, some cost plans direct staff responsible for recording

enrollment information to call the applicant and double-check the information.

While desirable, it is not necessary for an individual to prove Medicare Part A

entitlement and/or Part B enrollment at the time he/she completes the enrollment form,

i.e., the cost plan organization may not deny the enrollment if the individual does not

have the evidence when filling out the enrollment form or does not include it with the

form when he/she mails it to the organization.