An applicant for a Massachusetts Medicare supplement policy tells the producer he already owns a Medicare supplement policy with comparable benefits. The producer recommends a second, duplicate policy so he can earn another commission. Under 211 CMR 71.15, this recommendation is:

Why C is correct

211 CMR 71.15 prohibits excessive insurance: a Massachusetts producer may not recommend a Medicare supplement purchase that is not appropriate for the applicant, and duplicate coverage with comparable benefits is the textbook example. The applicant's disclosure that he already holds comparable coverage puts the producer on notice, so the second sale is driven by the commission rather than the applicant's needs. The Massachusetts Division of Insurance treats such a recommendation as an excessive sale under the appropriateness standard.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) The freedom to apply for coverage does not authorize the producer to recommend it; appropriateness, not applicant appetite, governs under 211 CMR 71.15.
• B) A lower price does not make duplicate coverage appropriate; the problem is the overlap of benefits, not the cost.
• D) Different insurers change nothing; a duplicate policy is excessive regardless of which carrier issues it.

Memory hook

Duplicate med-supps equal excessive insurance; 71.15 says stop.