Special Election Periods (SEPs)

Agents are encouraged to use caution to distinguish between the guidance in effect for each disaster. *Always verify details as events are continuously updated.

This is an important announcement for agents with customers in Arizona, California, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Texas and Utah and for those with business in these states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency.

Please note: A disaster SEP application is only valid while the SEP declaration is in effect. If an end date is not listed below, please refer to our Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University for the most up-to-date information. Any SEP applications submitted outside of that SEP’s declaration date will be rejected.

IMPORTANT: Please be aware

  • This does not mean that active marketing can occur.
  • The SEP is only for the purpose of providing a SEP to impacted individuals who had a valid election during the incident and were unable to make that election due to the emergency.
  • This does not mean that Cigna Healthcare initiates waiving of authorization or referral requirements.
  • This does not extend waiving of prior authorizations, referrals etc.

SEP for Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency

42 CFR 422.62(b)(18)

(Rev. 2, Issued: August 12, 2020; Effective/Implementation: 01-01-2021)

An SEP exists for individuals affected by a disaster or other emergency declared by a Federal, state, or local government entity who were unable to, and did not make an election during another valid election period. This includes both enrollment and disenrollment elections.

Individuals are eligible for this SEP if they:

  • reside or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period where a federal, state, or local government entity declared a disaster or other emergency.
  • were eligible for another election period at the time of the Disaster Election Period (DST) eligibility period.
  • did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.

The SEP starts on the date the declaration was made or the incident start date whichever is earlier. The SEP ends two full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or the date the end of the incident is announced, whichever is later.

Colorado

Declaration information NEW*

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Quarry Fire

SEP incident dates: 07/30/2024-09/05/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/30/2024 – 10/31/2024 

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jefferson County

*a subsequent declaration updated the incident and effective dates

 

 

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Stone Mountain Fire

SEP incident dates: 07/30/2024 – 09/02/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/30/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Boulder and Larimer County

Florida

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/2024 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hardee, Hamilton, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties

 

 

Declaration information NEW

PHE declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2023 – 12/02/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/2023 – 01/31/2025

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

 

 

Declaration information Amendment: Counties in bold added

State declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2023 – 11/03/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/2023 – 12/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties

Georgia

Declaration information

State declaration: Tropical Depression 4

SEP incident dates: 08/03/2024 – 09/13/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/03/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

 

 

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox and Worth Counties

 

 

Declaration information NEW

PHE declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – 01/31/2025

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

Idaho

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Texas Fire

SEP incident dates: 07/15/2024 – 09/02/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/15/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Latah and Nez Perce Counties

Iowa

Declaration information Amendment: Counties in bold added

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Tornadoes

SEP incident dates: 06/16/2024 – 08/31/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/16/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Harrison, Humboldt, Lyon, Monona, O’Brien, Osceola, Palo Alto, Plymouth, Pocahontas, Pottawattamie, Scott, Sioux, Winnebago, Winneshiek, Woodbury, Worth, and Wright Counties

Kentucky

Declaration information Amendment: Counties in bold added

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Landslides, and Mudslides

SEP incident dates: 05/21/2024 – 10/31/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 05/21/2024 – 08/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crittenden, Cumberland, Edmonson, Estill, Fulton, Garrard, Graves, Grayson, Green, Harlan, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Knox, Larue, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McCreary, McLean, Meade, Menifee, Metcalfe, Monroe, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Simpson, Todd, Trigg, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Whitley, and Woodford Counties

New Mexico

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Salt Fire

SEP incident dates: 06/18/2024 – 09/05/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/18/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Mescalero Apache Reservation, Otero and Lincoln Counties

North Carolina

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/05/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/05/2024 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alamance, Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen , Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilson and Yadkin Counties

 

 

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Tropical Storm Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/05/2024 – 10/02/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/05/2024 – 11/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

Oregon

Declaration information NEW

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Mile Marker 132 Fire

SEP incident dates: 08/02/2024 – 08/31/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/02/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Deschutes County

 

 

Declaration information NEW

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Elk Lane Fire

SEP incident dates: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jefferson County

South Carolina

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Tropical Storm Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/04/2024 – 09/16/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

 

 

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, McCormick, Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg and York Counties

 

 

Declaration information NEW

PHE declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2024 – 12/03/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – 01/31/2025

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

Texas

Declaration information

State declaration: Hurricane Beryl

SEP incident dates: 07/05/2024 – 10/02/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/05/2024 – 11/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Anderson, Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kaufman, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lamar, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Maverick, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Zapata, and Zavala Counties

 

 

Declaration information

FEMA declaration: Hurricane Beryl

SEP incident dates: 07/02/2024 -10/31/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/05/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Anderson, Angelina, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Knox, Lamar, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Llano, Lynn, Madison, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Saba, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Sterling, Sutton, Tarrant, Terrell, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Wichita, Williamson, and Wilson Counties

Virginia

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/06/2024 – 10/03/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/06/2024 – 11/30/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

Washington

Declaration information NEW

FEMA/FMAG declaration: 2024 Wildfires – Fuel Delivery Waiver

SEP incident dates: 06/01/2024 – 09/29/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/01/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All

Wyoming

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Pleasant Valley Fire

SEP incident dates: 07/30/2024 – 09/05/2024

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/30/2024 – 10/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Platte County

Who Qualifies for the SEP When Disasters or Emergencies Occur?

Effective January 1, 2021, an SEP exists for individuals affected by a disaster or other emergency declared by a Federal, state or local government entity who were unable to, and did not make an election during another valid election period. This includes both enrollment and disenrollment elections.

Individuals are eligible for this SEP if they:

  • Reside, or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period, in an area for which a federal, state or local government entity has declared a disaster or other emergency or they do not reside in an affected area but rely on help making healthcare decisions from one or more individuals who reside in an affected area; and
  • Were eligible for another election period at the time of the SEP eligibility period; and
  • Did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.

The SEP starts as of the date the declaration is made, the incident start date or, if different, the start date identified in the declaration, whichever is earlier. The SEP ends two (2) full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or, if different, the date the end of the incident is announced, whichever is later.

Two key updates:

  1. The date of the disaster
    is no longerrequired on any DST applications.
  2. The missed election period is not required on most applications. See clarification below.

Keep in mind: Some missed election periods will still require you to input the missed election period AND the date of the missed election period on the application. Some examples include MOV (moving) or LEC (losing group coverage). The application will contain an “open” date field next to the SEP selections that still require a date to help you know when it is required.

Please read below for important application instructions.

For all applications, ensure that the following fields are completed:

  • Select “SEP” in the Select Enrollment Periodfield.
  • Enter code “DST” in the SEP Codefield.
  • If applicable, enter the date that applies for the missed election period. For example, a date is needed only if the missed SEP already required a date, such as moving, losing group coverage, losing or gaining Medicaid, etc. If the missed SEP or election period does not require a date on the application, the missed election period is not required. However,adding it on the application will expedite our review process. (i.e., AEP, OEP, LIS, MDE).

DST is not a stand-alone election period.