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 Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennesse, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia 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.
Arkansas
State declaration: Severe Thunderstorms and Strong Winds
SEP incident dates: 08/16/2024 – 09/29/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/16/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
Connecticut
FEMA declaration: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides
SEP incident dates: 08/18/2024 – Ongoing
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2024 – Ongoing
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties
State declaration: Severe Rainstorms and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 08/18/2024 – 11/15/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2024 – 12/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
Florida
State declaration: Hurricane Idalia
SEP incident dates: 08/26/2024 – 11/11/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/26/2024 – 12/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, and Wakulla Counties.
Kansas
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 05/19/2024 – 09/18/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/19/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Barton, Ellsworth, Harvey, Hodgeman, Lincoln, Morris, Ottawa, Pawnee, Reno, Rush, Russell, Stafford, Wabaunsee, and Wyandotte 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 – 09/19/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/21/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Adair, Allen, Ballard, Barren, Bell, 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
Maryland
State declaration: Francis Scott Key Bridge Disaster
SEP incident dates: 03/26/2024 – 10/13/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 03/26/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
Minnesota
Declaration information Amendment: Counties in bold added
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 06/16/2024 – 09/19/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/16/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Cass, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Martin, McLeod, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Watonwan Counties
Nebraska
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 05/20/2024 – 09/18/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/20/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Burt, Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Dundy, Fillmore, Hamilton, Hayes, Hitchcock, Howard, Keith, Platte, Polk, Red Willow, Saunders, and Washington Counties
New Hampshire
FEMA declaration: Severe Storm and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 07/10/2024 – 09/18/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/10/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Coös and Grafton Counties
New Mexico
State declaration: Wildfires & Emergency Funding
SEP incident dates: 06/17/2024 – 10/16/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 06/20/2024 – 09/18/2025
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/20/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Santa Clara Pueblo
New York
State declaration: Severe Storms and Extreme Heat
SEP incident dates: 07/10/2024 – 10/13/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/10/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
Pennsylvania
Declaration information Amendment: Counties in bold added
State declaration: Tropical Storm Debby
SEP incident dates: 08/09/2024 – 12/16/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/09/2024 – 01/31/2025
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Bradford, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Cumberland, Dauphin, Elk, Fulton, Indiana, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Potter, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Union, Wayne, Wyoming, and York Counties
South Carolina
State declaration: River Flooding & Additional Impacts Associated with Tropical Storm Debby
SEP incident dates: 08/04/2024 – 09/30/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
South Dakota
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 06/16/2024 – 09/13/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/16/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Aurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles, Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, Union, and Yankton Counties
Tennessee
State declaration: Tornadoes, Thunderstorms and Heavy Rainfall
SEP incident dates: 05/08/2024 – 10/26/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/08/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Giles, Hamilton, Jackson, Macon, Maury, Montgomery, Polk, Sequatchie, Smith, Sumner, and Warren Counties
U.S. Virgin Islands
FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Ernesto
SEP incident dates: 08/13/2024 – Ongoing
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/13/2024 – Ongoing
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Islands of St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, and Water Island
Vermont
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides
SEP incident dates: 07/09/2024 – 09/18/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/09/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Addison, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington Counties
Washington
State declaration: 2024 Wildfires – Fuel Delivery Waiver
SEP incident dates: 06/01/2024 – 10/14/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/01/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All
FEMA declaration: Wildfire – Roadway Damage
SEP incident dates: 07/17/2024 – 10/31/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/17/2024 – 11/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Ferry, Klickitat, Skagit, and Yakima Counties
West Virginia
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides and Mudslides
SEP incident dates: 04/11/2024 – 09/14/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 04/11/2024 – 10/31/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Boone, Brooke, Doddridge, Gilmer, Hancock, Kanawha, Lincoln, Marshall, Ohio, Roane, Tyler, Wetzel, and Wood Counties
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:
- The date of the disaster
is no longerrequired on any DST applications. - 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.