Disaster Special Election Periods (DST-SEPs)
DST-SEPs in CA, CO, CNMI, HI, ID, LA, MS, MO, NB, OR, UT, WA, and WV
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 communication is an important announcement for those with clientele and business in the following states, commonwealths, and/or districts: California, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia
The counties, parishes, boroughs, tribes, cities, municipalities, and/or villages noted below are under a federal or state-designated Special Enrollment Period (SEP) due to an emergency/disaster (DST).
IMPORTANT: DST SEPs can only be used if the beneficiary is eligible for another election period at the time of the DST eligibility period and has not already made an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.
Please review the DST-SEP guidelines at the bottom of this email to ensure you stay compliant and refer to HealthSpring’s Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University (login required) for the most up-to-date information.
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.
California
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Gann Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/03/26 – 08/03/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/03/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Calaveras County.
Colorado
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Indian Creek Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/04/26 – 10/02/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/26 – 11/30/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jackson County.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Super Typhoon Bavi
SEP incident dates: 07/04/26 – 9/01/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/04/2026 – 10/31/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Rota, Saipan, and Tinian Municipalities.
Hawaii
Declaration information1 (Renewed)
State declaration: Kona Low Weather Event
SEP incident dates: 03/10/26 – 10/28/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 03/10/26 – 11/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All.
Declaration information1 (Renewed)
State declaration: Kona Earthquake
SEP incident dates: 05/22/26 – 10/31/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/22/26 – 12/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Kona region in the County of Hawaii.
Idaho
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Tartar Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/24/26 – 08/31/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/24/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Washington County.
Louisiana
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Hurricane Ida
SEP incident dates: 08/26/21 – 09/28/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/26/21 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Arthur
SEP incident dates: 06/17/26 – 07/29/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/26 – 08/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne.
Mississippi
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Arthur
SEP incident dates: 06/18/26 – 09/01/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/18/26 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone Counties.
Missouri
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 06/04/26 – 09/01/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/04/26 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Adair, Andrew, Callaway, Camden, Cape Girardeau, Dade, Daviess, Gasconade, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Jasper, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Osage, Polk, Putnam, Scott, Shelby, Sullivan, Vernon, Webster, and Worth Counties.
Nebraska
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 05/15/26 – 09/01/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 05/15/26 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Buffalo, Fillmore, Gage, Howard, Jefferson, Nemaha, Thayer, and Thurston Counties.
Oregon
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Fox Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/23/26 – 07/29/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/23/26 – 09/30/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Baker County.
Oregon
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Fox Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/23/26 – 07/29/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/23/26 – 09/30/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Baker County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Rowe Creek Complex Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/15/26 – 07/29/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/15/26 – 09/30/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Crook and Jefferson Counties.
Utah
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Widemouth 2 Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/02/26 – 08/01/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/02/26 – 10/01/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Millard County.
Washington
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Burn Ban – Drought Conditions
SEP incident dates: 08/01/26 – 09/28/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/26 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Old Trails Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/01/26 – 07/31/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Spokane County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Sinlahekin Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/26/26 – 07/31/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/26/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Okanogan County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Fairview Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/01/26 – 08/01/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Spokane County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Autumn Lane Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/01/26 – 08/01/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Spokane and Stevens Counties.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Wildfires
SEP incident dates: 08/01/26 – 08/02/27
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/26 – 10/31/27
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens, and Yakima counties, alongside the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, and the Spokane Tribe of Indians.
West Virginia
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Severe Storm
SEP incident dates: 07/21/26 – 09/01/26
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/21/26 – 10/31/26
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Lewis and Upshur Counties.
Important notices
IMPORTANT – Please be aware that a DST SEP:
- does not mean that active marketing can occur.
- is only available for individuals that 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.
- can only be used if the individual was eligible for another election period at the time of the DST eligibility period and did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.
- does not mean that carriers initiated waiving of authorization or referral requirements.
- does not extend waiving of prior authorizations, referrals, etc.
SEP for individuals affected by a government-entity declared disaster or other emergency
42 CFR §§ 422.62(b)(18) and 423.38(c)(23)
Please review this link1 to refer to the guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on DST-SEPs.