Disaster Special Election Periods (DST-SEPs)

DST-SEPs in FL, HI, IA, KS, KY, LA, MO, NV, ND, OH, SD, and WA

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: Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Washington.

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 blog post 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.

Florida

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Hurricane Debby

SEP incident dates: 08/01/2024 – 12/25/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/2024 – 01/31/2027

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.

 

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Hurricane Helene

SEP incident dates: 09/23/2024 – 12/25/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/23/2024 – 01/31/2027

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 County.

 

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Northwest Florida May Tornadoes

SEP incident dates: 05/10/2025 – 12/25/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 05/10/2025 – 01/31/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Holmes County.

Hawaii

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Tropical Cyclones

SEP incident dates: 08/23/2026 – 11/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/23/2026 – 01/31/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.

 

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Earthquake

SEP incident dates: 05/22/2026 – 08/31/2027

This SEP declaration is effective: 05/22/2026 – 11/30/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Hawaii County.

Iowa

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms and Flooding

SEP incident dates: 07/01/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/01/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jasper, Polk, Story, and Warren Counties.

Kansas

Declaration information1 (New)

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

SEP incident dates: 06/04/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/04/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Atchison, Brown, Cherokee, Crawford, Dickinson, Edwards, Geary, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Lincoln, Marshall, Mitchell, Morris, Nemaha, Ness, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Pottawatomie, Rice, Riley, Rush, Russell, Saline, Sherman, Stafford, Wabaunsee, and Washington Counties. The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas.

 

Declaration information1 (New)

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

SEP incident dates: 06/18/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/18/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Butler, Cherokee, Cowley, Decatur, Edwards, Gove, Harper, Hodgeman, Logan, Ness, Rawlins, Rush, Russell, Scott, Sheridan, Sherman, Stafford, Stanton, Sumner, Thomas, and Wallace Counties.

Kentucky

Declaration information1 (New)

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

SEP incident dates: 06/26/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/26/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bullitt, Butler, Clinton, Cumberland, Garrard, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Henderson, Jackson, Jessamine, Madison, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Ohio, Owsley, Rockcastle, Spencer, and Wayne Counties.

Louisiana

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Hurricane Ida

SEP incident dates: 08/26/2021 – 10/26/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/26/2021 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.

Missouri

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

SEP incident dates: 07/09/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/09/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bollinger, Crawford, Iron, Madison, Morgan, Reynolds, Ripley, Washington, and Wayne Counties.

Nevada

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA/FMAG declaration: Hawk Fire

SEP incident dates: 08/22/2026 – 08/31/2027

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/22/2026 – 11/30/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Washoe County.

North Dakota

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Extreme Drought

SEP incident dates: 08/06/2026 – 10/25/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/06/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Entire State.

 

Declaration information1 (New)

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

SEP incident dates: 06/07/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/07/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bottineau, Burke, Divide, McLean, Mercer, Oliver and Williams Counties.

Ohio

Declaration information1 (Amended – county added in bold)

State declaration: Severe Flooding and Severe Weather

SEP incident dates: 08/10/2026 – 10/11/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/10/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Franklin, Morgan, Muskingum, and Perry Counties.

South Dakota

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding

SEP incident dates: 06/28/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/28/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Beadle, Bennett, Buffalo, Day, Hand, Hughes, Hyde and Stanley Counties. Crow Creek and Lower Brule Indian Reservations.

 

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding

SEP incident dates: 07/02/2026 – 09/30/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 07/02/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Washington

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Wildfire Impacts Water Supply and Flood Risk

SEP incident dates: 08/28/2026 – 10/25/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/28/2026 – 11/30/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Columbia and Walla Walla 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.