Disaster Special Election Periods (DST-SEPs)
DST-SEPs in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
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: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah, 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 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.
Alaska
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Flooding
SEP incident dates: 07/21/2026 – 10/01/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/21/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Catastrophic Flooding
SEP incident dates: 08/12/2026 – 10/09/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/12/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Juneau Borough.
Colorado
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: 310 Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/06/2026 – 10/04/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/06/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Garfield County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Post Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/12/2026 – 10/10/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/12/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Las Animas County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: The Sheep Pen Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/11/2026 – 10/10/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/11/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Las Animas County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: The High Fence Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/12/2026 – 10/10/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/12/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Las Animas County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: The Gotera Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/12/2026 – 10/10/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/12/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Las Animas County.
Florida
Declaration information1 (Renewed)
State declaration: Impacts of Winter Weather, Droughts, and Wildfire Risks
SEP incident dates: 01/31/2026 – 11/03/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 01/31/2026 – 12/31/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.
Guam
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA declaration: Typhoon Bavi
SEP incident dates: 07/02/2026 – 09/08/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/02/2026 – 10/31/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.
Hawaii
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Tropical Storm LALA
SEP incident dates: 08/13/2026 – 09/25/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/13/2026 – 10/31/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.
Illinois
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Tornadoes, Damaging Winds, and Torrential Rain
SEP incident dates: 03/10/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 03/10/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Kankakee County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Severe Storms
SEP incident dates: 04/14/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 04/14/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Stephenson County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Line of Severe Storms
SEP incident dates: 04/17/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 04/17/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Winnebago County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Severe Storms and Tornadoes
SEP incident dates: 04/17/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 04/17/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: McLean County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Thunderstorms
SEP incident dates: 06/10/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/10/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Cook County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Tornadoes
SEP incident dates: 06/11/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/11/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: LaSalle and Woodford Counties.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Severe Storms and Tornadoes
SEP incident dates: 06/17/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Cole County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Impacts of Severe Weather
SEP incident dates: 06/17/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Effingham County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Tornado
SEP incident dates: 06/17/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Warren County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Severe Storms and Tornadoes
SEP incident dates: 06/21/2026 – 08/27/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/21/2026 – 09/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jefferson County.
Indiana
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Flooding, Severe Weather
SEP incident dates: 08/11/2026 – 10/10/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/11/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.
Lousiana
Declaration information1 (Renewal adds county in bold)
State declaration: Tropical Storm Arthur
SEP incident dates: 06/17/2026 – 10/04/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 06/17/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Avoyelles, East Feliciana, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, and Winn Counties.
Nevada
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Fred Mountain Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/09/2026 – 08/10/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/09/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Washoe County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Stallion Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/10/2026 – 08/10/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/10/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Washoe County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Bug Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/08/2026 – 08/07/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/08/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Washoe County.
New Mexico
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Frijoles Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/04/2026 – 10/08/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Rio Arriba and Santa Fe Counties.
North Dakota
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Drought Conditions
SEP incident dates: 08/04/2026 – 12/30/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/04/2026 – 02/28/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.
Ohio
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Severe Flooding
SEP incident dates: 08/10/2026 – 12/07/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/10/2026 – 01/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Perry and Muskingum Counties.
Oklahoma
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Train Trestle Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/13/2026 – 08/12/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/13/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Canadian and Oklahoma Counties.
Oregon
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Grasshopper Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/29/2026 – 09/25/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/29/2026 – 10/31/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Wasco County.
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Wrights Spring Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/07/2026 – 10/04/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/07/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Klamath County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Wrights Spring Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/07/2026 – 08/08/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/07/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Klamath County.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Hagen Fire
SEP incident dates: 07/21/2026 – 08/08/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 07/21/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Umatilla and Union Counties.
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Fielder Mountain Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/13/2026 – 08/12/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/13/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jackson and Josephine Counties.
Utah
Declaration information1 (New)
FEMA/FMAG declaration: Rocky Canyon Fire
SEP incident dates: 08/07/2026 – 08/08/2027
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/07/2026 – 10/31/2027
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Morgan and Summit Counties.
Washington
Declaration information1 (New)
State declaration: Burn Ban, Drought Conditions and Wildfires
SEP incident dates: 08/01/2026 – 10/08/2026
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/01/2026 – 11/30/2026
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All 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.