Disaster Special Election Periods (DST-SEPs)

DST-SEPs in CA, FL, IN, NE, OH, VA, 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, Florida, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio, Virginia, 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 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.

California

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA/FMAG declaration: February 2026 Storms

SEP incident dates: 02/15/2026 – 12/18/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 02/15/2026 – 01/31/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Glenn, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties.

Florida

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Impacts of Winter Weather, Droughts, and Wildfire Risks

SEP incident dates: 01/31/2026 – 12/12/2026

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

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.

 

Declaration information1 (Renewed)

State declaration: Tropical Storm Milton

SEP incident dates: 10/05/2024 – 12/15/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 10/05/2024 – 01/31/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwanee, Taylor, Union, and Volusia Counties.

Indiana

Declaration information1 (New)

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

SEP incident dates: 08/11/2026 – 10/24/2026

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

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Carroll, Dearborn, Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Morgan, Porter, Pulaski, Randolph, Rush, Tipton, Union and Wayne Counties.

Nebraska

Declaration information1 (New)

FEMA declaration: Severe Storm and High Winds

SEP incident dates: 09/09/2026 – 11/20/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/09/2026 – 12/31/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Knox County.

Ohio

Declaration information1 (New)

State declaration: Severe Storms and Heavy Rainfall

SEP incident dates: 09/09/2026 – 01/18/2027

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/09/2026 – 02/28/2027

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Athens, Clermont, Gallia, Greene, Guernsey, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Muskingum, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Preble, Ross, Van Wert, and Vinton County.

Virginia

Declaration information1 (New)

State declaration: Drought

SEP incident dates: 09/08/2026 – 11/28/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/08/2026 – 12/31/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All Counties.

West Virginia

Declaration information1 (New)

State declaration: Flash Flooding

SEP incident dates: 09/21/2026 – 11/20/2026

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/21/2026 – 12/31/2026

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Boone and Lincoln 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.