NEW SEPS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK
Agents are encouraged to use caution to distinguish between the guidance in effect for each disaster. *Always verify details as events are continuously updated.
KENTUCKY – INCLEMENT WEATHER AND TORNADOES
Declared Special Enrollment Period: Kentucky – Inclement Weather and Tornadoes
Please be advised FEMA has declared that individual and public assistance is available in areas impacted by Inclement Weather and Tornadoes in certain Kentucky counties. This allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This SEP applies to the impacted counties in Kentucky listed below.
Important Compliance Information
Who is Eligible:
This SEP opportunity is ONLY available to beneficiaries who:
- Reside/resided in, or whose caretaker resides/resided in, one of the affected counties at the start of the incident period where Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared as being eligible to apply for assistance.
- 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.
Details:
Impacted Counties: Breckenridge, Bullitt, Caldwell, Fulton, Graves, Grayson, Hickman, Hopkins, Lyon, Marshall, Meade, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Shelby, Spencer, Warren
Incident Period: The incident period occurred on December 10, 2021. The declaration was announced on December 11, 2021.
Timeframe: Effective immediately, individuals meeting the requirements listed above can enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD plans until February 28, 2022.
*Note: Eligible enrollments will be effective the first of the month after the application has been processed.
TENNESSEE – INCLEMENT WEATHER AND TORNADOES
Special Enrollment Period: Tennessee Emergency Declaration – Inclement Weather and Tornadoes
Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in all Tennessee counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This SEP applies to all counties in Tennessee.
Important Compliance Information
Who is Eligible:
This SEP opportunity is ONLY available to beneficiaries who:
- Reside/resided in, or whose caretaker resides/resided in, one of the affected counties at the start of the incident period where Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared as being eligible to apply for assistance.
- 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.
Details:
Impacted Counties: All Counties
Incident Period: The incident period occurred on December 11, 2021 through February 9, 2022. The declaration was announced on December 11, 2021.
Timeframe: Effective immediately, individuals meeting the requirements listed above can enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD plans until April 30, 2022.
*Note: Eligible enrollments will be effective the first of the month after the application has been processed.
ARKANSAS – INCLEMENT WEATHER AND TORNADOES
Special Enrollment Period: Arkansas Emergency Declaration – Inclement Weather and Tornadoes
Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in all Arkansas counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This SEP applies to all counties in Arkansas.
Important Compliance Information
Who is Eligible:
This SEP opportunity is ONLY available to beneficiaries who:
- Reside/resided in, or whose caretaker resides/resided in, one of the affected counties at the start of the incident period where Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared as being eligible to apply for assistance.
- 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.
Details:
Impacted Counties: All Counties
Incident Period: The incident period occurred on December 11, 2021. The declaration was announced on December 11, 2021.
Timeframe: Effective immediately, individuals meeting the requirements listed above can enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD plans until February 28, 2022.
*Note: Eligible enrollments will be effective the first of the month after the application has been processed.
ILLINOIS – ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
Special Enrollment Period: Adverse Weather Conditions in Illinois
On December 14, 2021, President Biden approved an emergency declaration for the 13 Illinois counties affected by the recent tornados and adverse weather conditions. On December 15, 2021, Governor J. B. Pritzker declared a state of emergency for these counties. Consequently, a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) has been authorized for individuals affected by these events. The SEP will run from December 10, 2021 to February 28, 2022.
NEW YORK – COVID-19 OMICRON VARIANT
Special Enrollment Period: New York Emergency Declaration – COVID-19 Omicron Variant
Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared for the COVID-19 Omicron Variant ONLY, impacting only the individuals in all New York counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This SEP applies to all the impacted counties in New York.
Important Compliance Information
Who is Eligible:
This SEP opportunity is ONLY available to beneficiaries who:
- Reside/resided in, or whose caretaker resides/resided in, one of the affected counties at the start of the incident period where Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared as being eligible to apply for assistance.
- 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.
Details:
Impacted Counties: All Counties
Incident Period: The incident period occurred on November 26, 2021 through January 15, 2022. The declaration was announced on November 26, 2021.
Timeframe: Effective immediately, individuals meeting the requirements listed above can enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD plans until March 31, 2022.
*Note: Eligible enrollments will be effective the first of the month after the application has been processed.
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE SEP WHEN DISASTERS OR EMERGENCIES?
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.