Medicare Advantage Emergency-Related SEPs

Has a natural disaster or emergency occurred near you recently? Your clients may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

CMS provides a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for Medicare beneficiaries who need to enroll in, disenroll from, or switch Medicare Advantage or prescription drug plans but are affected by a disaster or other emergency declared by a federal, state, or local government entity like FEMA, the president, or a governor.

Note: A disaster SEP for Medicare enrollees is only available to those beneficiaries who were affected during the incident period and may have missed a valid election period during the time of the incident period. The beneficiary can only use this SEP if they did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency. This SEP shouldn’t be used as a marketing tool to generate new enrollments. See the full rule here that allows and establishes parameters for CMS to open up SEPs for those impacted by declared emergencies.

StateSEP ReasonCounties AffectedSEP Start DateSEP End Date
AlabamaHurricane HeleneAutauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, Dallas, Dekalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston9/22/202411/30/2025
AlaskaAlaska LandslidesKetchikan Gateway8/25/20241/31/2025
West Coast StormFairbanks North Star, Nome, Northwest Arctic10/18/20241/31/2025
ArizonaSimmons FirePinal5/28/20247/31/2025
Rose FireMaricopa6/12/20248/31/2025
Boulder View FireMaricopa6/27/20248/31/2025
Shake FirePinal7/9/20249/30/2025
Watch FireSan Carlos Indian Reservation7/10/20249/30/2025
ArkansasSevere Storms and FloodingNevada7/12/20242/28/2025
Severe Storms and FloodingMarion, Searcy7/17/20243/31/2025
CaliforniaAvian Influenza AAll3/25/20244/30/2025
Pier FireSan Diego4/25/20241/31/2025
Thompson FireButte7/2/20242/28/2025
Shelly FireSiskiyou7/3/20241/31/2025
Gold Complex FireButte, Plumas, Tehama7/22/20242/28/2025
Borel FireKern7/24/20242/28/2025
Land Movement and Severe Storm EventsLos Angeles8/29/20241/31/2025
Bear FireSierra9/2/20241/31/2025
Line FireSan Bernardino9/5/20242/28/2025
Bridge Fire and Airport FireLos Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino9/8/20242/28/2025
Mountain FireVentura11/6/20243/31/2025
Magnitude 7.0 EarthquakeDel Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino12/5/20244/30/2025
ColoradoPeral Fire in Larimer CountyLarimer9/16/20241/31/2025
Extreme Winter StormEl Paso, Elbert, Huerfano, Las Animas, Lincoln, Otero11/26/20242/28/2025
ConnecticutHistoric Flooding due to Severe RainstormsAll8/18/20244/30/2025
Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesFairfield, Litchfield, New Haven8/18/202410/31/2025
Hawthorne FireAll10/21/20246/30/2025
FloridaHurricane IanAll9/23/20224/30/2025
Seminole Tribe of Florida Tropical Storm NicoleBig Cypress Indian Reservation, Brighton Indian Reservation, Fort Pierce Indian Reservation, Hollywood Indian Reservation, Immokalee Indian Reservation, Tampa Reservation11/7/20224/30/2025
Hurricane IdaliaAlachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Desoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla8/26/20232/28/2025
May North Florida TornadoesBaker, Columbia, Escambia, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla5/10/20245/31/2025
Invest 90L – South Florida Flash FloodingBroward, Collier, Lee, Miami‐Dade, Sarasota6/11/20244/30/2025
Invest 97L – Hurricane DebbyAlachua, Baker, Bradford, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Pasco, Pinellas, Putnam, Sarasota, St. Johns, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla8/1/20244/30/2025
Hurricane DebbyAll8/1/202410/31/2025
Florida Hurricane DebbyColumbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Manatee, Sarasota, Suwanee, Taylor8/1/202410/31/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/23/20242/28/2025
Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine - Hurricane HeleneAlachua, 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, Washington9/23/20243/31/2025
Florida Hurricane HeleneCharlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla9/23/202411/30/2025
Florida Tropical Storm HeleneAlachua, Bay, Bradford, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Monroe, Okaloosa, Pasco, Pinellas, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Wakulla, Walton, Washington9/23/202411/30/2025
Florida Hurricane MiltonAll10/5/20243/31/2025
Tropical Storm MiltonAlachua, 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, MiamiDade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia10/5/20244/30/2025
Florida Hurricane MiltonAlachua, 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, MiamiDade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia10/5/202412/31/2025
Florida Hurricane MiltonBig Cypress Indian Reservation, Brighton Indian Reservation, Fort Pierce Indian Reservation, Hollywood Indian Reservation, Immokalee Indian Reservation, Tampa Reservation10/5/202412/31/2025
Florida Hurricane MiltonBrevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miccosukee Indian Reservation, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Volusia10/5/202412/31/2025
Seminole Tribe of Florida Hurricane MiltonBig Cypress Indian Reservation, Brighton Indian Reservation, Fort Pierce Indian Reservation, Hollywood Indian Reservation, Immokalee Indian Reservation, Tampa Reservation10/5/20241/31/2026
GeorgiaHurricane DebbyAll8/4/20241/31/2025
Hurricane DebbyAppling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Crisp, Decatur, Dodge, Echols, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Glynn, Grady, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Long, Lowndes, McIntosh, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pierce, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Turner, Ware, Wayne, Wheeler, Wilcox, Worth8/4/202410/31/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/24/20242/28/2025
Georgia Hurricane HeleneAll9/24/202411/30/2025
Georgia Hurricane HeleneAppling, Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Chatham, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Glascock, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Lanier, Laurens, Liberty, Lincoln, Lowndes, McDuffie, Montgomery, Pierce, Rabun, Richmond, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, Washington, Wheeler9/24/202411/30/2025
Heavy Rainfall and Major FloodingAtkinson, Ben Hill, Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Dodge, Effingham, Emanuel, Evans, Irwin, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lanier, Laurens, Lowndes, Montgomery, Screven, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wheeler11/6/20241/31/2025
HawaiiWildfiresAll1/8/20244/30/2025
Heavy Rains and FloodingKauai3/3/20244/30/2025
Telecommunications InterruptionsAll5/30/20244/30/2025
November 2024 Red Flag Fire ConditionsAll11/14/20243/31/2025
December 2024 Red Flag Fire ConditionsAll12/11/20242/28/2025
IndianaSevere Weather and Tornadic ActivityPosey, Warrick7/9/20241/31/2025
IowaIowa Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight‐line Winds, and TornadoesBuena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Lyon, O’Brien, Osceola, Plymouth, Sioux6/16/20248/31/2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza O’Brien12/5/20243/31/2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaPalo Alto12/5/20243/31/2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaSac12/5/20243/31/2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaSioux12/5/20243/31/2025
Highly Pathogenic Avian InfluenzaWorth12/5/20243/31/2025
KentuckyKentucky Remnants of Hurricane HeleneAnderson, Bath, Bell, Bourbon, Bracken, Breathitt, Carter, Clark, Clay, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Greenup, Harlan, Harrison, Jackson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lee, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Menifee, Montgomery, Morgan, Nicholas, Owsley, Powell, Robertson, Rockcastle, Rowan, Washington, Wolfe9/27/20241/31/2025
LouisianaHurricane FrancineAll9/9/20243/31/2025
Hurricane FrancineAll9/10/20242/28/2025
MarylandFrancis Scott Key Bridge CollapseAll3/26/20243/31/2025
MinnesotaMinnesota Severe Storms and FloodingBlue Earth, Carver, Cass, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Jackson, Lake, Le Seur, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Wabasha, Watonwan6/16/20248/31/2025
MissouriTornados, Straight-line Winds, Large Hail, Heavy Rains and FloodingAll11/3/20242/28/2025
MontanaFloodingAll5/5/20241/31/2025
Severe Thunderstorm EventCuster7/13/20245/31/2025
Severe StormMissoula, Mineral7/24/20243/31/2025
Crow Tribe of Montana Severe Storm and Straight-Line WindsCrow Indian Reservation8/6/20241/31/2025
Severe Thunderstorm EventRavalli8/23/20245/31/2025
New MexicoWildfires and Flooding in Lincoln CountyLincoln6/17/20242/28/2025
Flooding in Chaves CountyChaves10/19/20241/31/2025
New Mexico Severe Storm and FloodingChaves10/19/20241/31/2025
Excessive Snow, Strong Winds, and Freezing TemperaturesAll11/6/20241/31/2025
Wildfires and Natural DisastersAll11/6/20241/31/2025
New YorkSeries of Severe StormsAll7/16/20241/31/2025
Tropical Storm DebbyAll8/9/20242/28/2025
Severe StormLewis, Oswego, Suffolk11/29/20242/28/2025
Severe Storm SystemCattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Franklin, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, St. Lawrence, Wyoming12/11/20243/31/2025
North CarolinaTropical Storm DebbyAlamance, Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lee, Lenoir, Martin, Montgomery, Moore, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Orange, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Person, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Sampson, Scotland, Stokes, Surry, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Wilson, Yadkin8/5/202410/31/2025
Potential Tropical Cyclone EightBrunswick9/16/20242/28/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/25/20242/28/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/25/20245/31/2025
North Carolina Tropical Storm HeleneAlexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watuaga, Wilkes, Yancey9/25/202411/30/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/25/202412/31/2025
North DakotaWildfiresAdams, Barnes, Benson, Billings, Bottineau, Bowman, Burke, Burleigh, Cass, Cavalier, Dickey, Divide, Dunn, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Golden Valley, Grand Forks, Grant, Griggs, Hettinger, Kidder, Lamoure, Logan, Mchenry, Mcintosh, Mckenzie, Mclean, Mercer, Morton, Mountrail, Nelson, Oliver, Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Ransom, Renville, Richland, Rolette, Sargent, Sheridan, Sioux, Slope, Stark, Steele, Stutsman, Towner, Traill, Walsh, Ward, Wells, Williams9/29/20242/28/2025
North Dakota Wildfires and Straight-line WindsMcKenzie, Williams10/5/20242/28/2025
OhioSevere Weather SystemAshtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Portage, Summit, Trumbull8/6/20241/31/2025
Hurricane HeleneLawrence, Jackson, Pike, Scioto9/27/20242/28/2025
Daniel Carter Beard Bridge FireHamilton11/5/20244/30/2025
Winter Weather SystemAshtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake11/28/20245/31/2025
OklahomaSevere StormsCarter, Hughes, Love, Murray4/25/20247/31/2025
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and FloodingAdair, Cleveland, Garvin, Lincoln, Logan, Mcclain, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Stephens11/2/20242/28/2025
Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and FloodingCleveland, Garvin, Lincoln, Mcclain, Oklahoma, Stephens11/2/20242/28/2025
OregonState of Drought EmergencyJefferson4/3/20242/28/2025
Darlene 3 FireDeschutes6/25/20249/30/2025
State of Drought EmergencyWasco7/9/20249/30/2025
Cow Valley FireMalheur7/12/20249/30/2025
Series of Fires in Umatilla CountyUmatilla7/12/20249/30/2025
Imminent Threat of WildfireWasco7/12/202412/31/2025
Falls FireHarney7/14/20249/30/2025
Lone Rock FireGilliam, Morrow, Wheeler7/15/20249/30/2025
Durkee Fire in Baker CountyBaker7/20/20249/30/2025
Battle Mountain Complex FireGrant, Umatilla7/21/20249/30/2025
Telephone FireHarney8/1/202410/31/2025
Elk Lane FireJefferson8/5/202410/31/2025
State of Drought EmergencyLake8/6/20242/28/2025
Town Gulch FireBaker8/6/202410/31/2025
Dixon FireDouglas8/10/202410/31/2025
Copperfield Fire in Klamath CountyKlamath9/1/202411/30/2025
Service Fire in Wheeler CountyWheeler9/9/202411/30/2025
State of Drought Emergency in Wallowa CountyWallowa10/2/20242/28/2025
State of Drought Emergency in Harney CountyHarney10/25/20242/28/2025
PennsylvaniaSevere Winter EventErie11/30/20242/28/2025
Puerto RicoTorrential Rain and FloodingAdjuntas, Arecibo, Camuy, Ciales, Corozal, Guayanilla, Lares, Manati, Maricao, Mayaguez, Naranjito, Ponce, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Utuado, Yauco5/8/20247/31/2025
Prolonged Power OutageAll6/12/20248/31/2025
Tropical Storm ErnestoAll8/12/202410/31/2025
Puerto Rico Tropical Storm ErnestoAguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Barranquitas, Canovanas, Ceiba, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Hormigueros, Jayuya, Las Marias, Loiza, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Naguabo, Orocovis, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Vega Alta, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa8/13/20241/31/2025
Tropical Storm ErnestoAll8/13/202410/31/2025
Damage from Hurricanes and EarthquakesAll9/1/20242/28/2025
Rhode IslandNursing Home DisasterAll12/29/20237/31/2025
South CarolinaHurricane DebbyAll8/4/20241/31/2025
Hurricane DebbyAll8/4/202410/31/2025
South Carolina Hurricane HeleneAiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Lexington, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Saluda, Spartanburg9/24/202411/30/2025
Hurricane HeleneAll9/25/20242/28/2025
South Carolina Hurricane HeleneAll9/25/202411/30/2025
Significant Flash and Riverine FloodingAll11/6/20241/31/2025
South DakotaCheyenne River Sioux Tribe Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, and FloodingCheyenne River Indian Reservation7/13/20241/31/2025
Severe Storms, Heavy Rainfall, Flooding, and Straight‐Line WindsAurora, Bennett, Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hand, Hanson, Hutchinson, Jackson, Lake, Lincoln, Mccook, Miner, Minnehaha, Moody, Sanborn, Tripp, Turner, Union7/26/20243/30/2025
TennesseeHurricane HeleneAll9/26/20242/28/2025
Severe Weather and FloodingAll9/26/20242/28/2025
Tennessee Tropical Storm HeleneCarter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, Washington9/26/202411/30/2025
Tennessee Tropical Storm HeleneCarter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, Washington9/26/202412/31/2025
TexasBorder SecurityAransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brewster, Brooks, Caldwell, Cameron, Chambers, Coleman, Colorado, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Dewitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, El Paso, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jackson, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kerr, Kimble, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mason, Maverick, Mcculloch, Mcmullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Real, Refugio, San Patricio, Schleicher, Shackelford, Sutton, Terrell, Throckmorton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Wharton, Wilbarger, Wilson, Zapata, Zavala5/31/20222/28/2025
Texas DroughtArcher, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Brewster, Burnet, Calhoun, Cameron, Childress, Clay, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Cottle, Culberson, Denton, El Paso, Foard, Gillespie, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Hays, Hemphill, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Irion, Jeff Davis, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lipscomb, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Matagorda, Maverick, Medina, Midland, Mitchell, Presidio, Real, Reeves, Tom Green, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Ward, Wharton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Zapata7/8/20222/28/2025
Severe StormsAnderson, Angelina, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Bowie, Brazos, Brown, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Coleman, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Delta, Denton, Dewitt, Dickens, Eastland, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Freestone, Galveston, Gillespie, Gonzales, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hardin, Harris, Haskell, Hays, Henderson, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Knox, Lamar, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Llano, Lynn, Madison, Mason, Mcculloch, Mclennan, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Panola, Polk, Red River, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Saba, Shelby, Smith, Somervell, Sutton, Tarrant, Terrell, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wichita, Williamson, Wilson4/9/20241/31/2025
Hurricane BerylAnderson, Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brooks, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Camp, Cass, Chambers, Cherokee, Collin, Colorado, Comal, Dallas, Delta, Dewitt, Dimmit, Duval, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grayson, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hays, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kaufman, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lamar, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Live Oak, Madison, Marion, Matagorda, Maverick, Mclennan, Mcmullen, Medina, Milam, Montgomery, Morris, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Panola, Polk, Rains, Red River, Refugio, Robertson, Rockwall, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Smith, Starr, Titus, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Uvalde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Webb, Wharton, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Wood, Zapata, Zavala7/5/20243/31/2025
Texas Hurricane BerylAll7/5/202412/31/2025
Elevated Fire Weather ConditionsAransas, Atascosa, Bastrop, Bee, Caldwell, Calhoun, Colorado, Dewitt, Fayette, Frio, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Jim Wells, Karnes, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Mcmullen, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Taylor, Victoria, Wilson10/14/20243/31/2025
Water ContaminationWebb10/16/20242/28/2025
VirginiaHurricane HeleneAll9/25/20241/31/2025
Virginia Post-tropical Cyclone HeleneGalax, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe9/25/202411/30/2025
Virginia Tropical Storm HeleneBedford, Bland, Bristol, Buchanan, Carroll, Covington, Craig, Danville, Dickenson, Galax, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Norton, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Radford, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe9/25/202412/31/2025
VermontSevere WeatherAll7/9/202310/31/2025
Vermont Tropical Depression DebbyAll8/8/202410/31/2025
WashingtonConfederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation WildfiresColville Indian Reservation7/17/20241/31/2025
West VirginiaWest Virginia Post-tropical Storm HeleneMercer9/25/20242/28/2025
Hurricane HeleneBoone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Mcdowell, Mercer, Mingo, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Summers, Wayne, Webster, Wyoming9/26/20241/31/2025
WyomingImpacts from Wildfires Campbell, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Goshen, Johnson, Park, Platte, Sheridan, Sublette, Teton, Weston7/1/20241/31/2026
Wyoming WildfiresCampbell, Johnson8/21/20241/31/2025

To utilize a disaster SEP for Medicare Advantage or PDP enrollment, individuals must tick these three boxes:

  • Reside (including resided at the start of the incident date) in an area where a federal, state, or local government entity has declared a disaster or other emergency or major disaster; or do not reside in an affected area but rely on help making health care decisions from one or more individuals who reside in an affected area.
  • Have had another valid election period (e.g., Initial Enrollment Period) at the time of the SEP eligibility period.
  • Have missed an enrollment during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.

When Does a Disaster SEP Start and End?

An emergency SEP begins the earliest of these dates:

  • The date the declaration is made
  • The incident start date
  • The start date identified in the declaration

When the SEP ends depends on several factors and can be extended if the disaster declaration has been renewed.

Generally, the SEP ends two full calendar months:

  • Following the end date identified in the emergency declaration
  • Or, if different, the date the end of the incident is announced
  • Or, if different, the date the incident automatically ends under applicable state or local law

If the incident end date is not otherwise identified, the incident end date is either one year after the SEP start date or the date of a renewal or extension of the declaration, whichever is later.

The maximum length of an emergency SEP, if the incident end date is not otherwise identified, is 14 full calendar months after the SEP start date (or the date of a renewal or extension of the declaration).

What Steps Do Agents Need to Follow for Emergency Medicare Enrollments?

Familiarize yourself with these steps. You are responsible for checking your client’s eligibility for this SEP prior to use.

If your client believes they may qualify for one of these SEPs and wants to enroll, disenroll, or switch Medicare Advantage or PDP plans, make sure you:

  • Ask the beneficiary if they can show proof that they lived/live in an impacted area at the start of the SEP eligibility period or rely on help making health care decisions from friends or family members who lived/live in affected areas.
  • If they do not have proof, ask them to verbally attest.
  • Confirm that they had another valid election period available during the time of the incident period and did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.
  • Confirm that the beneficiary lived in a county that has been declared an emergency or major disaster or rely on help making health care decisions from friends or family members who lived/live in the affected areas.

Once you’ve verified their eligibility, proceed with the application. During the application process, select these two enrollment reasons:

  • Affected by an emergency or major disaster (as declared by FEMA or a government entity).
  • Election period enrollee was eligible for and not able to use due to the declared disaster or emergency. Provide dates when applicable (e.g., change in residence).

On applications, use election code SEP DST. The enrollment will be submitted to CMS using this election code. If it’s determined that this election isn’t appropriate, the carrier will reach out to inform you, and the member will receive a Request for Information (RFI) to determine if another enrollment period is available to them.

Please note that enrollments made using a Medicare disaster SEP are effective the first of the month following the enrollment. For enrollment requests where more than one enrollment effective date is possible, agents will need to determine the applicant’s desired effective date.

● ● ●

We strive to keep you updated on relevant news and information and update this post monthly with new FEMA SEPs for Medicare; however, we do not guarantee that all emergency SEPs are still available or are listed here. Please check with your specific state and insurance carriers. For any updates to eligible counties for FEMA declarations, refer to the FEMA website

Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency.

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