The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides for a Special Election Period (SEP) for beneficiaries impacted by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency or Major Disaster Declaration.
This SEP is for Medicare beneficiaries who were prevented from submitting a Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) or Prescription Drug (PDP) plan enrollment request during another valid election period due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency (declared on March 13, 2020). This includes both enrollment and disenrollment elections. This SEP applies to beneficiaries who reside in all U.S. states and includes all Anthem brands and affiliates.
In addition, the SEP is available to those individuals who rely on help from friends or family members when making healthcare decisions and those individuals were impacted by the State of Emergency. The SEP is available from the start of the incident period and continues for four full calendar months thereafter, beginning January 20, 2020, and ending May 31, 2020.
Enrollments are effective the first of the month after the plan receives the enrollment request. Only those beneficiaries who did not make an election during another eligible enrollment period are eligible for this SEP. An individual can use this SEP one time for each election period they missed.
For example, if an existing MA/MAPD member intended to, but did not make a plan election during their Open Enrollment Period (OEP) due to the state of emergency, they would be eligible to use this SEP one time between April 1 and May 31, 2020.
If the beneficiary knows what plan they want to select, they can call the plan or their broker/agent directly to enroll.
To review up-to-date information, you may go to the FEMA Disaster Declarations website. This Information is updated at least weekly.
This SEP is for Medicare beneficiaries who were prevented from submitting a Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) or Prescription Drug (PDP) plan enrollment request during another valid election period due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency (declared on March 13, 2020). This includes both enrollment and disenrollment elections. This SEP applies to beneficiaries who reside in all U.S. states and includes all Anthem brands and affiliates.
In addition, the SEP is available to those individuals who rely on help from friends or family members when making healthcare decisions and those individuals were impacted by the State of Emergency. The SEP is available from the start of the incident period and continues for four full calendar months thereafter, beginning January 20, 2020, and ending May 31, 2020.
Enrollments are effective the first of the month after the plan receives the enrollment request. Only those beneficiaries who did not make an election during another eligible enrollment period are eligible for this SEP. An individual can use this SEP one time for each election period they missed.
For example, if an existing MA/MAPD member intended to, but did not make a plan election during their Open Enrollment Period (OEP) due to the state of emergency, they would be eligible to use this SEP one time between April 1 and May 31, 2020.
If the beneficiary knows what plan they want to select, they can call the plan or their broker/agent directly to enroll.
To review up-to-date information, you may go to the FEMA Disaster Declarations website. This Information is updated at least weekly.
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