2021 Compliance Communication
SEP for Individuals Affected by a Disaster or Emergency
Who qualifies for this SEP?
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.
Alabama (Severe Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 25, 2021
Incident Period: March 25, 2020 – No End Date Stated
SEP Start Date: March 25, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Autauga, Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Colbert, Coosa, Cullman, Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Lowndes, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, and Winston
Alabama (Strong Winds, Flooding, Hail and Tornadoes) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 16, 2021
Incident Period: March 16, 2020 – March 22, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 16, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Alabama (Winter Storm System) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 14, 2021
Incident Period: February 14, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: February 14, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Bibb, Blount, Choctaw, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Fayette, Franklin, Greene, Hale, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marengo, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Shelby, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, Winston
Arkansas (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 10, 2021
Incident Period: February 10, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: February 10, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
California (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on January 29, 2021
Incident Period: January 26, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: January 26, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Monterey, San Luis Obispo
California (Drought with Risk of Wildfire) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on May 10, 2021
Incident Period: May 10, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: May 10, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba
Florida (Hazardous Waste Risk) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 3, 2021
Incident Period: April 3, 2021 – June 2, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 3, 2021
SEP End Date: August 31, 2021
Counties: Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas
Georgia (Severe Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 25, 2021
Incident Period: March 25, 2021 – May 25, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 25, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Georgia (Severe Weather) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on May 6, 2021
Incident Period: March 25, 2021 – March 26, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 25, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Coweta, Fannin, Gilmer, Heard, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun and White
Hawaii (Heavy Rains and Flooding) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 9, 2021
Incident Period: March 8, 2021 – May 8, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 8, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Idaho (Straight-Line Winds) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on March 4, 2021
Incident Period: January 13, 2021
SEP Start Date: January 13, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Benewah, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone
Illinois (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 16, 2021
Incident Period: February 16, 2021 – March 18, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 16, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Kansas (Extreme Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 14, 2021
Incident Period: February 14, 2021 – End date not stated
SEP Start Date: February 14, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Kentucky (Severe Weather and Flooding) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 28, 2021
Incident Period: February 28, 2021 – End date not stated
SEP Start Date: February 28, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Kentucky (Dangerous Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 11, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – End date not stated
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Kentucky (Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides) – FEMA Declared Major Disaster Declaration on March 31, 2021
Incident Period: February 8, 2021 – February 19, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 8, 2021
SEP End Date: May 30, 2021
Counties: Bath, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Elliott, Estill, Fleming, Floyd, Garrard, Greenup, Harlan, Jackson, Johnson, Laurel, Lawrence, Lee, Leslie, Lewis, Lincoln, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, McCreary, Menifee, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Nelson, Nicholas, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Rowan, Wayne, Whitley, Wolfe
Kentucky (Severe Winter Storms, Landslides, and Mudslides) – FEMA Declared Major Disaster Declaration on April 23, 2021
Incident Period: February 27, 2021 – March 14, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 27, 2021
SEP End Date: June 30, 2021
Counties: Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Casey, Cumberland, Elliott, Floyd, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Magoffin, Marion, Martin, Mason, Morgan, Ohio, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, and Wolfe
Louisiana (Severe Winter Storm) – FEMA Declared an Emergency on February 18, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 and continuing
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Louisiana (Heavy Rainfall and Potential Wintry Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 11, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – June 10, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: August 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Louisiana (Severe Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 13, 2021
Incident Period: April 13, 2021 – May 12, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 13, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Louisiana (Heavy Rain, Severe Storms and Flash Flooding) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on May 17, 2021
Incident Period: May 17, 2021 – June 16, 2021
SEP Start Date: May 17, 2021
SEP End Date: August 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Maryland (Inauguration and Election Unrest) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on January 14, 2021
Incident Period: January 14, 2021 – April 25, 2021
SEP Start Date: January 14, 2021
SEP End Date: June 30, 2021
Counties: Entire State
Minnesota (Civil Unrest) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 19, 2021
Incident Period: April 19, 2021 – May 19, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 19, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington
Mississippi (Freezing Temperatures and Severe Winter Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 14, 2021
Incident Period: February 13, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: February 13, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Mississippi (Freezing Temperatures and Severe Winter Weather) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster May 4, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – February 19, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Adams, Attala, Choctaw, Claiborne, Copiah, Covington, Franklin, Grenada, Hinds, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Kemper, Lafayette, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lincoln, Mississippi Choctaw Indian Reservation, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, Pike, Rankin, Scott, Simpson, Smith, Tallahatchie, Walthall, Warren, Winston, Yazoo
New Jersey (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on January 31, 2021
Incident Period: January 31, 2021 – February 23, 2021
SEP Start Date: January 31, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
New Mexico (Inauguration and Election Unrest) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on January 13, 2021
Incident Period: January 13, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: January 13, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
New York (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a Disaster on February 1, 2021
Incident Period: February 1, 2021 – March 3, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 1, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Albany, Bronx, Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Essex, Delaware, Dutchess, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Kings, Madison, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Westchester, Yates
North Carolina (Tornado) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 24, 2021
Incident Period: February 24, 2021 – No End Date Stated
SEP Start Date: February 24, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Brunswick
North Carolina (Severe Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 18, 2021
Incident Period: March 18, 2021 – March 22, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 18, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
North Carolina (Tropical Storm Eta) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on March 3, 2021
Incident Period: November 12, 2020 – November 15, 2020
SEP Start Date: November 12, 2020
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Beaufort, Burke, Caldwell, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Edgecombe, Hertford, Iredell, Robeson, Rowan, Sampson, Stokes, Wilkes, Wilson, Yadkin
North Carolina (Severe Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on May 14, 2021
Incident Period: May 14, 2021 – July 31, 2021
SEP Start Date: May 14, 2021
SEP End Date: September 30, 2021
Counties: City of Marion (McDowell county) and the Town of Lillington (Harnett county)
North Dakota (Wildfires) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 1, 2021
Incident Period: April 1, 2021 – No End Date Stated
SEP Start Date: April 1, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Oklahoma (Extreme Freezing Temperatures and Severe Winter Weather) – Governor Declared a Disaster Emergency on February 12, 2021
Incident Period: February 7, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: February 7, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
Oregon (Drought with Risk of Wildfire) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 13, 2021
Incident Period: April 13, 2021 – December 31, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 13, 2021
SEP End Date: February 28, 2022
Counties: Jackson
Oregon (Drought with Risk of Wildfire) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on April 26, 2021
Incident Period: April 26, 2021 – December 31, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 26, 2021
SEP End Date: February 28, 2022
Counties: Lake
Oregon (Drought with Risk of Wildfire) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on May 10, 2021
Incident Period: May 10, 2021 – December 31, 2021
SEP Start Date: May 10, 2021
SEP End Date: February 28, 2022
Counties: Baker, Douglas, Gilliam, Morrow, Wheeler
Oregon (Severe Winter Weather) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on May 6, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – February 15, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Benton, Clackamas, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
South Dakota (Drought with Fire Risk) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 30, 2021
Incident Period: March 30, 2021 – June 1, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 30, 2021
SEP End Date: August 31, 2021
Counties: Entire State
Tennessee (Severe Storms) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on May 8, 2021
Incident Period: March 25, 2021 – April 3, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 25, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Campbell, Cannon, Cheatham, Claiborne, Clay, Davidson, Decatur, Fentress, Grainger, Hardeman, Henderson, Hickman, Jackson, Madison, Maury, McNairy, Moore, Overton, Scott, Smith, Wayne, Williamson, and Wilson
Texas (Freezing Temperatures, Heavy Snow and Freezing Rain) – Governor Declared a Disaster on February 11, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – May 13, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Entire State
Texas (Drought Conditions) – Governor Declared a Disaster on February 2, 2021
Incident Period: February 2, 2021 – May 15, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 2, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Andrews, Bailey, Bandera, Bexar, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Cameron, Castro, Cochran, Comal, Crane, Crosby, Culberson, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dimmit, Duval, Ector, El Paso, Floyd, Frio, Gaines, Hale, Hidalgo, Hockley, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Kendall, Kenedy, Kinney, Lamb, La Salle, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, Maverick, Medina, Midland, Parmer, Pecos, Presidio, Randall, Reeves, Starr, Swisher, Terrell, Terry, Upton, Uvalde, Ward, Webb, Wheeler, Winkler, Yoakum, Zapata, Zavala
Texas (Drought with Risk of Wildfire) – Governor Declared a Disaster on May 7, 2021
Incident Period: April 15, 2021 – June 6, 2021
SEP Start Date: April 15, 2021
SEP End Date: August 31, 2021
Counties: Andrews, Bailey, Bee, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Cameron, Castro, Cochran, Culberson, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Dimmit, Duval, Ector, El Paso, Floyd, Frio, Gaines, Goliad, Hale, Hidalgo, Hockley, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kennedy, King, Lamb, La Salle, Live Oak, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin, McMullen, Midland, Parmer, Presidio, Randall, Reeves, Starr, Swisher, Terry, Ward, Webb, Willacy, Winkler, Yoakum, Zapata, Zavala
Utah (Drought Conditions) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on March 17, 2021
Incident Period: March 17, 2021 – April 16, 2021
SEP Start Date: March 17, 2021
SEP End Date: June 30, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Virginia (Winter Weather) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 11, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – March 13, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Entire state
Virginia (Winter Weather) – FEMA Declared a Major Disaster on May 10, 2021
Incident Period: February 11, 2021 – February 13, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 11, 2021
SEP End Date: July 31, 2021
Counties: Amelia, Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Campbell, Caroline, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Floyd, Franklin, Goochland, Greensville, Halifax, King and Queen, King William, Lancaster, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George and Richmond
Washington (Winter Weather) – Governor Declared a Major Disaster on March 1, 2021
Incident Period: March 1, 2021 – No end date stated
SEP Start Date: March 1, 2021
SEP End Date: TBD
Counties: Entire state
West Virginia (Winter Storm) – Governor Declared a State of Emergency on February 16, 2021
Incident Period: February 16, 2021 – March 18, 2021
SEP Start Date: February 16, 2021
SEP End Date: May 31, 2021
Counties: Cabell, Jackson, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam, and Wayne
What Does This Mean to Agents
If an individual wants to enroll and believes they may qualify for this SEP, agents should:
- Ask the beneficiary if they can show proof that they lived/live in an impacted area at the start of the SEP eligibility period.
- If they do not have proof, ask them to verbally attest.
- Confirm that they had another election period available during the time of the incident period.
- Confirm that the beneficiary lived in a county that has been declared an emergency or major disaster or relies on help making healthcare decisions from friends or family members who lived/live in the affected areas.
- Once eligibility has been verified, proceed with the application.
- On applications, use election code SEP DST.
Enrollments made pursuant to this SEP are effective the first of the month following the receipt of the enrollment request. For enrollment requests where more than one enrollment effective date is possible, agents will need to determine the applicant’s desired effective date.
This SEP should never be used as a marketing tool to promote MA or PDP sales. Agents should not be actively marketing this SEP, but rather, be aware that it is available in case they are approached by someone who believes they have missed an election period due to the weather related incident.
For any updates to eligible counties for FEMA declarations please refer to the FEMA website at: https://www.fema.gov/disasters.
This is neither legal nor accounting advice. If you have questions, please consult a lawyer or accountant. The information included in this post was provided by the entity referenced herein
