Due to Medicare regulatory guidance, the Special Election Period for Individuals Affected by a Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency (Disaster/Emergency SEP) is changing effective April 1, 2025. Starting April 1, 2025 beneficiaries seeking to use the Disaster/Emergency SEP must call 1-800-MEDICARE. Brokers can no longer assist clients with these enrollments.

What’s changing effective April 1?

New enrollment process: To enroll using the Disaster/Emergency SEP, beneficiaries will need to contact 1-800-MEDICARE. Brokers can no longer earn a commission for facilitating these enrollments, effective April 1 2025.

No direct enrollment via carriers: Medicare Advantage Organizations and Part D Sponsors will no longer accept enrollment requests directly from beneficiaries under the Disaster/Emergency SEP. Instead, beneficiaries will need to contact 1-800-Medicare directly.

Click here to read the full memo from CMS

Who is eligible to use the Disaster/Emergency SEP?

Eligibility for this SEP has not changed. Per CMS guidance, an individual is eligible for this SEP if they:

Reside or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period described below, in an area for which a federal, state, or local government entity has declared an emergency or major disaster, 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. They were eligible for another election period at the time of 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 full calendar months following: the end date identified in the declaration or, if different, the date the end of the incident is announced, or, if no date is identified or announced, the date the incident automatically ends under applicable state or local law, or one year after the SEP start date, or renewal or extension.

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

Source: Aetna