FEMA SEP MEDICARE underastanding when it is a valid election period

FEMA SEP MEDICARE

By Ed Crowe | Agent blog Medicare compliance Medicare election periods Medicare information Medicare Sales for Agents | 0 comment | 10 January, 2021 | 0

FEMA SEP MEDICARE

FEMA SEP Medicare will review what you need to be aware of when it comes to the FEMA special election periods. The acronym stands for “Federal Emergency Management Agency”. There are Medicare special elections periods available under FEMA for those affected. If you live in where FEMA has declared an emergency or major disaster, you may have a special enrollment period available.

Who can use the FEMA SEP Medicare special election?

Those living in an area with a current or recent FEMA emergency or major disaster may have a special election period. The first thing to do is check the FEMA website for a listing of any emergencies or disasters by state CLICK HERE FOR SITE In addition, you needed to be unable to take advantage of an enrollment period during that disaster period. This could be the AEP, OEP, SEP or one of the IEP periods. CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ELECTION PERIODS Be aware that not all insurance companies will use the same rules for which elections qualify someone to use an SEP. The missed election needed to fall within the date the declaration, incident start date or declaration period in order to have a special election.

How long does the election period last?

The special election period runs for 2 full calendar months following the declaration period. FEMA will usually announce a date on their website which lists the length of the incident period.

If the SEP is available, the beneficiaries will be able to change their part D or Advantage plan or enroll from one to the other. Changes will start the 1st of the following month.

FEMA SEP MEDICARE: What to mark on the application (paper or electronic)

When you fill out your application, you would need to mark down a special election period. On some applications there is a section specific to it in the SEP election reason. Examples are FEMA disaster or Weather related disaster. If there is not a special section specific to it, you can check off the SEP box. Write in “FEMA disaster” in the comment area.