SEPs
This is an important announcement for agents with customers in California, Florida, North Dakota, and Washington and for those with business in these states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency.
Please note: A disaster SEP application is only valid while the SEP declaration is in effect. If an end date is not listed below, please refer to our Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University for the most up-to-date information. Any SEP applications submitted outside of that SEP’s declaration date will be rejected.
IMPORTANT:
- Please be aware this does not mean that active marketing can occur.
- The SEP is only for the purpose of providing a SEP to impacted individuals who had a valid election during the incident and were unable to make that election due to the emergency.
- This does not mean that Cigna Healthcare initiates waiving of authorization or referral requirements.
- This does not extend waiving of prior authorizations, referrals etc.
SEP for Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency
42 CFR 422.62(b)(18)
(Rev. 2, Issued: August 12, 2020; Effective/Implementation: 01-01-2021)
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 where a federal, state or local government entity declared a disaster or other emergency.
- were eligible for another election period at the time of the Disaster Election Period (DST) eligibility period.
- did not make an election during that other valid election period due to the disaster or other emergency.
The SEP starts on the date the declaration was made or the incident start date whichever is earlier. The SEP ends two full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or the date the end of the incident is announced, whichever is later.
California
FEMA declaration: Severe Storm and Flooding
SEP incident dates: 01/21/2024 - 03/19/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 01/21/2024 - 04/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: San Diego County
Florida
Declaration information UPDATE: Renewal
State declaration: Hurricane Nicole
SEP incident dates: 11/07/2022 - 05/17/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 11/07/2022 - 06/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, Calhoun, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Gulf, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Holmes, Indian River, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lee, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okaloosa, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington Counties
North Dakota
Declaration information NEW: Retro approval
FEMA declaration: Severe Winter Storm and Straight-line Winds
SEP incident dates: 08/18/2023 - 03/15/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2023 - 04/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Barnes, Cass, Dickey, Grant, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, Stutsman, Traill Counties
Washington
Declaration information NEW: Retro approval
FEMA declaration: Wildfires
SEP incident dates: 08/18/2023 - 03/15/2024
This SEP declaration is effective: 08/18/2023 - 04/30/2024
Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Spokane County
Updates to Cigna's DST application process
Two key updates:
- The date of the disaster is no longer required on any DST applications.
- The missed election period is not required on most applications. See clarification below.
Keep in mind: Some missed election periods will still require you to input the missed election period AND the date of the missed election period on the application. Some examples include MOV (moving) or LEC (losing group coverage). The application will contain an "open" date field next to the SEP selections that still require a date to help you know when it is required.
Please read below for important application instructions.
For all applications, ensure that the following fields are completed:
- Select "SEP" in the Select Enrollment Period field.
- Enter code "DST" in the SEP Code field.
- If applicable, enter the date that applies for the missed election period. For example, a date is needed only if the missed SEP already required a date, such as moving, losing group coverage, losing or gaining Medicaid, etc. If the missed SEP or election period does not require a date on the application, the missed election period is not required. However, adding it on the application will expedite our review process. (i.e., AEP, OEP, LIS, MDE).
DST is not a stand-alone election period. For questions about DST eligibility, please review Cigna's Election Period grid, found in the Resource Center of Producers' University.
Florida Emergency Declaration – Inclement Weather
Please be advised that a state of emergency was declared, impacting individuals in certain Florida counties. This declaration allows for a one-time Special Enrollment Period (SEP), in the event beneficiaries were unable to make an election during another qualifying election period. Please reference the following guidelines for the incident period. This SEP applies to the Florida counties listed below.
This is an important announcement for agents with customers in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, South Carolina, and Tennessee and for those with business in those states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated SEP due to an emergency.
Please note: A disaster SEP application is only valid while the SEP declaration is in effect. If an end date is not listed below, please refer to Cigna's Ongoing SEP tracker in Producers’ University for the most up-to-date information. Any SEP applications submitted outside of that SEP’s declaration date will be rejected.
SEP extensions:
Listed below are the links to the executive orders related to each SEP.
Hurricane Nicole: Extended through 2/29
Hurricane Idalia: Extended through 2/29
Hurricane Ian: Extended through 3/31
Additionally, each of these SEPs are now excluding Bay county.
Here are some reminders about how to follow compliance in regards to the sale of insurance during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), courtesy of Florida Blue, of Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Please be advised that due to recent drought conditions, Governor Greg Abbott has declared a State of Emergency in the following Texas counties:
Please be advised that due to recent catastrophic events, Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a State of Emergency in eight Michigan counties: