Announcement: Disaster SEPs in CA, CO, GA, LA, NC, NJ, NY, OR, TN

This is an important announcement for agents with customers in California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisianna, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee and for those with business in those states. The counties below are under a federal or state designated Special Election Period (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. 

California - La Jolla Band of Luiseno Indians

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Tropical Storm Hilary

SEP incident dates: 08/19/2023 – 10/26/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/19/2023 – 11/30/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Within San Diego County - see detailed designated area map.

 

Colorado

Declaration information UPDATE: Counties in bold added

FEMA declaration: Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes

SEP incident dates: 06/08/2023 – 10/20/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/08/2023 – 11/30/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Arapahoe, Baca, Cheyenne, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Prowers, Teller, and Washington Counties

 

Georgia

Declaration information UPDATE: Counties in bold added

FEMA declaration: Hurricane Idalia

SEP incident dates: 08/30/2023 – 10/08/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/30/2023 – 11/30/2023 Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Camden, Candler, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Emanuel, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Jenkins, Lanier, Lowndes, Montgomery, Pierce, Screven, Tattnall, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Treutlen, Ware, and Wayne Counties

 

Louisiana

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Seawater Intrusion

SEP incident dates: 09/20/2023 – Ongoing

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/20/2023 – Ongoing

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard Parishes

 

North Carolina

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: EF-1 Tornado

SEP incident dates: 08/07/2023 – 12/29/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/07/2023 - 01/31/2024

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Rowan County (Town of Landis)

 

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Potential Tropical Cyclone (PTC) Sixteen

SEP incident dates: 09/22/2023 – 10/31/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/22/2023 – 12/31/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All counties

 

New Jersey

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Severe Weather

SEP incident dates: 09/28/2023 – 10/30/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/28/2023 – 12/31/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: All counties

 

New York

Declaration information NEW

State declaration: Severe Storm

SEP incident dates: 09/29/2023 – 11/27/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 09/29/2023 – 12/31/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bronx, Dutchess, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester, and contiguous counties

 

Oregon - Burns Paiute Tribe

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides

SEP incident dates: 06/11/2023 – 09/26/22023

This SEP declaration is effective: 06/11/2023 – 10/31/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Within Harney County - see detailed designation area map.

 

Tennessee

Declaration information NEW

FEMA declaration: Severe Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Tornado

SEP incident dates: 08/07/2023 – 10/26/2023

This SEP declaration is effective: 08/07/2023 – 11/30/2023

Impacted counties for SEP purposes: Bledsoe, Coffee, Cumberland, Jefferson, Knox, Loudon, Meigs, Rhea, Roane and Van Buren Counties

 

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.

Updates to our DST application process

Two key updates:

1. The date of the disaster is no longer required on any DST applications. 
2. 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.

If you have any questions, call us today at 866-568-9649!