Special Enrollment Periods Now Open for Residents in FL, OH, WA & WV

Wellcare Health Plans recently announced four SEPs for residents affected by inclement weather in Florida, Ohio, Washington, and West Virginia. Read below to learn more.

Individuals in affected areas are only eligible to enroll in a SEP if they: 

• Reside, or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period described in this guidance, 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.

Eligible enrollments will be effective the first month after the application has been processed.

Below are specifics for each affected state:

Florida:

• Time of Incident: Tornadoes between January 9, 2024 and May 7, 2024. 
• Timeframe: Individuals meeting the requirements must enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD or PDP plans until July 31.
• Impacted Counties: Alachua, Baker, Bay, Bradford, Brevard, Calhoun, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Escambia, Flagler, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Marion, Nassau, Okaloosa, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Santa Rosa, Seminole, Sumter, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington

Ohio:

• Time of Incident: Severe storms between March 14 and June 16. The declaration was announced on March 17. 
• Timeframe: Individuals meeting the requirements must enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD or PDP plans until August 31.
• Impacted Counties: Auglaize, Crawford, Darke, Delaware, Hancock, Licking, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Richland, and Union

Washington:

• Time of Incident: Winter storms between January 5 and April 14. The declaration was announced on March 15. 
• Timeframe: Individuals meeting the requirements must enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD or PDP plans until June 30.
• Impacted Counties: Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Douglas, Ferry, Grays Harbor, King, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanagan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Skamania, and Wahkiakum

West Virginia:

• Time of Incident: Wildfires between March 20 and April 20. The declaration was announced on March 15. 
• Timeframe: Individuals meeting the requirements must enroll, dis-enroll, or switch MAPD or PDP plans until June 30.
• Impacted Counties: Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Pendleton