Here’s what you need to know about making changes to your insurance during a declared weather emergency or major disaster.

Hurricane season runs from June to the end of November each year. Before disaster strikes, it’s important to stock up on supplies and make a safety plan. But there are some things we fail to plan for, like what happens when you’re affected by a hurricane and miss your insurance enrollment deadline?

If you find yourself in this situation, you may still have a window to make changes to your insurance coverage. Medicare will grant you extra time to make insurance changes should you be affected by a weather-related emergency or major disaster and miss your enrollment deadline as a result.

A Special Election Period (SEP) is a specified window of time you can use to make an enrollment decision, such as switching plans, disenrolling or enrolling into a new plan. The SEP window varies depending on the circumstances surrounding the event, but it usually lasts at least 60 days.

A real-life example of when this would apply:

You lost employer coverage and had an enrollment window to get a new plan. However, during your window to change plans, you lived in an area that experienced a hurricane. As a result, you were unable to access plan options in a timely manner which caused you to miss out on your enrollment window.

If you missed your deadline to modify your insurance coverage due to a natural disaster or public emergency, don’t fret! You may qualify to use this Special Election Period. Since you can only use this window once, you should approach your decision carefully.

Here are some steps you should take before making any changes:

• Be sure your situation qualifies as a declared disaster; you can do this online at gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3326.
• Keep any notices and information in relation to the event as Medicare may ask for proof that you qualify for the SEP before they approve your insurance application.
• Explain the situation to your AMAC Medicare Advisor so they can assist you with your insurance options and apply your Special Election Period to your enrollment.

Additionally, there are resources available to those who were affected by a natural disaster or other declared emergency available at disasterassistance.gov. You can also call FEMA for more assistance at 1-800-621-3326.

Now that you are aware, be sure to share this valuable information with anyone you know that’s on Medicare! At AMAC, we believe in arming you with all the tools you need to make the best decision for YOU.

Are you ready to speak with a live person? Our knowledgeable Medicare advisors are ready to help!

For any questions you may have about Medicare, contact AMAC’s Medicare Advisory Service at 1-855-611-4856 or request a quote below!