Humana Topic of the Week: Humana Adds COVID SEP

Please be advised that the federal public health emergency declaration specific to COVID-19 issued on January 30, 2020 remains in effect and may serve as the basis for the SEP-DST.  Individuals are eligible for the SEP-DST if they:

• Reside, or resided at the start of the SEP eligibility period, 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.

The SEP starts as of the date the declaration is made, the incident start date or, if different, the start date identified in the declaration, whichever is earlier. The SEP ends two (2) full calendar months following the end date identified in the declaration or, if different, the date the end of the incident is announced, whichever is later.

COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency – Declared by Secretary of Health and Human Services

Incident Period: January 27, 2020 – ongoing

SEP Start Date: January 27, 2020

SEP End Date: TO BE DETERMINED

Counties: Nationwide

What Does This Mean to Agents?

If an individual wants to enroll and believes they may qualify for this SEP, agents should:

• Ask the beneficiary if they can show proof that they lived/live in an impacted area at the start of the SEP eligibility period.
• If they do not have proof, ask them to verbally attest.
• Confirm that they had another election period available during the time of the incident period.

• Confirm that the beneficiary lived in a county that has been declared an emergency or major disaster or relies on help making healthcare decisions from friends or family members who lived/live in the affected areas during the emergency or disaster.
• Once eligibility has been verified, proceed with the application.
• On applications, use election code SEP-DST.  

Enrollments made pursuant to this SEP are effective the first of the month following the receipt of the enrollment request. For enrollment requests where more than one enrollment effective date is possible, agents will need to determine the applicant’s desired effective date.  This SEP should never be used as a marketing tool to promote MA or PDP sales.  Agents should not be actively marketing this SEP, but rather, be aware that it is available in case they are approached by someone who believes they have missed an election period due to an emergency or major disaster.

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