Wellcare: Correction Re: SEP Duration Update

Correction Re: SEP Duration Update– Six Months Applies Only to Medicare Part A&B Initial Elections

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After review, the Disaster SEP Duration extending to 6 months only applies to a member’s Initial Election Periods for Medicare Part A & B entitlement periods. 

A compliance review of the Medicare Program; Implementing Certain Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Revisions to Medicare Enrollment and Eligibility Rules Final Rule, revealed specific comments that made it clear that the SEP extension does not apply to Part C or Part D of Medicare.

The Disaster SEP Duration for Medicare Advantage Plans has NOT been extended to 6 months after the incident end date. The SEP end date is 2 full calendar months following the end of the incident period or the date that the incident end date was announced. 

Important: Visit Special Enrollment Period (SEP) -FEMA / State Declarations to see if there is an active disaster SEP declared in your state. An SEP may be granted to individuals that reside in an affected service area where a Federal, State or Local Government Entity has declared a State of Emergency impacting individuals in a specific geographical area. The declaration allows for a one-time SEP, in the event an individual was unable to make an election during another qualifying election period.

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