The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially withdrawn the proposed changes to the Special Election Period (SEP) for Individuals Affected by a Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency.
Previously, CMS announced that starting April 1, 2025, beneficiaries would need to call 1-800-MEDICARE to use this SEP. However, this requirement will no longer be implemented.
What This Means for Agents:
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No Change to Current SEP Processes – Agents can continue submitting applications for the Disaster/Emergency SEP directly with plans.
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Enrollment Forms & Plan Materials Remain Valid – No need for updates based on the previously proposed change.
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MARx & OEC Codes Stay the Same –
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SEP Reason Code: “01”
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OEC Crosswalk Code: “DST”
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What’s Next?
CMS will issue future guidance on the SEP enrollment process. Until then, agents should continue following existing procedures.
For any questions, you can reach out to:
📩 Enrollment & Eligibility Policy Mailbox – https://enrollment.lmi.org/deepmailbox
📩 MA-PD Help Desk – mapdhelp@cms.hhs.gov
Key Takeaway: Agents should continue handling Disaster/Emergency SEP enrollments as they always have—no new call-in requirement for beneficiaries!
Have questions or need support? Give us a call at 800-998-7715 or complete a contact request form.