Changes to the DST-SEP Process for Agents & Clients

Per direction from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Special Election Period for Individuals Affected by a Government Entity-Declared Disaster or Other Emergency (also known as the DST-SEP) election process will change effective April 1, 2025.

In addition to changes for affected individuals (“customers”), there will be changes to how you may access DST-SEP information. Please see below for dates and details.

What this means for your customers

Beginning on April 1, customers impacted by a declared emergency or disaster:

• must call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)* to see if they qualify for or to make a DST-SEP election.
• may no longer self-enroll into a plan using a DST-SEP.
• may no longer work with a broker to enroll into a plan using a DST-SEP.

What this means for you

On or after April 1:

• Depending on disaster type (e.g., state, FEMA), you will need to access disaster declaration information on state government websites or on FEMA.gov.
• Please direct impacted customers to call CMS at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to determine if they qualify for or to use a DST-SEP.
  • Again, customer applications including a DST-SEP election, and which are dated and received after March 31, are no longer accepted by the plan.

This change is designed to ensure the integrity of the DST-SEP, providing enrollment options only for those customers impacted by a declared emergency or disaster.

If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 777-9322. We are here to help!

Source: CMS Memo December 3, 2024

*TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048