ACA, Medicare Special Enrollment Periods
Written by Taylor on January 28, 2021
Today President Joe Biden signed an executive order providing a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. The SEP will begin February 15th and will end May 15th.
President Biden’s office issued a press release that stated “For President Biden, this is personal. He believes that every American has a right to the peace of mind that comes with knowing they have access to affordable, quality health care. ”
Albany, Carbon Counties Medicare Special Enrollment Period
The Mullen Fire was first reported on Thursday, September 17th 2020 and as of Monday, January 4th, is 97% contained. The blaze that has torched 176,878 acres in the Medicine Bow National Forest is still under investigation and was declared a FEMA emergency or major disaster area. That declaration has triggered a special enrollment period for individuals in Albany and Carbon counties with healthcare providers.
Ensurem CEO Dave Rich said, “The primary thing Medicare beneficiaries must be aware of is that if they had a valid election period they were not able to use during the FEMA declared emergency period (Mullen Fires September 26 – October 19,) they can still use that SEP during the FEMA incident period. However, they are not allowed to switch or join a plan if they did not already qualify for an enrollment period during this time.”
He said, “These SEPs only apply to MA/MAPD/PDP Plans and not to Medicare Supplement plans. Beneficiaries will not qualify for this Medicare SEP if they already used a Medicare enrollment period to make a change of coverage already during the FEMA incident period.”
The choices available to seniors during this special enrollment period are identical to a standard enrollment and should allow for:
- Change from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage Part C
- Change from Medicare Advantage Part C to Original Medicare
- Switch Medicare Advantage Plans
- Join or drop a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
- Switch Medicare part D prescription drug plans
Seniors can contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with any questions. The FEMA Medicare SEP will end after January, 31st 2021.
