Do FEMA disaster SEPs only apply if members missed a valid enrollment period?

FEMA disaster Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) are specifically designed to assist individuals who have experienced significant disruptions in their lives due to disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, or wildfires. The purpose of these SEPs is to provide those affected with an opportunity to enroll in or change their Medicare Advantage plans when they may have missed a regular enrollment period due to the disaster's impact.

When a disaster-related SEP is activated, it allows beneficiaries who may have been unable to enroll during traditional enrollment windows—especially those affected directly by the disaster—to declare their situation and enroll in a Medicare plan. This is essential for ensuring that during times of crisis, individuals have access to necessary healthcare services which would otherwise be compromised.

This means the statement is accurate in that FEMA disaster SEPs only apply to members who have missed a valid enrollment period due to disasters, thereby providing them with the opportunity to regain access to healthcare coverage without penalty during an otherwise restricted enrollment time.