Wildfire and disaster Special Enrollment Periods in Washington

When disasters trigger SEPs

Federal Medicare rules give a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to people affected by an emergency or major disaster declared by a federal, state or local government. In Washington, that can be:

• A federal declaration, such as a FEMA emergency or major disaster declaration
• A state declaration, such as the Governor's emergency proclamation
• A declaration by a local government, such as a county

The same rule exists for Medicare Advantage (42 CFR 422.62(b)(18)) and for Part D drug plans (42 CFR 423.38(c)(23)). It doesn't open a new enrollment season for everyone in the area. It gives you a second chance at an enrollment period the disaster made you miss.

Recent Washington disaster declarations

FEMA has issued several wildfire declarations for Washington in recent years. These are FEMA's records; each declaration lists the counties and tribal areas it covers.

Under the Medicare rule, the SEP tied to a declaration ends 2 full calendar months after the incident ends. FEMA's data list August 31, 2026 as the end of the August 2026 wildfire emergency, which would put the end of its SEP at October 31, 2026. A state or local declaration for the same fires can have different dates, so ask Medicare or your plan which dates apply to you.

What a disaster SEP lets you do

The SEP lets you make the Medicare Advantage or Part D election you would have made during the period you missed. Depending on that period, that can mean:

• Switching from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
• Joining a Medicare Advantage plan
• Leaving a Medicare Advantage plan and going back to Original Medicare
• Joining, dropping or switching a Part D drug plan

For example, if an evacuation kept you from changing plans during Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), the SEP lets you make that change afterward. See when you can change your Medicare plan for the other enrollment periods.

Who qualifies for the SEP

Under the federal rule you qualify if all of these are true:

• You live, or lived when the SEP started, in an area covered by the emergency or disaster declaration, or you live elsewhere but rely on someone in the affected area, such as a family caregiver, to help you make health care decisions
• You were eligible for another enrollment period during that time
• You didn't make an election during that other period because of the emergency or disaster

Living in a declared county is not enough by itself. The disaster has to have kept you from using an enrollment period you had.

How long the SEP lasts

• Start: the date the declaration is made, the incident start date, or the start date in the declaration, whichever is earliest.
• End: 2 full calendar months after the incident end date in the declaration (or the date the end is announced, or the date it ends automatically under state or local law).
• No end date set: the incident is treated as ending 1 year after the SEP starts (or later if the declaration is renewed), so the SEP can last up to 14 full calendar months.

How Medicare Advantage plans must help during a disaster

When the President, the HHS Secretary or the Governor declares a disaster or emergency and access to care is disrupted, federal rules (42 CFR 422.100(m)) require Medicare Advantage plans in the area to:

• Cover Part A and Part B services at facilities outside the plan's network
• Charge you the same cost sharing as at a network facility
• Waive referral requirements

These protections last until 30 days after the declarations end, or until access to care returns to normal if that comes first. Original Medicare works with any provider in the country that accepts Medicare, so evacuating doesn't change how it works.

Other Washington disaster scenarios

Wildfires are not the only disasters FEMA has declared in Washington. Its records also include:

• Flooding and mudslides in Snohomish County in March and April 2014 (DR-4168), the period of the Oso landslide
• Winter storms, flooding and landslides affecting western and eastern Washington counties in several years, most recently December 2025 (DR-4906, declared April 7, 2026)
• The COVID-19 pandemic declaration (DR-4481), which covered every Washington county and ended May 11, 2023

The same SEP rules apply to any declared emergency or major disaster, not just fires.

How to use a disaster SEP

1. Confirm a declaration covers where you live. Search FEMA's disaster declarations or check the Washington Emergency Management Division.
2. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) or the plan you want to join. Tell them you were affected by the disaster and which enrollment period you missed.
3. Make your change before the SEP ends, 2 full calendar months after the incident end date.
4. Keep notes: the date you called, who you spoke with and any confirmation numbers.

A licensed insurance agent with Benefits Life can also help you compare plans from the companies they work with: (206) SENIORS (206-736-4677), TTY 711. Or see plans in your ZIP code. If your plan ends on December 31, 2026, you have a different SEP; see Washington plans ending in 2027.

Wildfire prep for Medicare beneficiaries

Apart from SEPs, Washington Medicare beneficiaries in fire-prone areas can prepare by:

• Keeping a list of medicines, doses and prescribing doctors in a form you can grab (a notebook, your phone or a sealed envelope)
• Keeping a supply of essential medicines on hand when possible
• Asking your plan now how it handles early or emergency refills during an evacuation
• Writing down the medical equipment you use (oxygen, CPAP) and the supplier's phone number
• Packing your Medicare card, plan cards and a photo ID in your go-bag

If you can't reasonably get to a network pharmacy, Part D plans must cover drugs filled at out-of-network pharmacies, as long as you don't use them routinely (42 CFR 423.124).

Sources

• eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62(b)(18), Medicare Advantage SEP for emergencies and major disasters
• eCFR — 42 CFR 423.38(c)(23), Part D SEP for emergencies and major disasters
• eCFR — 42 CFR 422.100(m), Medicare Advantage requirements during a disaster or emergency
• eCFR — 42 CFR 423.124, out-of-network access to Part D drugs
• Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
• FEMA — Disaster declarations (DR-4168, DR-4188, DR-4243, DR-4481, DR-4584, DR-4759, DR-4823, DR-4849, DR-4906, EM-3650; checked November 9, 2026)
• Washington Military Department — Emergency Management Division

Frequently asked questions

Can wildfires give me a Special Enrollment Period?

Yes, if a federal, state or local government declared an emergency or major disaster for the area where you live, you were eligible for another enrollment period at the time, and the disaster kept you from using it. The Special Enrollment Period lets you make the Medicare Advantage or Part D change you missed. It is not a general right for everyone in the area to switch plans.

Which Washington areas have had recent wildfire declarations?

FEMA's records show wildfire major disaster declarations for Washington in 2014, 2015, 2020, 2023 and 2024, and an emergency declaration for wildfires in August 2026 covering Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties and the Colville, Spokane and Yakama reservations. Look up your own county on fema.gov, because each declaration lists its own areas and dates.

How long does a disaster SEP last?

It starts on the date the declaration is made or the incident begins, whichever is earlier, and ends 2 full calendar months after the incident end date. If no end date is ever set, the incident is treated as ending 1 year after the start, so the Special Enrollment Period can last up to 14 full calendar months. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or your plan to confirm the dates for your declaration.

How do I refill prescriptions during an evacuation?

Call your Part D or Medicare Advantage plan, or ask your pharmacist to call it, and explain that you are in a declared disaster area. Ask whether the plan will allow an early refill or a larger supply. If you can't reasonably reach a network pharmacy, Part D plans must cover drugs at out-of-network pharmacies in limited situations.

How can I prepare for fire season as a Medicare beneficiary?

Keep a written or phone list of your medicines, doses and doctors, carry your Medicare card and plan cards, and keep a supply of essential medicines on hand when you can. Write down what medical equipment you use, such as oxygen or CPAP, and the company that supplies it.

Medicare in your Washington county

Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Adams · Asotin · Benton · Chelan · Clallam · Clark · Columbia · Cowlitz · Douglas · Ferry · Franklin · Garfield · Grant · Grays Harbor · Island · Jefferson · King · Kitsap · Kittitas · Klickitat · Lewis · Lincoln · Mason · Okanogan · Pacific · Pend Oreille · Pierce · San Juan · Skagit · Skamania · Snohomish · Spokane · Stevens · Thurston · Wahkiakum · Walla Walla · Whatcom · Whitman · Yakima