Hurricane Season & Your Health Coverage

A declared disaster can reopen enrollment

When a major disaster is federally declared, people in affected areas have at times been granted a Special Enrollment Period — a window to enroll or change Marketplace coverage outside the normal season, typically for those who were prevented from enrolling by the storm.

These are announced case by case rather than granted automatically every hurricane, and the qualifying window is limited. If a storm disrupted your area during an enrollment deadline, don't assume you missed your chance — call and we'll check what has actually been announced for your county.

Before the storm: what to have ready

Photograph your insurance cards — front and back — and store them somewhere you can reach from your phone without power at home.

Know your prescriptions. Keep a current list with dosages. Many plans allow an early refill ahead of a declared emergency, but you generally have to ask, and it is much easier before the pharmacy has a line out the door.

Save your carrier's member services number offline, and ours: 239-841-6024.

Know your plan type. HMO or PPO changes what happens if you end up seeking care outside your normal network — which is exactly what evacuation causes.

If you evacuate or need care away from home

True emergencies are covered at the nearest facility. ACA-compliant plans cover emergency care without requiring prior authorization and without out-of-network penalties for genuine emergencies, wherever you are.

Routine care is different. If you evacuate to Georgia and need a non-emergency visit, an HMO may cover little or nothing outside its service area. Knowing this ahead of time is the point.

A permanent move can trigger a Special Enrollment Period. If a storm displaces you long-term to a new county or state, your plan options change and you may be eligible to switch.