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Missed a Marketplace Deadline After a Disaster? What the Alabama–Florida Alert Means

HealthQuoted EditorialPublished Oct 16, 20266 min read

Applies to: HealthCare.gov states; October 15 announcement concerns Alabama and Florida. Readers using state-run Marketplaces must check their exchange. · Coverage year: 2026

If a FEMA-designated disaster prevented you from using an existing Marketplace enrollment opportunity, you may qualify for a disaster Special Enrollment Period. HealthCare.gov requires qualifying county residency and allows enrollment up to 60 days after the FEMA incident period ends. Call the Marketplace to request help. CMS’s October 15 Alabama–Florida alert highlights existing relief—not a new nationwide enrollment extension.

This article provides general educational information, not individual medical, legal, or tax advice. The Marketplace determines SEP eligibility and confirms applicable deadlines and coverage start dates. Enrollment and coverage are not guaranteed.

In this guide
  1. What the October 15 CMS alert actually means
  2. Who may qualify: check both your county and your missed opportunity
  3. The 60-day deadline runs from FEMA’s incident-period end
  4. How to request help when online enrollment appears closed
  5. You can also ask about an earlier coverage start date
  6. Using a state-run Marketplace? Check its instructions first

What the October 15 CMS alert actually means

Missing an insurance enrollment deadline because of a disaster does not necessarily end your chance to get Marketplace coverage. But living through a hurricane, by itself, does not automatically create an enrollment opportunity.

On October 15, 2026, CMS announced emergency resources and flexibilities for Alabama and Florida. Its alert includes a reminder about existing disaster Special Enrollment Period relief for people in states served by HealthCare.gov.

A Special Enrollment Period, or SEP, lets qualifying people enroll outside the usual Open Enrollment window. This alert is not a new law or a nationwide extension of Open Enrollment. The disaster relief addresses an enrollment opportunity someone already had but could not complete because of the emergency.

    CMS: Emergency resources and enrollment relief for Alabama and Florida ↗

    Who may qualify: check both your county and your missed opportunity

    HealthCare.gov’s disaster guidance connects eligibility to where you lived and how the disaster affected your enrollment. The CMS alert also specifies that the person missed Open Enrollment or an existing SEP.

    Hypothetical example: A household had an existing SEP after losing other health coverage. During that enrollment window, a disaster forced the household to evacuate, preventing it from finishing enrollment. If the household lived in a qualifying county during the event, disaster relief may provide another opportunity to enroll. The Marketplace would still need to check the circumstances.

    • Confirm that HealthCare.gov handles your Marketplace coverage.
    • Check whether you live—or lived during the disaster—in a county eligible to apply for FEMA individual assistance or public assistance.
    • Identify the Open Enrollment period or existing SEP you were eligible to use.
    • Explain how the disaster prevented you from completing enrollment during that opportunity.

    HealthCare.gov: Disaster eligibility under complex-issue SEPs ↗

    The 60-day deadline runs from FEMA’s incident-period end

    CMS says affected individuals have up to 60 days after the end of the FEMA-designated incident period to select a Marketplace plan or change an existing plan. HealthCare.gov likewise directs applicants to complete enrollment within that 60-day period.

    Do not count from the October 15 CMS announcement or the October 13 public health emergency declaration. Those dates are not the deadline’s starting point. The public health emergency dates listed for Alabama and Florida are also not a substitute for FEMA’s incident-period dates.

    The CMS alert does not list qualifying counties or a FEMA incident-period end date. That means the alert alone cannot tell you your exact enrollment deadline. Confirm the relevant FEMA disaster designation, your county’s assistance eligibility, and the incident period’s start and end dates. Ask the Marketplace to confirm the enrollment deadline that applies to your situation.

      HealthCare.gov: Incident-period timing and FEMA designation information ↗

      How to request help when online enrollment appears closed

      If your online application says enrollment is closed but you believe disaster relief applies, contact the Marketplace Call Center. The official guidance directs disaster-affected applicants to request help by phone.

      Call 1-800-318-2596, or TTY 1-855-889-4325. Explain that you had an eligible enrollment window but could not complete enrollment because of a FEMA-designated emergency or disaster. The representative will ask about your situation to determine whether you qualify and, if you do, help you apply and enroll.

      • Have your county of residence during the event and the relevant disaster information ready to discuss.
      • Describe the enrollment opportunity you missed and how the disaster interrupted it.
      • Ask the representative to confirm your deadline and what you need to do to finish enrollment.
      • Ask whether any additional information is needed to evaluate your request.

      HealthCare.gov: Call Center help for Special Enrollment Periods ↗

      You can also ask about an earlier coverage start date

      HealthCare.gov says disaster-affected applicants can ask for a plan start date tied to when they would have selected a plan if the disaster had not interfered. Raise that request during your Call Center conversation, especially if the interruption left a gap in coverage.

      An earlier start date is a request, not an automatic result. Ask the Marketplace to confirm whether it is available in your circumstances and the exact date that would apply. Do not assume coverage begins on the day the disaster started.

      HealthCare.gov also reminds applicants that the first premium payment must be made before coverage starts. If an earlier date is approved, ask how to complete any required payment and confirm that enrollment is in place.

        HealthCare.gov: Earlier start-date requests and first premium payment ↗

        Using a state-run Marketplace? Check its instructions first

        The CMS alert’s Marketplace instructions apply to people in states served by HealthCare.gov. If your state operates its own Marketplace, do not assume the federal Call Center process or these procedures apply unchanged.

        Use HealthCare.gov’s state directory to find where to apply for your coverage year. Then ask your exchange about disaster SEP eligibility, qualifying locations, deadlines, required information, and earlier coverage start-date requests.

        Ask HealthQuoted about licensing and plan availability in your state.

          HealthCare.gov: Find the Marketplace for your state ↗

          Common questions

          Can I qualify if I evacuated and no longer live in the affected county?

          Possibly. HealthCare.gov includes people who lived in a qualifying county during the disaster, not just current residents. You must also explain how the disaster prevented you from completing an eligible enrollment opportunity. The Marketplace will evaluate your situation.

          Can disaster relief let me change a plan I already have?

          CMS says qualifying disaster-affected individuals may select a new Marketplace plan or make changes to an existing plan within the applicable window. Having a plan does not automatically disqualify you, but you still need to meet the disaster SEP conditions.

          What if the Marketplace denies my Special Enrollment Period request?

          HealthCare.gov says you can appeal an SEP denial. If the appeal succeeds, coverage can go back to the date the SEP was denied. Its complex-issue SEP page includes information about appeals and how to file.

          Sources and publication details

          Sources checked automatically Oct 16, 2026. AI-assisted article with automated editorial checks. Read our editorial process.

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