Wildfire seasons in Oregon can lead to emergency and disaster declarations, and those declarations can create a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for people with Medicare who couldn't make an enrollment decision on time because of the disaster. This page explains who qualifies, how long the SEP lasts, and what else Medicare does for people affected by fire, smoke and evacuations.
What the disaster SEP is
Federal rules at 42 CFR 422.62(b)(18) (Medicare Advantage) and the matching Part D rule create an SEP for "individuals affected by an emergency or major disaster declared by a Federal, State or local government entity." It's the same rule used for floods, winter storms and other declared disasters. It exists so you don't lose your chance to join or change a plan because a disaster kept you from acting in time.
The declaration can be federal (a FEMA emergency or major disaster declaration), a state declaration (such as a Governor's emergency declaration) or a local one.
Who qualifies
You qualify if all of these are true:
- You live in the area covered by the declaration, or lived there when the SEP started, or you rely on someone who lives there to help with your health care decisions.
- You were eligible for another enrollment period, such as your Initial Enrollment Period, Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) or another SEP.
- You didn't make an election during that period because of the disaster.
How long the SEP lasts
- Start: the earliest of the declaration date, the incident start date, or any start date in the declaration.
- End: two full calendar months after the incident end date (or the end date in the declaration). For example, if an incident ends on August 23, the SEP runs through October 31.
- No end date: if the declaration doesn't give one, the incident is treated as ending one year after it began, unless the declaration is renewed.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) can confirm whether a declaration covers your area and the SEP dates.
What you can change during the SEP
You can make the change you missed, for example:
- join a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan;
- switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another;
- leave Medicare Advantage for Original Medicare and join a stand-alone Part D plan;
- switch Part D plans; or
- drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
The disaster SEP does not apply to Medigap. Oregon's Medigap birthday rule (OAR 836-052-0143) lets people who already have a Medigap policy switch to one with the same or lesser benefits, without health questions, from 30 days before to 30 days after their birthday each year. See Medigap in Oregon.
It also doesn't replace the Part B enrollment rules. If a disaster kept you from signing up for Part B, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 and ask about the exceptional-conditions Special Enrollment Period.
Oregon wildfire declarations since 2020
FEMA's records show these federal emergency and major disaster declarations for wildfires in Oregon since 2020 (not counting Fire Management Assistance Grants):
| Declaration | Declared | Incident | Incident period |
|---|---|---|---|
| EM-3542 | September 10, 2020 | Wildfires | September 8 to 15, 2020 |
| DR-4562 | September 15, 2020 | Wildfires and straight-line winds | September 7 to November 3, 2020 |
| DR-4854 | January 2025 | Wildfires (Gilliam, Grant, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties, Public Assistance) | July 10 to August 23, 2024 |
Other fire seasons in that span had Fire Management Assistance Grants rather than major disaster declarations, but a state or local emergency declaration can also start the Medicare SEP. Recent non-fire declarations in Oregon include DR-4907 for storms, winds, flooding and landslides (declared April 7, 2026, for an incident December 15 to 21, 2025). Check FEMA's declaration list for the counties each one covers.
How to use the SEP
- Find the declaration. Check FEMA's list (fema.gov/disaster/declarations) or the Oregon Department of Emergency Management for a declaration that covers your county and its incident period.
- Confirm with Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE and say you want to use the disaster Special Enrollment Period. They can confirm your eligibility and the end date.
- Choose a plan. Compare plans sold where you live now or where you're moving. You can see plans for your ZIP code or request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
- Enroll and say why. Enroll through the plan, Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, and tell them you're using the disaster SEP.
If you evacuate to another county or state
Evacuating doesn't end your Medicare coverage, and you keep your current plan.
- Original Medicare works with any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, so you can get care in California, Idaho, Washington or anywhere else.
- Medicare Advantage: when a disaster or emergency is declared and access to care is disrupted, plans must cover care at non-contracted facilities at in-network cost sharing and waive referral requirements (42 CFR 422.100(m)). These rules last until 30 days after the emergency or disruption ends. Call your plan if you're unsure.
- Part D: plans must cover drugs at out-of-network pharmacies when you can't reasonably get to a network pharmacy. Keep receipts and ask your plan about reimbursement.
If you move permanently, that move gives you its own SEP to change plans. See what happens to my Medicare if I evacuate for a wildfire.
Emergency prescription refills in Oregon
- OAR 855-007-0090 (Oregon Board of Pharmacy): in an area covered by a declared emergency, a pharmacist may give an emergency refill without the prescriber's authorization, up to a 30-day supply, when it's essential to your health or continued therapy. Controlled substances are allowed only as federal DEA rules permit. The label says Emergency Prescription, and further refills need your prescriber.
- ORS 689.696 (insulin): at any time, a pharmacist may dispense emergency insulin and related supplies if you show evidence of a prior prescription, up to a 30-day supply or the smallest package, no more than three times a year.
Your Part D plan still decides what it pays; the insulin cost cap ($35 a month for a covered insulin in 2026) applies. See can I get an early prescription refill during a wildfire?
Lost cards and destroyed equipment
- Medicare card: print or order a new one through your Medicare.gov account, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or use your Social Security account. There's no charge, so never pay anyone to replace it.
- Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medigap card: call the plan's member services number (it's on plan letters and the plan's website).
- Medical equipment: Original Medicare can pay for new durable medical equipment, such as a wheelchair, oxygen equipment or a CPAP, when the item is lost, stolen or irreparably damaged (42 CFR 414.210(f)). Call your supplier and your doctor.
- Air purifiers and generators: Medicare doesn't generally cover these; see does Medicare pay for an air purifier or generator?
Resources
- 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048): disaster SEP questions and replacement cards.
- Social Security: 1-800-772-1213, for Part B enrollment and replacement cards.
- FEMA: declarations and disaster assistance at fema.gov or DisasterAssistance.gov.
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management: state declarations and emergency information.
- Oregon Board of Pharmacy: 971-673-0001.
- 211info: dial 2-1-1 for local help during and after a disaster.
An Oregon-licensed insurance agent can walk you through your options under the SEP; you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent or meet licensed insurance agents in Oregon.
Related guides
Medicare enrollment in Oregon
Every enrollment window that applies.
Medicare in rural Oregon
Plan choices, telehealth and hospitals.
Is there a Medicare SEP after an Oregon wildfire?
The short answer.
Medigap in Oregon
Including the birthday rule.
Sources
- 42 CFR 422.62 — Election of coverage under an MA plan, (b)(18) disaster SEP (via Cornell LII)
- 42 CFR 422.100(m) — MA requirements during a disaster or emergency (via Cornell LII)
- 42 CFR 414.210(f) — Replacement of durable medical equipment (via Cornell LII)
- FEMA — Declared disasters
- Oregon Department of Emergency Management
- OAR 855-007-0090 — Emergency pharmacy rules (via Cornell LII)
- ORS 689.696 — Emergency insulin (oregon.public.law)
- OAR 836-052-0143 — Annual opportunity to select another Medicare supplement policy (via Cornell LII)
- Medicare.gov — Your Medicare card
- Medicare.gov — Special Enrollment Periods
Frequently asked questions
Does the wildfire SEP apply if I was close to a fire but my county wasn't in the declaration?
Generally no. You must live, or have lived when the SEP started, in the area named in the declaration, or rely on someone there for your health care decisions. If your county wasn't included, another Special Enrollment Period, such as one for a permanent move, may apply. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to check.
How long does the wildfire SEP last in Oregon?
It starts on the earliest of the declaration date, the incident start date or the start date in the declaration, and ends two full calendar months after the incident ends. If the declaration has no end date, the incident is treated as ending one year after it started, unless the declaration is renewed.
Can I switch Medigap policies during a wildfire SEP?
The disaster SEP covers Medicare Advantage and Part D, not Medigap. In Oregon, if you already have a Medigap policy, the birthday rule (OAR 836-052-0143) lets you switch to one with the same or lesser benefits without health questions from 30 days before to 30 days after your birthday each year.
How do I replace my Medicare card if it was lost in a fire?
Print or order a replacement card through your Medicare.gov account, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). You can also use your Social Security account or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. There is no charge, so never pay anyone to replace it.
Will Medicare replace medical equipment destroyed in a wildfire?
Usually, yes. Under 42 CFR 414.210(f), Original Medicare can pay for a new item of durable medical equipment if it is lost, stolen or irreparably damaged, even before its usual replacement period. Contact your supplier and your doctor; you may need a new order and proof of the loss.
Can I see out-of-network doctors with Medicare Advantage during a disaster?
Yes, when a disaster or emergency is declared and access to care is disrupted. Under 42 CFR 422.100(m), Medicare Advantage plans must cover care at non-contracted facilities at in-network cost sharing and waive referral requirements until 30 days after the emergency or disruption ends.
How do I know if my Oregon county has a FEMA disaster declaration?
FEMA lists every declaration, with its counties and incident period, at fema.gov/disaster/declarations. State emergency declarations by the Governor are posted by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, and the Medicare SEP rule counts federal, state and local declarations.
Is the wildfire SEP automatic?
No. You have to use it by making a change, such as joining a different plan. When you enroll, tell the plan or 1-800-MEDICARE that you are using the disaster Special Enrollment Period.
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