Accessing Medicare During a Natural Disaster

People evacuate and need to use medicare during a natural disaster or emergency

20 Aug Accessing Medicare During a Natural Disaster

Posted at 08:00h in Medicare by Triage Cancer

More and more in recent years, all areas of the United States are being affected by severe storms and deadly, expensive natural disasters like floods, heat waves, wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

One thing that is essential during times of disasters or emergencies is being able to access your health care. If you have Medicare, it is important to remember that you can still receive medical care and access your prescription drugs, even if you are displaced or evacuated from your home.

This blog will lay some key tips to navigate a natural disaster or emergency and continue to access health care.

How do I Know if I am in a Disaster Area?

If your area has been impacted by a natural disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may declare a federal emergency under the direction of the President. When there is a federal emergency declared, that allows the federal government to send resources that can help to your area.

Your state governor may also declare a state emergency.

You can call FEMA at 1-800-621-3362 to find out of you are in a disaster area, or visit their website. For state emergencies you can call your state government’s help line. To find your state’s contact information, visit Triage Cancer’s State Resources.

Can I Still See My Doctor?

If you are able to remain in your same area, but your doctor’s office is not open or available, you may need to identify a new place to get care.

If you are in your same aera, and your doctor’s office is open or available, you may want to consider letting Medicare know of your change in location, especially if it is a long-term change.

If you relocated to a new area, if you have Original Medicare during a natural disaster, you can see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare. You call local providers to see if they accept Medicare. You can also ask your previous doctor for a referral.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan may not allow you to see other health care providers outside of your normal area. You should contact your plan once you have found a doctor outside of your area and confirm that you will be covered if you are seen. For most Medicare Advantage Plans, you can find the plan’s contact information on your membership card.

If you have relocated on a long-term or permanent basis, and you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you may qualify for a special enrollment period to pick a new Medicare Advantage plan that will cover your providers.

This also applies if you are in the middle of cancer treatment. You can ask for referrals from your current provider or your Medicare Advantage Plan. Or, if you have Original Medicare, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) can help you find other providers who will continue your care. To reach the NCI, call 1-800-4CANCER.

How Can I Still Get My Prescriptions if I’ve Been Evacuated?

First, you should call your Part D plan to find other pharmacies that are in your plan’s network in the area you’ve been evacuated to. If you had prescriptions lost or damaged as a result of a natural disaster, call your plan to see if they can help you to replace them.

If you do get prescriptions from an out-of-network pharmacy, save your receipts for possible reimbursement once the emergency is over. Contact your plan or your provider(s) with any questions about getting your prescriptions.

What if My Medical Equipment is Damaged or Lost?

If your Original Medicare plan covered your medical equipment, such as a wheelchair or a walker, and this equipment was damaged or lost, Medicare will most likely cover the cost to repair or replace the equipment. But they may require you to go to a Medicare-approved supplier. Medicare will also cover the cost for rentals in most cases.

To get more information on rentals, replacements, or repairs, call 1-800-4MEDICARE.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, contact your plan directly to see how it replaces damaged or lost equipment due to an emergency or disaster.

For more information about Medicare, visit Triage Cancer’s Medicare Resources.

For more information about getting prepared in case of an emergency, visit Ready.gov.

About Triage Cancer

Triage Cancer is a national, nonprofit providing free education to people diagnosed with cancer, caregivers, and health care professionals on cancer-related legal and practical issues. Through events, materials, and resources, Triage Cancer is dedicated to helping people move beyond diagnosis.

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