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Getting care in a disaster or emergency
Rules for getting health care may change for a short time if one of these happens in your area:
The President declares an emergency or disaster. Visit Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362) for a list of impacted areas. TTY users can call 1-800-462-7585.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) The federal agency that oversees CMS, which administers programs for protecting the health of all Americans, including Medicare, the Marketplace, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
declares a public health emergency. Visit Public Health Emergency or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for a list of impacted areas.
A governor declares an emergency or disaster. Visit your state government's official website to find out if your area is affected.
Original Medicare
A fee-for-service health insurance program that has 2 parts: Part A and Part B. You typically pay a portion of the costs for covered services as you get them. Under Original Medicare, you don’t have coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan or another type of Medicare health plan.
, you can always go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. This is true even if you have to leave your city or state.
If you have Medicare drug coverage, and live in an area that's been declared an emergency or disaster, contact your plan for help:
Finding another in-network pharmacy nearby. An in-network pharmacy is a pharmacy that agrees to provide members of certain Medicare plans with services and supplies at a discounted price. In some Medicare plans, your prescriptions are only covered if you get them filled at in-network pharmacies.
Replacing lost or damaged drugs or replacing a drug you couldn't take with you when you evacuated.
Getting drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy when you can't reasonably get to an in-network pharmacy.
Allow you to order a 60- or 90-day supply of your prescription drugs if you think you won't be able to return home for a long time.
Using in-network pharmacies
You'll be able to move most prescriptions from one in-network pharmacy to another, and back to your regular pharmacy when the emergency or disaster ends. If you need help finding the closest in-network pharmacy, contact your Medicare plan.
You'll need to tell the new pharmacy the name of your regular pharmacy and the drugs you need refilled.
If you lost your plan membership card and don't know your plan's phone number, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to get your plan's contact information. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Using out-of-network pharmacies
Contact your Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan for information about their rules for using out-of-network pharmacies during an emergency or disaster.
When you buy your drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy, you'll probably have to pay full cost for the drugs.
If you paid full cost for the drugs, save your receipts so you can ask your plan if they will refund you for your costs. (Note: You won't get a refund for the out-of-network cost-sharing amount.) Ask your plan how to submit your claim.
Additional (extended-day) supplies
If you think you won't return home for a long time, you may want to get a 60- to 90-day supply of your prescription drugs. Ask your plan if it offers 60- to 90-day supplies and which pharmacies you can use to get them.
For more information on getting prescription drugs during an emergency or disaster, contact your Medicare drug plan.
How can I find contact information for my Medicare drug plan?
Original Medicare
A fee-for-service health insurance program that has 2 parts: Part A and Part B. You typically pay a portion of the costs for covered services as you get them. Under Original Medicare, you don’t have coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan or another type of Medicare health plan.
, your End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network can help you:
Get your dialysis treatments.
Find out who to contact for your supplies, drugs, transportation to dialysis services, and emergency financial help (if you need it).
Visit esrdnetworks.org to get your ESRD Network's contact information. If you have a
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare health plan
Plans offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Part A, Part B, and in many cases, Part D benefits. Includes Medicare Advantage Plans and certain other types of coverage (like Medicare Cost Plans, PACE programs, and demonstration/pilot programs).
, contact your plan for help finding a dialysis facility and to find out what rules change during a disaster or emergency. You can usually find your plan's contact information on your plan membership card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Original Medicare
A fee-for-service health insurance program that has 2 parts: Part A and Part B. You typically pay a portion of the costs for covered services as you get them. Under Original Medicare, you don’t have coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan or another type of Medicare health plan.
, contact the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to find other cancer care providers. Call 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. TTY users can call 1-800-332-8615.
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
A type of Medicare-approved health plan from a private company that you can choose to cover most of your Part A and Part B benefits instead of Original Medicare. It usually also includes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare health plan
Plans offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Part A, Part B, and in many cases, Part D benefits. Includes Medicare Advantage Plans and certain other types of coverage (like Medicare Cost Plans, PACE programs, and demonstration/pilot programs).
, contact your plan to find out their rules for getting cancer treatments during a disaster or emergency. You can usually find your plan's contact information on your plan membership card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Original Medicare
A fee-for-service health insurance program that has 2 parts: Part A and Part B. You typically pay a portion of the costs for covered services as you get them. Under Original Medicare, you don’t have coverage through a Medicare Advantage Plan or another type of Medicare health plan.
and it already paid for durable medical equipment (like a wheelchair or walker) or supplies (like diabetic supplies) that were damaged or lost during an emergency or disaster:
In most cases, Medicare will cover the cost to repair or replace your equipment or supplies, but only when you get them from a Medicare-approved supplier.
If your equipment is damaged and needs to be repaired, Medicare will usually cover the cost of rentals for items like wheelchairs.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) or other Medicare health plan, contact your plan to find out their rules for replacing equipment or supplies that are lost or damaged during a disaster or emergency. You can usually find your plan's contact information on your plan membership card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), other Medicare health plan, or a Medicare drug plan (Part D), you’re still responsible for paying your premium on time even in an emergency or disaster. If you don’t pay timely, your plan might disenroll you. What if my plan disenrolls me?
To make sure your premiums are paid on time, you can ask your plan to withhold your premium from your Social Security check. You may also be able to pay through an online bill payment service or electronic funds transfer. Contact your plan to find out your premium payment options. You can usually find your plan's contact information on your plan membership card. You can also call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
If you live in an area where an emergency or disaster has been declared by a federal, state, or local government, and that disaster or emergency kept you from signing up or switching or dropping plans during another qualifying enrollment period:
For Original Medicare: You might have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to sign up for Part B and/or premium paid Part A.
For a Medicare drug plan or Medicare Advantage Plan: You might have a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to join, switch, or drop your plan.
To make enrollment changes or for more information, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
