Hurricane season and Medicare: what to do before and after a storm

On the Gulf Coast, hurricane season runs June through November, and storms like Harvey, Ike and Beryl showed how quickly they can cut off power, pharmacies and doctors’ offices. A little planning protects your health and your Medicare coverage.

Before a storm

• Make a coverage list. Your Medicare card, your plan card, your medications and doses, your doctors and your pharmacy. Keep a copy in a waterproof bag and a photo on your phone.
• Ask about refills early. When a storm is coming, call your pharmacy or drug plan and ask whether you can refill your prescriptions early.
• Dialysis, oxygen or home health? Ask your provider now what their emergency plan is and where you’d go if they close.
• Know where your plan’s information lives. Save your plan’s member services number in your phone.

After a storm

Getting care when your usual doctors are closed

When a disaster or emergency is declared and normal access to care is disrupted, Medicare rules require Medicare Advantage plans to cover Medicare services from out-of-network providers at in-network costs, and to waive referral requirements. Call your plan to confirm how it applies to you. If you have Original Medicare, with or without a Supplement, you can use any provider that accepts Medicare.

Replacing medications

During a declared emergency, drug plans often allow early refills and replacements for medications lost or damaged in the storm. Call your plan or ask your pharmacist.

Lost your Medicare card?

You can print a replacement from your account at Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Missed an enrollment deadline because of a storm?

If you live in an area with a FEMA disaster or emergency declaration and the storm kept you from making a Medicare change during an enrollment period, you may qualify for a special enrollment period. It generally lasts through the disaster period and for two full months after it ends. Rules depend on the declaration, so call 1-800-MEDICARE or ask me to check.

Moved because of storm damage?

If you move permanently out of your plan’s service area, you can usually change Medicare Advantage or drug plans. If you have a Medicare Supplement, it goes with you anywhere in the U.S. If you’re moving within the Houston area, your plan may still work, but check that your new nearby doctors and pharmacy are in the network.

Watch out for storm scams

After disasters, scammers call pretending to be from Medicare. Medicare won’t call you to ask for your Medicare number or bank information. If you’re not sure, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE yourself.

This article is general information. Disaster rules depend on the specific emergency declaration and can change. Confirm with your plan or 1-800-MEDICARE.