Caregiving Resources
Replacing, refilling Medicare prescriptions during
disasters
HOUSTON - Medicare drug plans can
help you replace or refill your prescriptions, even if you cannot get to your
normal pharmacy due to the flooding.
On Medicare's website they outline the
procedure for obtaining your prescription if you are in a state that has issued
a warning of emergency or disaster, just like the flooding from Harvey.
Medicare.gov says that if you are unable to go
to your normal in-network pharmacy to have your prescription filled, you should
contact your Medicare drug plan to locate another in-network pharmacy nearby. Your Medicare drug plan is your Medicare Part D plan - the
contact information is in your member materials or on your membership card.
Also, if you had to
leave your home without your prescription drugs, or they were damaged or lost
because of the flooding you can contact your Medicare drug plan to help you
find another in-network pharmacy to replace your drugs. If you are unable to get to an in-network pharmacy, your plan
can help you get your drugs at an out-of-network pharmacy, but you may end up
paying more.
Within in-network pharmacies you will be able
to access your prescriptions from your previous in-network pharmacy. Also, once
the flood waters recede and you are able to return home, you can easily
transfer your prescription back to your regular in-network pharmacy. If you must use an out-of-network pharmacy,
you should first contact your Medicare drug plan to understand their
out-of-network pharmacy policies- you will most likely have to pay full price
for the cost of the drugs when you pick them up and then submit a paper claim
for reimbursement to Medicare. Be sure to ask you Medicare Part D provider
where you should submit that claim. Also make sure to save you receipts
to include with your claim to Medicare for reimbursement.
It may be some time before everyone can return
home, you can ask your Medicare drug
plan for an extended-day supply, like 60 or 90 day supplies, of your drugs. You
Medicare drug plan will be able to tell you if they offer that for your prescription
and what the closest in-network pharmacy would be that could provide those
supplies.
Contacting Your Medicare Drug Plan
If you have access to your plan's membership
materials or membership card, the contact number should be listed there. If you
do not have those materials, you can https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/ to perform a search for your plan's contact information. You can also call Medicare for help, the
number is 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-633-2273.
Seeing Your Doctor During a Disaster
If you have Original Medicare coverage, you
can see any doctor that accepts Medicare. During a disaster like Harvey- some
rules change in your favor, like you may be eligible to get medical services at
an airport or from a military provider.
If you have a Medicare
Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan you should contact your provider
or check your plan's website to see what may have changed because of the
flooding from Harvey. Your plan may allow
you to see certain doctors or use certain hospitals that accept Medicare but
are not necessarily in your plan's network. Most of the time you will not be
required to follow your plan's typical prior authorization rules for
out-of-network services. If your plan normally requires you to pay more for
out-of-network or out-of-area medical care- your plan's in-network rates will
be applied during the time of natural disaster. You should always save the
receipts for care in case you need to apply for a refund after the fact from
your plan's provider.
Getting Dialysis During a Disaster
If you have Original Medicare coverage, your
End Stage Renal Dialysis (ESRD) Network can help you get your dialysis
treatment or figure out where to obtain your supplies, drugs, arrange
transportation to dialysis services, or emergency financial help. For Texas, your ESRD Network's number is
1-877-886-4435 or 972-503-3215. They also have more information on
their http://www.esrdnetwork.org/.
If you have a Medicare
Advantage Plan or other Medicare Health Plan you need to contact your provider
to see what temporary changes may be made in the aftermath of Harvey. Your ESRD network can help you find dialysis service facilities
also, but your plan may not have an agreement with that facility.
You can find your plan's contact information
on your membership materials, your plan's membership card, or you can search
for your plan's contact information by https://www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan/. You can also call Medicare for help, the number is 1-800-MEDICARE or
1-800-633-2273.
Getting Cancer Treatments During a Disaster
If you have Original Medicare and have been
displaced by the flooding from Harvey, the
National Cancer Institute (NCI) can help you find an alternative cancer care
provider. You can call 1-800-4CANCER (1-800-422-6237) between 9:00a.m. and
4:30p.m, Monday through Friday for assistance.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other
Medicare health plan you should contact your plan to see what temporary measures
are in place to care for you in the aftermath of the disaster.
Replacing Lost Medicare Cards
If you have Original Medicare and need to
replace your lost or damaged Medicare card, you can go to the Social Security website at https://secure.ssa.gov/RIL/SiView.do or you call
1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). If you choose to
submit a request online for a replacement card you will be prompted to enter
login or create an account, once you get past that step, select the
"Replacement Documents" tab and then choose "Mail my Replacement
Medicare Card." Another option would be to visit the local Social Security
Office at 8989 Lakes AT 610 Drive, Houston, Texas 77054. Their hours listed for
operation are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9:00a.m. through
4:00p.m. and on Wednesdays they are open from 9:00a.m. through noon. They are
not open on Saturdays and Sundays.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan or other
Medicare health plan you should contact your plan to replace lost or damaged
membership cards.
You can search for your plan's contact
information by clicking here. You can also call
Medicare for help, the number is 1-800-MEDICARE or 1-800-633-2273.
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