If you or someone you love has been displaced by one of the hurricanes and needs chronic medical care—-read on.
Folks covered by Medicare can seek any care they need by any medical provider that takes Medicare, they just have to present their card at the time of service.
Lost that card? Call 1-800-Medicare for a replacement.
If you’re covered by Medicare Advantage it’ll take a bit more effort for you to access routine medical care—-but there are some additional benefits as well.
Most Medicare Advantage plans provide for a “network” of providers which will cost patients less out-of-pocket to see.
Emergency care is easy. Whenever you need emergency care, seek it out. There are usually no financial penalties associated with emergency care, where ever it is obtained.
Should you find yourself displaced by a Federally declared disaster and you need to seek non-emergency care from a provider that’s “out-of-network,” Medicare Advantage should end up costing you only “in-network” charges—-but it might take a little time to sort things out.
If you need routine healthcare, pay whatever copay is asked of you—-even if it’s at an out-of-network level. Keep the receipt and when you’re back home, contact your insurance agent. Your insurance company should reimburse you the difference.
Need to find a local provider for routine care? Call the insurer’s number on the back of your card. Insurers are required to have a disaster plan prepared for times such as these. They should have all the information you need to access your needed care wherever you are. They may even be able to connect you with a nearby provider while you’re on the line.
Have special needs, such as dialysis, cancer treatment or physical therapy that have to be continued while you’re evacuated? Call that same number on the back of your card and they should help you make arrangements.
Missing or needing refills on meds? In times of crisis, your pharmacy benefits manager can dispense one time refills of most of your medications. Just call their number on the back of your card.
Lost you card? You can find your insurer’s contact information by searching for them here.
At all times, do your best to keep in touch with your personal clinician and your insurance agent. They know you best and may be able to help you so you don’t have to see a provider or spend your limited resources in the first place.
Disasters like this that can really show you whether your insurer, your healthcare delivery organization and your clinician are keepers. If they go the extra mile to make sure you’re doing ok, to make sure you don’t spend unnecessary money, to make sure you’re staying well—-they’re a keeper. If not, see it as a sign it’s time to move on. When the chips are down, whether its a hurricane or health crisis, you want someone who will be there for you.
You deserve it.
I’m THE expert on all things Medicare Advantage and Managed Care Medicaid. I’ve been a family physician for 25 years, helped create a multi-specialty group that cared for over a quarter-million souls and am absolutely not interested in selling you anything.
So ask me a question—what do you want to know? My expertise is at your command.
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