Disaster Readiness

Make sure you are ready for public health threats. These include natural disasters, disease outbreaks, accidents with unsafe substances and terrorist attacks. Public health threats can lower air quality, cause shortages of safe water and food, and cut off electricity, gas and phone services. These events are hard to predict and out of your control. But you can take steps to help keep yourself and your family safe.

Steps to take now:

  • Make a family plan. Choose a friend or a family member who lives out of town to contact during an emergency. Family members can text or call this person to let them know they are safe.
  • Know important phone numbers. Include your emergency contact, the fire department, police department and local hospital.
  • Make a kit with food, water, extra cash, first aid items, a flashlight, a radio, a multi-purpose tool, meds and health care items, ID cards, cell phone with chargers, map of the area, a blanket, emergency numbers, and sanitation goods such as disinfecting bleach. Think of the special needs of family members and add items that fit your needs (such as baby items or pet food). Be sure to have your CareSource ID cards.
  • Decide ahead of time where to go if you are told to leave your home. Choose a meeting place in your neighborhood, a place just outside your neighborhood, and a place out of town.
  • Review these plans with all members of your family and go over it by running drills.
  • Stay informed, find the best ways to get local news.
  • Download smart phone apps that may help you in an emergency. There are some apps from the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has an app that gives alerts as well as crisis safety details. Learn more at fema.gov.
  • In case of a disaster, you can sign up on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website, redcross.org/SafeandWell, to let family and friends know about your welfare. If you do not have internet access you can call 1-866-GET-INFO.

Declaration of Disaster or Emergency by Government or State Officials

If you’re affected by a disaster or emergency declaration by the President or a Governor, or an announcement of a public health emergency by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, there is support available to you.

  • If a major disaster or emergency affected your ability to enroll during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP), you are able to receive an extension until the end date of the emergency period. Major disasters or emergencies must be declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or by a Federal, state or local government entity.
  • Part A, Part B, and supplemental Part C plan benefits are to be provided at specified non-contracted facilities.
    Note: Part A and Part B benefits must be obtained at Medicare-certified facilities.
  • Part D covered drugs dispensed at out-of-network pharmacies when enrollees cannot reasonably be expected to obtain covered Part D drugs at a network pharmacy, and when such access is not routine.
  • “Refill-too-soon” Part D edits are lifted.
  • Ability to obtain the maximum extended day supply, if requested and available at the time of refill.
  • If the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hasn’t provided an end date for the disaster or emergency, plans will resume normal operation 30 days after the initial declaration.

Update your address and phone number with us often so we can reach you in case of an emergency. You can do this through CareSource MyLife.