Hurricanes and Your Medicare in Florida

Quick answers

Is there a Medicare special enrollment period after Hurricane Isaias?

Yes, for people in the declared area who missed another enrollment period because of the storm. Based on FEMA's dates (incident period Oct. 6 to 12, 2026), it runs through Dec. 31, 2026. Call 1-800-MEDICARE to use it.

Can I get my prescriptions early before a hurricane?

Florida law (Fla. Stat. 252.358) makes insurers and HMOs licensed by the Office of Insurance Regulation allow early refills when your county is under a hurricane warning or emergency. It doesn't name Medicare. Medicare drug plans follow federal rules, and CMS expects them to lift refill-too-soon limits after a presidential disaster declaration. Call your plan.

Will Medicare replace equipment or oxygen lost in a storm?

With Original Medicare, in most cases yes: Medicare covers repair or replacement of equipment and supplies it paid for, from a Medicare-approved supplier. With Medicare Advantage, call your plan.

Who helps dialysis patients in a Florida hurricane?

Your dialysis center first; it must have an emergency plan. Florida's ESRD Network 7 (patient line 1-877-936-9260) can help you find treatment, supplies and transportation.

Should I join Florida's Special Needs Registry?

If you would need help evacuating or in a shelter because of a physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disability, yes. It's run by the state and your county under Fla. Stat. 252.355, not by Medicare.

Recent Florida hurricanes and their declarations

A Medicare disaster special enrollment period and the Medicare Advantage access rules start with a government declaration. FEMA's major disaster declarations for Florida's biggest recent hurricanes gave Individual Assistance (help for households) in these numbers of counties:

FEMA's page for each declaration lists every county (links in Sources). Separate declarations covered the Seminole Tribe of Florida's reservations after Ian (DR-4675) and Milton (DR-4844). Other storms, such as Nicole (DR-4680, 2022) and Debby (DR-4806, 2024), had their own declarations.

Can I change my Medicare plan after a hurricane?

Sometimes. Federal rules at 42 CFR 422.62(b)(18) (Medicare Advantage) and 42 CFR 423.38(c)(23) (Part D) create a special enrollment period when a federal, state or local government declares an emergency or major disaster. You qualify only if all of these are true:

• You live in the declared area (or lived there when the period began), or you rely on someone there to help with your health care decisions.
• You were eligible for another enrollment period during the disaster, such as Open Enrollment (October 15 to December 7).
• You didn't make a change in that period because of the disaster.

It isn't an open season for everyone in the area; it replaces a chance the storm took from you. It starts on the earlier of the declaration date or the incident start date and ends 2 full calendar months after the incident ends. Ian's ran through January 31, 2023; Helene's through December 31, 2024; Milton's through January 31, 2025. Medicare.gov says a similar special enrollment period can let you sign up for Part B or premium Part A if a disaster kept you from doing so. To use one, call 1-800-MEDICARE. See the disaster special enrollment period and all enrollment periods.

Out-of-network care during a declared disaster

With Original Medicare, you can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, so evacuating to another county or state doesn't change where you can go. A Medigap policy goes with you too.

With Medicare Advantage, 42 CFR 422.100(m) applies when the President declares a disaster or emergency, the HHS Secretary declares a public health emergency, or the Governor of Florida declares an emergency, and access to care is disrupted. The plan must then cover Part A, Part B and supplemental benefits at Medicare-certified facilities outside its network, waive referral requirements, and charge you only in-network cost sharing. This lasts until 30 days after all the declarations for your area end, or until access is back to normal, whichever comes first.

Getting your medicines

Medicare.gov says that if you live in a declared area, your drug plan can help you find another network pharmacy, replace drugs that were lost or damaged (including ones left behind in an evacuation), use an out-of-network pharmacy when you can't reasonably reach one in network, and get a 60- to 90-day supply. In 2017 guidance, CMS told Part D plans it expects them to lift "refill too soon" limits after a presidential disaster declaration or a public health emergency, and to keep them lifted while the declaration lasts.

Florida's early refill law, Fla. Stat. 252.358, covers health insurers, managed care organizations and other entities licensed by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation that include prescription coverage in a policy or contract. When your county is under a National Weather Service hurricane warning, a Governor's state of emergency, or has activated its emergency operations center, they must allow a refill in advance (if you have refills left) and pay for at least a 30-day supply. The law doesn't mention Medicare, and Medicare drug plans follow federal rules, so with Part D or a Medicare Advantage drug plan, call your plan. See early refills before a hurricane and your medicines if you evacuate.

Oxygen, wheelchairs and other equipment

• Lost or damaged equipment: with Original Medicare, Medicare usually covers repair or replacement of equipment and supplies it paid for, from a Medicare-approved supplier, and usually covers a rental (such as a wheelchair) while yours is repaired. CMS says replacing a rented item starts a new rental period, and replacing lost oxygen equipment starts a new 36-month payment period.
• Oxygen and power outages: CMS says your oxygen supplier is responsible for arranging for your needs before an emergency. Ask now what backup you'll have and how long it lasts.
• Medicare Advantage: call your plan to ask how it replaces lost or damaged equipment.

More in replacing equipment lost in a hurricane.

If you get dialysis

Federal rules (42 CFR 494.62) require every dialysis facility to have an emergency plan and to teach patients what to do, where to go and whom to call in an emergency. Medicare.gov says your End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network can help you get treatment and find out whom to contact for supplies, drugs, transportation and emergency financial help. Florida has its own network, ESRD Network 7, run for CMS by Alliant; its patient line is 1-877-936-9260. With Medicare Advantage, call your plan too. See dialysis during a hurricane.

Florida's Special Needs Registry and shelters

Under Fla. Stat. 252.355, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and each county emergency management agency keep a registry of people who would need help evacuating or in a shelter because of a physical, mental, cognitive or sensory disability. You register online through the Florida Department of Health's Special Needs Registry or with your county. Registering doesn't automatically qualify you for a special needs shelter, and the state says to be ready to care for yourself for at least 72 hours. It isn't a Medicare program. See Florida's Special Needs Registry.

Where else to get help

• 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048): your plan's phone number, enrollment changes and equipment questions.
• FEMA: DisasterAssistance.gov or 1-800-621-3362 (TTY 1-800-462-7585) when your county has Individual Assistance.
• Florida Division of Emergency Management (FloridaDisaster.org): evacuation zones, shelters and county emergency management contacts.
• Scams after storms: Medicare.gov says Medicare will never call you uninvited and ask for personal or private information. See Medicare fraud in Florida and Florida Medicare contacts.

A Florida hurricane checklist for people with Medicare

1. Keep a medicine list. Each drug, dose, prescriber and pharmacy, in a waterproof bag and as a photo on your phone.
2. Photograph your cards. Your Medicare card and any Medicare Advantage, Part D or Medigap card.
3. Ask about longer supplies. Before June, ask your drug plan about 90-day fills or mail order.
4. Plan for power and equipment. Get backup instructions from your oxygen or equipment supplier.
5. Register if you need help. Sign up for the Special Needs Registry if you'd need help evacuating or in a shelter.
6. Plan for dialysis. Get your center's emergency plan and save ESRD Network 7's number.
7. Review your coverage. Know whether your plan's network reaches where you'd evacuate. You can see plans for your ZIP code, or request a call from a licensed insurance agent to review plans from the companies they work with.

Sources

• Medicare.gov — Getting care in a disaster or emergency
• Medicare.gov — Getting drugs in a disaster or emergency
• FEMA — DR-4673-FL, Hurricane Ian
• FEMA — DR-4734-FL, Hurricane Idalia
• FEMA — DR-4828-FL, Hurricane Helene
• FEMA — DR-4834-FL, Hurricane Milton
• FEMA — DR-4955-FL, Hurricane Isaias
• eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62(b)(18), special enrollment period for an emergency or major disaster
• eCFR — 42 CFR 423.38(c)(23), Part D special enrollment period for an emergency or major disaster
• eCFR — 42 CFR 422.100(m), special requirements during a disaster or emergency
• CMS — Pharmacy Access During a Federal Disaster or Other Public Health Emergency Declaration: Q&As for Part D Plan Sponsors
• Florida Statutes — s. 252.358, emergency-preparedness prescription medication refills
• CMS — Replacing DME and Prescription Drugs after a Disaster
• eCFR — 42 CFR 494.62, dialysis facility emergency preparedness
• Forum of ESRD Networks — ESRD Network contact information (Network 7, Florida)
• Florida Statutes — s. 252.355, registry of persons with special needs
• Florida Division of Emergency Management — Special Needs Registry
• Medicare.gov — Your Medicare card
• DisasterAssistance.gov (FEMA)

Every question in this guide

• What should dialysis patients on Medicare do during a Florida hurricane?
• Can I get my prescriptions refilled early before a hurricane in Florida?
• What is Florida's special needs registry and should people on Medicare sign up?
• What do I do about my Medicare prescriptions if I have to evacuate for a hurricane?
• Does Medicare replace oxygen and medical equipment lost in a hurricane?
• Is there a Medicare special enrollment period after a hurricane in Florida?

Frequently asked questions

Medicare in your Florida county

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