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Medicare

Medicare Disaster Policy

During a public health emergency or a disaster near you, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma is still here to help you get the care you need.

senior man walking outside a facility with help from a health care worker

How an Emergency is Declared

An emergency or disaster can be declared by the U.S. President or a U.S. State Governor. A public health emergency can also be declared by the U.S. Health Secretary.

What You Can Expect From BCBSOK During an Emergency

If an emergency is declared and you have trouble getting access to your normal health care, BCBSOK will make sure you can still get your care covered.

Medicare Advantage Plans will: Medicare Prescription Drug Plans will:
  • Cover hospital, medical, and supplemental benefits at out-of-network providers. 
  • Remove requirements for referrals where needed. 
  • Give members the same cost-sharing at out-of-network providers they would get at in-network providers. 
  • Make changes without the needed 30-day notice.
  • Cover prescriptions filled at out-of-network pharmacies during an evacuation or when you are forced to leave your home.
  • Cover prescriptions filled at out-of-network pharmacies when normal distribution channels are interrupted.

When an Emergency Ends

BCBSOK will offer these benefits, as described above, until 30 days after one of these conditions is met:

  • All sources that declared an emergency declare an end.
  • An emergency end date was not supplied, but all declared emergencies for your area have ended.
  • There is no longer an interruption in access to health care.

Important Resources

For more information during an emergency or disaster, please visit Alerts and Announcements.

To get secure online access to manage your account, review your plan information or get a digital copy of your member ID card, log in to Blue Access For Members.

To search for pharmacies, please visit myPrime.

To search for providers, please visit Provider Finder.

To find your plan’s forms and documents, please visit the Document Lookup Tool.

To learn more about your rights during an emergency please visit Medicare.gov.