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Accessing Benefits During a Disaster or Emergency

Care during a disaster or public emergency

When there’s a disaster or public emergency, the last thing you want to worry about is your health. You'll have access to your benefits during a public health emergency or disaster: that’s a CareFirst promise. When one of these events is declared, CareFirst will:

  • Cover your out-of-network services and benefits at in-network rates
  • Waive referral or prior authorization requirements (including out-of-network)
  • Make changes that benefit you effective immediately (waiving the 30-day notice)

These benefits will remain in effect until the public health emergency or disaster is declared over.

If you don't have your CareFirst member ID card, you can either:

  • Print a temporary card on My Account
  • Call your plan's Customer Service number

Who declares a public health emergency or disaster?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) states that a declaration of disaster may be made by:

  • A presidential declaration of disaster or emergency under either:
    • The Stafford Act
    • The National Emergencies Act
  • A secretarial declaration of a public health emergency under Section 319 of the Public Health Service Act
  • A declaration by the governor of your state or territory

If the president declares a disaster, the Secretary of Health and Human Services may also authorize waivers or modifications under Section 1135 of the Public Health Service Act.

When does a disaster or public health emergency end?

The public health emergency or state of disaster ends when any of these occur:

  • The source that declared the public health emergency or state of disaster says it's over
  • CMS declares that the public health emergency or state of disaster is over
  • Thirty days have passed since the public health emergency or state of disaster was declared

We'll let CMS know if we can’t resume normal operations by the end of the public health emergency or state of disaster. CMS also requires us to:

  • Explain your payment terms and conditions if you live in a disaster area and get care from an out-of-network provider during a declared emergency or disaster.
  • Notify you each year of any special requirements that are in effect during a disaster or emergency.
  • Share these special requirements with you on our website.