Your situation · Wildfires

Wildfires and Medicare: what changes when the county is under a disaster declaration

California has had a federal disaster declaration for fire almost every year, from Paradise to the Los Angeles fires of January 2025. Here is what the declaration does to your Medicare deadlines and your prescriptions — and what to pack.

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At a glance

A FEMA-declared emergency or major disaster opens a Medicare Special Enrollment Period for people who live in the declared area (or rely on someone who does) and missed a valid enrollment period because of it. It runs from the start of the incident period and lasts two full calendar months after it ends, or up to a year.
In the emergency area, Part D plans must lift refill-too-soon limits, replace lost or destroyed medications, and cover out-of-network pharmacies at the plan’s usual allowance. Advantage plans must cover care from out-of-network providers at in-network cost sharing while the emergency lasts.
Medicare pays to replace durable medical equipment (oxygen, CPAP, wheelchairs, diabetic supplies) lost in a declared disaster without the usual waiting periods.
Deadlines are extended, not erased: the SEP exists to let you make the election you would have made. Call before you assume the window has closed.

The disaster Special Enrollment Period

When FEMA or a state, county or local government declares an emergency or major disaster, Medicare opens a Special Enrollment Period for anyone who lives in the declared area — or who relies on someone who does to make health-care decisions — and who missed a valid enrollment period (the Annual Election Period, the Advantage Open Enrollment Period, or another SEP) because of it. You can then make the election you would have made. The window opens with the incident period and runs two full calendar months after it ends, or longer if the declaration is extended, up to a year.

The January 2025 Los Angeles fires opened both a FEMA declaration and a federal public health emergency; earlier declarations covered the Camp Fire in Butte County, the Tubbs and Kincade fires in Sonoma, the Caldor and Dixie fires in the Sierra, and many others. If your county was declared and you missed a deadline, the SEP is real and we will help you use it.

Prescriptions during an emergency

Early refills. Part D plans must remove refill-too-soon edits in the affected area, so you can refill before the usual date.
Lost or destroyed medications can be replaced; the plan must cover the replacement.
Out-of-network pharmacies. If you evacuate somewhere without a network pharmacy, the plan must cover an out-of-network fill at its usual allowance; keep the receipt.
Prior authorizations and other utilization rules are relaxed for the duration.

Care and equipment

Medicare Advantage plans must cover care from out-of-network providers, including hospitals, at in-network cost sharing while the emergency lasts, and waive referral requirements. Original Medicare works anywhere regardless. Medicare will pay to replace durable medical equipment and supplies lost in the disaster — oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, wheelchairs, walkers, glucose monitors — without the standard replacement waiting periods.

What to keep in the go-bag

Your Medicare card and your plan card (or a photo of both on your phone).
A current medication list with doses and the prescribing doctor.
Your pharmacy’s phone number and your plan’s member-services number.
A week of medications, rotated; more if you can.
Your doctors’ names and portal logins.

If you evacuated and missed a deadline: call us or 1-800-MEDICARE and say the words “disaster Special Enrollment Period.” The election you meant to make can usually still be made.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

A wildfire made me miss the December 7 deadline. Am I out of luck?

Usually not. A FEMA-declared disaster opens a Special Enrollment Period for people who lived in a declared county, or who rely on someone who did, and missed a valid election period because of it. Call us and we will file the election.

Can I refill my prescriptions early if I have to evacuate?

Yes, in a declared emergency area. Part D plans must lift refill-too-soon limits, replace lost medications and cover out-of-network pharmacies at the plan’s usual allowance.

My CPAP was lost in the fire. Will Medicare replace it?

Yes. Medicare pays to replace durable medical equipment and supplies lost in a declared disaster without the usual replacement waiting period. Your supplier or doctor can start the order.

Does my Medicare Advantage plan cover me at a hospital outside its network during an evacuation?

During a declared emergency, yes, at in-network cost sharing, and referral rules are waived. Original Medicare with a Medigap policy works at any Medicare provider regardless.

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Sources we used on this page

Figures are checked against the source at the review date in the byline below. If a source has changed since, the source wins.

Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338, CA License #0M00978), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 4, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or California HICAP at 1-800-434-0222.