Before the storm vs. after a declared disaster
| Situation | What you can usually do |
|---|---|
| A storm is forecast | Refill as soon as your plan allows; ask about a 60- to 90-day supply |
| After a declared disaster | Plans may lift refill-too-soon limits to replace lost or destroyed medicine, and must allow out-of-network pharmacies when you can't reach one in network |
| Your prescriber can't be reached (Oklahoma) | A pharmacist may give a one-time emergency supply of up to 30 days of a maintenance drug |
What Part D plans do in a disaster
CMS's 2024 training guide on replacing drugs after a disaster says CMS expects plans to cover replacement prescriptions and treats them as allowable Part D costs. Plans may relax refill-too-soon restrictions so you can refill medicines that were lost, damaged or destroyed, and they're supposed to allow out-of-network access. If you won't be home for a while, ask for an extended supply at the nearest network pharmacy. Bring the old bottle if you have it.
Oklahoma's emergency supply rule
The Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy's disaster rules (OAC 535:13) apply when the Governor declares a disaster or emergency and the Board finds it disrupts normal prescription drug distribution in the state. Then, under OAC 535:13-1-4:
- The pharmacist first tries to reach your original prescriber for refills.
- If that fails and the medicine is essential to your health, the pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency supply of up to 30 days of a non-controlled maintenance medicine, marked "Emergency."
- Controlled drugs are limited to 10 days, and only if the DEA and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics allow it.
Get ready before ice storm season
- Keep a medicine list with doses, prescribers and your pharmacy, plus a photo of your plan card.
- Ask about 90-day fills or mail order for drugs you take every day.
- Plan for refrigerated drugs such as insulin: ask your pharmacist how long they keep without power.
- After the storm, call your plan before paying full price, and keep every receipt.
More in our guide to tornadoes, ice storms and Medicare and on Part D in Oklahoma. To review drug coverage from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Related questions
Medicare after a tornado
What changes in a declared disaster.
Generators and medical equipment
Power outages.
Disaster Special Enrollment Period
Changing plans after a disaster.
Sources
- CMS — Replacing DME and Prescription Drugs after a Disaster (2024)
- Medicare.gov — Emergencies and disasters
- OAC 535:13-1-3 — Declaration of emergency (Oklahoma State Board of Pharmacy)
- OAC 535:13-1-4 — Prescription drug emergency/disaster response
More questions in this guide
- Does Medicare cover telehealth visits in rural Oklahoma?
- Does Medicare pay for a generator for my oxygen or medical equipment?
- Is there a Medicare Special Enrollment Period after a disaster in Oklahoma?
- What happens to my Medicare coverage after a tornado in Oklahoma?
- What is a rural emergency hospital in Oklahoma and does Medicare cover it?
Part of the guide: Tornadoes, Ice Storms and Your Medicare in Oklahoma · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I fill a prescription at a pharmacy outside my plan's network after a tornado?
Yes, if you can't reasonably reach a network pharmacy. Medicare.gov says you'll probably pay full price at the counter; keep the receipt and ask your plan to pay you back. You'll get back the plan's share, not any out-of-network cost difference.
Does Oklahoma's emergency supply rule cover pain medicine or other controlled drugs?
Only in a limited way. Under OAC 535:13-1-4, a pharmacist must first try to reach your prescriber, then check whether the DEA and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics have approved emergency dispensing. If they have, the supply can't exceed 10 days. Otherwise you'll be referred to a health care professional.
What if my insulin was ruined when the power went out?
Tell your pharmacy and your drug plan that it was destroyed in the outage. Plans can replace lost or damaged medicines in a disaster. Insulin covered by Part D costs no more than $35 for a month's supply in 2026.
Medicare in your Oklahoma county
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