Medicare Disaster and Emergency Policy

During a disaster or public health emergency, UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan (UHMAP) will act in the best interest of its members. We will follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) guidance and take reasonable steps to ensure continued access to covered healthcare services and uninterrupted health benefit coverage

How to get care during a disaster

If the State Governor, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), or President of the United States declares a disaster or public health emergency in your service area, UHMAP will:

Cover Medicare Parts A, B and supplemental Part C plan benefits received at non-contracted facilities.
Provide you with the same cost-sharing at non-contracted facilities as if the benefit was furnished by an in-network provider.
Waive referral requirements, where applicable, for you to go outside the network.
Make changes that benefit you immediately, without the required thirty-day notice.
Apply these protections consistently to similarly situated members affected by the disaster or emergency.

In the event of a disaster or emergency, we will also post information regarding updates on our website.

How to know when a disaster ends

When the disaster or public health emergency has ended, it will be declared in one of the following ways:

The source that declared the disaster or public health emergency declares an end.
There is no longer a disruption of access to health care.
Thirty days have passed since the disaster, or public health emergency was declared, and no end date was identified.

Once the disaster or public health emergency ends, so will any temporary changes. You will need to use the plan provider network to receive health care services, and the standard pre-approval (prior authorization) and referral requirements will resume.

UHMAP will notify CMS if we are unable to resume normal operations by the end of a disaster or emergency and will keep you informed on how to receive covered care and prescription drugs.

If you reside in an area affected by a declared disaster, UHMAP can provide you with information on how you can get care from an out-of-network provider and explain your payment terms and conditions. A copy of this policy is also included in your annual enrollment/re-enrollment package.

Call Member Services for more information at 833-627-8252 (833-MAP-UCLA), October to March: 7 days a week, 8 am – 8 pm PT. April to September: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 8 pm PT (except on federal holidays). TTY users can call 800-735-2929 (711).

For accommodations of persons with special needs at meetings, call 844-590-1757 (TTY 711).

UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO) has a contract with Medicare and enrollment in the plan depends on contract renewal. UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan includes Part D drug coverage. To enroll in UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have both Medicare Parts A and B and reside in the plan service area, Los Angeles County. In addition to your monthly plan premium, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

Please contact Member Services at 1-833-627-8252 (833-MAP-UCLA) (TTY 711) for additional information. Hours are 8am - 8pm PT, Monday - Friday, April 1 through September 30, except on all federal holidays. Hours are 8am - 8pm PT, 7 days a week, October 1 through March 31, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Members enrolled in UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO) must use plan providers except in emergency or urgent care situations. If a member obtains care from an out-of-network provider without prior approval from UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan, neither Medicare nor UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan will be responsible for the costs. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost-sharing that applies to out-of-network services.

Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system.

Access to specialty healthcare services is provided by American Specialty Health Group, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated.

&more Benefits Prepaid Mastercard® is issued by Avidia Bank, pursuant to a license from Mastercard Incorporated. Use of this card is subject to the terms and conditions of the Cardholder Agreement. You will receive a PIN upon activation.

Uber does not require the Uber app and the number of allowable rides varies by plan. Uber and Uber Health brand names, product names, and/or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

Delta Dental, RxDiet, SilverSneakers, and TruHearing brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. The marks and logos of Teladoc Health are wholly owned subsidiaries and trademarks of Teladoc Health, Inc.

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Last Updated on 09/29/2026