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Protect Your Health during Natural Disasters

Tips to help you prepare for Mother Nature

Picture this: Natural disaster strikes — and you are hurt, or have to flee your home. Do you have the health benefits you need? Would you know how to use them? And do you have the health records your doctor needs to make treatment decisions — handy at a moment’s notice? There are steps you can take now to prepare for a natural disaster.

Invest in health insurance

If you don’t have health benefits, now’s the time to shop around. You can visit Aetna to get a quote for individual and family insurance plans. Or compare rates from major carriers at www.eHealthInsurance.com.

Maybe you can't afford a comprehensive plan. You should still buy a plan that covers catastrophic or severe injury or illness.

If you're not able to get an individual plan because of a medical condition, check with your state insurance commission. They may have a plan for people who can't get insurance. You could face higher costs and limited coverage. But paying for a serious injury without health insurance would cost much more.

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Know what your health plan covers

If you’re sick or hurt during a natural disaster, those bills can add up fast. That’s when your health planhealth plan
A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more can feel like your best friend. So learn what it covers before you need it.

• Does your plan cover catastrophic or long-term injuries? How much?
• Are you covered for rehabilitation?
• If your plan covers rehabilitation, what’s the lifetime maximumlifetime maximum
  Some health benefits plans limit the total amount of benefits an individual may receive or limit the... more the policy will pay? If it doesn’t meet your needs, try switching your plan during your next open enrollmentopen enrollment
  A time, often in the fall, when employees choose their health plans for the following year. You typi... more.
• What are your options if you need medical care away from home?

Dig through your plan paperwork. Or call your plan’s customer service line to find out everything you need to know.

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Store your health information in one place

Spend a little time now gathering your heatlh history and benefits information. And you'll save yourself a lot of time and headaches if you're ever forced to leave your home.

Need a little help? Try filling out this Personal Health Information Record (DOC). You can list doctors, medications, allergies and more - for you, your family and your pets, too. You can also attach copies of insurance cards, plan policies, prescriptions and immunizationimmunization
A medicine given to prevent a disease, such as the flu or measles. Immunizations stimulate the body'... more records for the whole family.

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Prepare for the worst situation

Expect the best, but prepare for the toughest situation Mother Nature can throw at you.

Some tips:

• Prepare an evacuation box. It should be fireproof, with a lock. And small enough to grab it on the go. In it, store all your important financial documents, including legal papers, bank account information and insurance policies.
• Get your shots. Many people think the vaccines they got as a child protect them for the rest of their life. But your immunity to both common infections and serious diseases can fade over time. Ask your doctor to update your vaccinations at your next visit.  To learn more, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

 

 

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Keep your pet safe

If you have to leave your home, protect your pet by packing them up with you. 

Also bring:

• Medicines, medical records (store in a waterproof container) and a first aid kit
• Leashes, harnesses and carriers
• A current photo of your pet in case they get lost
• A record of food schedules, medical conditions and behavior problems
• Your veterinarian’s phone number, in case you have to board your pet

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What to do if you're sick or hurt

You need medical care because of a natural disaster. These steps can help you navigate your health benefits.

• Call your health planhealth plan
  A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more as soon as you can. Find out what to do next, and what information you need to make a claimclaim
  Information submitted to a health plan to request payment for medical services provided to a person ... more.
• Let your employer know right away. You may need to file for unemployment insurance.
• Ask your doctor to keep a record of your progress. Your health planhealth plan
  A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more may ask for this if you need rehabilitation.
• If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA)Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  A FSA is an account tied to an employer-sponsored health plan. It can be used to pay for medical exp... more, save any medical or prescription receipts. You’ll need these to get reimbursed.
• Fight for your care rights. If you’re not covered for the treatment you need, ask your doctor to write a letter to your health planhealth plan
  A health plan that you buy or that is provided by your employer. It pays for health care services. I... more. Or call them yourself to explain why you need the care. A hospital social worker may be able to help you. Or reach out to the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP). To find a SHIP in your area, click here.

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