Kaiser Permanente's Disaster Planning Policy


Kaiser Permanente believes there is nothing more important than the health, safety and security of our organization and the communities we serve. This includes our employees, physicians, members, patients, and visitors, as well as our facilities, systems and business applications necessary for the provision of care during any disaster or emergency event.

 

Getting Care During a Disaster


If the State Governor, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), or the President of the United States declares a state of disaster or emergency in your geographic area, Kaiser Permanente will make every effort to keep our facilities, medical offices and pharmacies open to care for you.

In the event of a disaster, we will post information regarding access to our facilities, medical offices and pharmacies on our website.

During a declared state of disaster or emergency, if you need care and you can't make it to a Kaiser Permanente facility, medical office, or pharmacy-- or if we are closed:

  • Kaiser Permanente will cover medically necessary plan benefits furnished to you by out of network providers.
  • You do not need to get a referral or prior authorization to go outside the network.
  • You will be responsible to pay only your in network cost share for these services.

 

When the Disaster Ends


Once the State Governor, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, CMS (the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), or the President of the United States declares the disaster or emergency is over, or after 30 days have passed when there is no end date declared, you will need to use the plan provider network to receive services and the normal preauthorization/referral requirements and cost sharing will resume and as described in your Evidence of Coverage.

If we cannot resume normal operations, we will keep you informed about how to receive covered care and prescription drugs and will also notify the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.