Health-care agency releases fact sheet for Puerto Ricans

Following coverage concerns from Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released a fact sheet this week addressing health-care challenges faced by evacuees in Florida.

The nine-page document — geared toward providers and patients — answers dozens of questions about Medicare and Medicaid coverage on the mainland, including special enrollment periods to switch plans, health services covered under private Medicare Advantage plans and reduced out-of-pocket costs under the emergency declaration.

The document is a response to a bipartisan letter from Florida lawmakers in Congress sent on Nov. 15, asking for clarification on how Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries from Puerto Rico could receive medical care in Florida.

“Displaced residents from Puerto Rico have endured tremendous hardship, and it is critical that we help them maintain access to essential health care services when they relocate to Florida, whether on a temporary or permanent basis,” read the letter led by U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Winter Park.

The letter was co-authored by Sens. Bill Nelson and Marco Rubio, and signed by nine other bipartisan members of Congress.

“CMS has worked to make sure that all those impacted by recent hurricanes can continue to receive the health care they need, even if they are displaced,” CMS administrator Seema Verma said.

Since the hurricane, they’ve trained representatives at CMS to answer questions in English or Spanish, and extended special enrollment periods so hurricane survivors can enroll, drop or switch Medicare plans through March 31, Verma said.

The fact sheet also explains that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries who “temporarily reside outside their Medicare Advantage plan’s service area can remain enrolled in that [Medicare Advantage] plan for up to six months.”

The document is available in English, and CMS said a Spanish version will be available soon.