For Immediate Release: August 25, 2011
Coverage for Extra Prescriptions During State of Emergency
RALEIGH -- In light of the state's declaration of emergency for parts of eastern North Carolina, Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin today enacted a statutory provision to help people fill prescriptions for medications.
Pursuant to NCGS 58-3-228, Goodwin issued a bulletin advising all insurance companies, State Teachers and Employees Health Plan and other entities licensed by the Department of Insurance that provide benefit plans covering prescription drugs to waive time restrictions for the refilling of current prescriptions for people who reside within the areas that fall under the emergency declaration.
As a result, within the next 29 days, people who reside in North Carolina counties east of Interstate 95 may:
- Obtain one early refill of a prescription if there are authorized refills remaining; or
- Obtain one replacement prescription for a prescription that was recently filled.
"We cannot predict the full impact Hurricane Irene will have on our state. The goal is to make sure that people have access to the medications they need during this state of emergency," Goodwin said.
You can read the full Bulletin of Advisory by clicking on this link.
--NCDOI--