Help for Members Impacted by the Storms or Sewage Spill in California

We’re making temporary changes to your health plan benefits if you live in a California county impacted by the impacts of past severe storms and events (listed below). We’ve relaxed certain health plan rules to make it easier for you to get care during this emergency.

The changes are in effect between September 21, 2026 through and including October 20, 2026 for the following California counties:

Santa Barbara December 2025 Storms: Sonoma, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Shasta Counties
Kern September 2025 Storms: Imperial, Kern and San Bernardino Counties
February 2026 Storms: Glenn, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties
Robin Lane January 2026 Sewage Spill: City of Clear Lake within Lake County

The changes are also for emergency responders who have been assigned to the area by their state or local agency.

We’re here to support you

For assistance during the emergency, you can chat with a live agent on this website or your health plan app, or call us at the Member Services phone number listed on your member ID card. We’re available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. We can help you find doctors, refill prescriptions, and answer other health plan questions.

Receiving care during the emergency

You can receive care from any doctor or hospital, even if they’re not in your plan’s network. We’ll cover the claims as if they are in your plan’s network.
If your doctor’s office or healthcare facility is closed because of the emergency, or if you’re unable to travel there, we can help you find another doctor.
If you’re in a care management program and need to reach them, contact us and we can help.
If you’re having a medical emergency, go to the nearest emergency room.

Prescription drug refills

If your Anthem plan covers your prescription medicines, you can get up to a 30-day emergency supply.
Refill limitations are suspended during the emergency.
If you use pharmacy home delivery through Anthem and your address changed due to the emergency, call us so we can make sure to send your medicine to the right place.

Lost medical equipment, eyeglasses, or contact lens

Prior Authorization and Pre-certification

You have more time to request them. There won’t be any late fees. Contact us if you need an extension.

Filing a claim

You and your doctors have more time to file claims. Contact us if you need an extension.

Health plan premiums

If you receive a bill directly from Anthem for your monthly health plan premium and you’re having financial problems due to the emergency, you have more time to pay your bill. Contact us and we can talk through your grace period options.

Mental health support

Our mental health hotline is open 24/7. Call 800-765-4446 if you need support. There’s no cost to you.
Anthem’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers mental health support and resources to help with legal and financial concerns, dependent-care needs, and other life challenges. Call the 24/7 EAP crisis line at 877-208-8240.
Our Anthem website also offers resources for mental health support.
Crisis support is available 24/7 if you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or behavior, is experiencing emotional distress, or is behaving in a way that could harm others. Call 988 or go to 988lifeline.org to reach the confidential Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The dates and locations for these relaxed guidelines may change based on conditions. Please check back here for updates.

These changes are for impacted members who live in the impacted California counties and who have Anthem group health plans through their employers, or Anthem individual and family plans or Medi-Cal, or Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, or Medicare Supplement Plans. These changes are not for Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans. These plans have their own guidelines.

If you need support, chat with a live agent on this website or your health plan app, or call us at the Member Services number on your member ID card.