Medicare does not currently cover home equipment that helps medically vulnerable patients survive climate disasters or power outages. The SAFE through Medicare Act would create a new Medicare benefit category — "home resiliency services" — beginning January 1, 2027, for individuals whose doctors determine they are medically at risk during a climate or man-made disaster. Covered items could include heat pumps for patients who cannot tolerate extreme temperatures, solar battery backup for people who depend on home medical equipment like ventilators, and energy-efficient cold storage for heat-sensitive medications. The Department of Health and Human Services, working with NIH, CMS, and NOAA, would set eligibility criteria based on medical conditions, local disaster history, and geographic climate risks. Medicare would pay 100 percent of the lesser of the actual charge or the fee-schedule rate for these services.
Average Household Impact
- Medicare coverage — Extended to home resiliency items for medically at-risk individuals during climate or manmade disasters
Congressional Summary
Survival Aid For Emergencies through Medicare Act or the SAFE through Medicare ActThis bill provides for Medicare coverage of medically necessary services for beneficiaries who are determined to be medically at-risk during a climate or manmade disaster (i.e., home resiliency services), such as heat pumps, batteries for medical equipment, and energy efficient storage for medical supplies.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-05-12
- Date Added
- 2026-06-30
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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