Although Original Medicare doesn't cover Life Alert, some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) may cover it as an added benefit. Learn more.
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) doesn’t cover Life Alert.®
While Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans sold by private insurance companies can offer more benefits than Original Medicare covers, medical alert systems and other personal emergency response system (PERS) systems aren't typically an added benefit.
If you are enrolled in Medicare and want to obtain Life Alert or another PERS, you may have to pay for it yourself.
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Life Alert is a type of response system that alerts emergency providers in the case of a medical emergency. If you have Life Alert or another brand of PERS, you can wear the system all day. It usually comes as a wristband or a necklace.
If you experience an emergency, you just have to press a button and it will activate your phone, connecting you with an emergency dispatcher. You may be able to designate a specific health care provider to call, such as your caregiver or your primary care doctor.
Some advanced systems also detect movements such as a serious fall and can alert emergency services, even if you don’t press the device button.
Medicare Supplement plans provide coverage for some Original Medicare out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. These plans work alongside your Original Medicare benefits to help you pay for services and devices that are covered by Original Medicare.
What are other kinds of PERS systems?
Some popular personal emergency response systems include:
Bracelets or necklaces These wearable alert systems have a button that can be pushed during an emergency to alert a human monitor or dispatcher. Some devices can even detect when the user has fallen and will automatically dispatch help.
Speakerphones These devices allow the user to communicate with the monitoring center so the user can describe the situation in more detail and the dispatcher can provide immediate feedback while help is on the way, all without having to reach out for or hold a traditional phone.
Cellular medical alert systems PERS devices with cellular capabilities use a GPS to pinpoint the location of the user and send help. These devices are well-suited for seniors who drive or are otherwise mobile outside of their home.
Activity tracker systems. These systems track a user’s daily activity with the goal of improving sleeping habits, diet and exercise through monitoring.
If you want to find a Medicare Advantage plan that combines your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits into a single plan and may offer more benefits than Original Medicare covers, you can compare your local plan options online for free or over the phone with the help of a Medicare licensed insurance agent.
Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
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Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with MedicareAdvantage.com. He is also a licensed health insurance agent. Christian is well-known in the insurance industry for the thousands of educational articles he’s written, helping Americans better understand their health insurance and Medicare coverage.
Christian’s work as a Medicare expert has appeared in several top-tier and trade news outlets including Forbes, MarketWatch, WebMD and Yahoo! Finance.
Christian has written hundreds of articles for MedicareAvantage.com that teach Medicare beneficiaries the best practices for navigating Medicare. His articles are read by thousands of older Americans each month. By better understanding their health care coverage, readers may hopefully learn how to limit their out-of-pocket Medicare spending and access quality medical care.
Christian’s passion for his role stems from his desire to make a difference in the senior community. He strongly believes that the more beneficiaries know about their Medicare coverage, the better their overall health and wellness is as a result.
A current resident of Raleigh, Christian is a graduate of Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
If you’re a member of the media looking to connect with Christian, please don’t hesitate to email our public relations team at Mike@tzhealthmedia.com.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover routine dental or vision care. 2024 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, but dental and/or hearing benefits may not be available where you live. Learn more and find out how to compare the plans and benefits available in your area.
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While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover hearing aids, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans can cover hearing benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover. Hearing benefits may be available where you live, so learn how to find out if Medicare Advantage plans that help pay for hearing aids are available in your area.
Medicare Part B covers annual wellness visits. Medicare Advantage plans also cover annual wellness visits, and many Medicare Advantage plans also offer other wellness benefits not found in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A does not cover outpatient surgery, but Part B covers medically necessary outpatient surgery. Medicare Advantage plans may also cover outpatient surgery and include an annual out-of-pocket spending limit, which Original Medicare doesn’t offer.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can cover chiropractic care, but some plans may cover services more than others. Learn about what’s covered, what’s excluded and how much your Medicare costs could be.
Medicare covers many telehealth services, and those benefits expanded during the coronavirus pandemic. Beneficiaries can use telehealth to access their doctor while also staying safe during COVID-19.
Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) doesn’t cover bathroom grab bars or other bathroom safety devices. Medicare Advantage plans can cover bathroom safety devices, but only in limited situations and only for beneficiaries who qualify.
Original Medicare covers some limited home health services. Medicare Advantage plans cover the same home health care services and may include some additional benefits.
Join our email series to receive your Medicare guide and the latest information about Medicare.
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Your Medicare guide will arrive in your email inbox shortly. You can also look forward to informative email updates about Medicare and Medicare Advantage.
If you'd like to speak with an agent right away, we're standing by for that as well. Give us a call!