Does Medicare Cover Costs for Medical Alert Systems?

A medical alert system is basically a tiny “Plan B” you wearbecause gravity is undefeated, stairs are sneaky, and phones love to hide at the exact moment you need them.
The big question is whether Medicare helps pay for that peace of mind… or whether you’ll be paying out of pocket for your very own “press here for humans” button.

The Quick Answer (and the Not-So-Fun Catch)

In most cases, Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover medical alert systems (also called personal emergency response systems, or PERS).
That means the typical costsequipment, activation, and monthly monitoringusually aren’t paid by Original Medicare.

However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may cover or discount medical alert systems as an extra benefit. The key word there is somebecause Medicare Advantage plans can differ wildly, even inside the same zip code.

What Counts as a “Medical Alert System,” Exactly?

Medical alert systems come in a few flavors. Think of them like pizza: the base idea is the same, but the toppings can get expensive fast.
Most systems include a help button (worn as a pendant, wristband, or smartwatch-style device) that connects you to a response center, family member, or emergency services.

Common types you’ll see advertised

• In-home systems: Work in the house, typically using a base station with landline or cellular connection.
• Mobile/GPS systems: Work outside the home with cellular + GPS so you can get help while walking the dog, shopping, or pretending you’re “just browsing.”
• Fall detection add-ons: Sensors that can alert the response center automatically if a fall is detected (helpful if you can’t press the button).
• Smartwatch-style options: Some resemble consumer wearables, but the service behind them (monitoring + emergency response) is the real product.
• Unmonitored devices: These may call a preset list (like family) instead of a 24/7 response centeroften cheaper, but not always ideal in urgent situations.

Why Original Medicare Usually Doesn’t Pay

It’s tempting to think: “If Medicare covers durable medical equipment (DME), shouldn’t it cover a medical alert device?”
Reasonable thought. Unfortunately, Medicare doesn’t always reward reasonable thoughts.

Medicare’s DME logic doesn’t usually match medical alert systems

Medicare Part B does cover certain durable medical equipment when it’s medically necessary and meets specific criteria (used in the home, expected to last, and primarily used for a medical reason).
But medical alert systems are generally not treated as covered DME under Original Medicare.
They’re typically categorized more like a safety/convenience tool than a medically necessary device that treats or manages a condition.

And no, Medigap doesn’t swoop in like a superhero

Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) helps pay some out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare approveslike deductibles and coinsurance.
But if Original Medicare doesn’t cover the medical alert system in the first place, Medigap usually won’t either.

When Medicare Advantage Might Help (and Why It’s Complicated)

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are offered by private insurers and must cover everything Original Medicare covers, but they can also offer extra benefits.
Some plans include medical alert systems/PERS as an additional benefitsometimes fully, sometimes partially, sometimes as a discount that makes you feel like you “won” something.

How a plan might offer a medical alert benefit

• Full coverage for equipment and monitoring: Rare, but it happens in some plans/markets.
• Allowance or limited coverage: The plan may cover a set amount per year, or cover equipment but not ongoing monitoring.
• Discount programs: You may get a reduced monthly fee through a partner vendor (helpful, but not the same as “coverage”).

Important fine print (a.k.a. where dreams go to read the terms and conditions)

Medicare Advantage “extras” can come with eligibility rules, usage limits, approved vendors, and prior steps (like calling member services, ordering through a specific portal, or meeting clinical criteria).
Some benefits are available broadly; others are targeted to certain membersespecially those with chronic conditions or specific needs.

Translation: two neighbors on Medicare Advantage might both say “my plan covers it,” and both be telling the truthwhile having totally different benefits.

How to Check If Your Plan Covers a Medical Alert System

If you only do one thing after reading this article, do this: check your exact plan documents.
Marketing pages are cheerful. Coverage documents are honest (and slightly less cheerful).

Step-by-step coverage check

1. Look at your plan’s Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage (EOC).
   Search for terms like “Personal Emergency Response System,” “PERS,” “medical alert,” “fall detection,” or “in-home safety.”
2. Call the number on your member ID card.
   Ask if the plan offers a PERS/medical alert benefit, and whether it’s covered, discounted, or provided through a partner.
3. Ask about rules, not just “yes/no.”
   You want details: what’s included, what you pay, and how to get it without accidentally buying something that isn’t reimbursable.
4. Write down names, dates, and reference numbers.
   Not because you’re dramaticbecause phone calls can become folklore if you don’t document them.

Smart questions to ask member services

• Is a medical alert system/PERS included as a supplemental benefit in my plan?
• Does it cover equipment, monthly monitoring, fall detection, or only a discount?
• Do I have to use a specific company/vendor?
• Is there a yearly limit, copay, or maximum coverage amount?
• Do I need a doctor’s note, referral, or prior authorization?
• How do I order it so it’s coveredonline, phone, or through case management?

If Medicare Won’t Cover It: Practical Ways to Lower the Cost

Even when coverage isn’t available, you still have options. The goal is to pay for safety without paying “luxury yacht pricing” for a button and a phone line.

1) Shop the plan structure, not just the brand name

Medical alert companies often price based on the lifestyle you want:
in-home systems are usually cheaper than mobile/GPS systems, and fall detection often costs extra.
Many reputable providers offer month-to-month service, while others push longer commitments.

2) Look for discounts that actually apply

• AARP member discounts: Some services offer reduced rates for members.
• Seasonal promotions: Sales pop up around holidays and “senior safety” promos.
• Annual payment discounts: Paying upfront can reduce the effective monthly cost (if your budget allows).

3) Consider Medicaid or waiver programs (for those who qualify)

Some state Medicaid programs and home- and community-based services waivers may help cover PERS for eligible individuals.
If you’re “dual eligible” (Medicare + Medicaid), it’s especially worth asking your state program or a local benefits counselor.

4) Veterans benefits and local community resources

Some veterans may find assistance through VA-related programs, and local Area Agencies on Aging sometimes know about community programs that help fund safety equipment.
It’s not always advertised loudlyso it often pays to ask a real human who does this all day.

5) Tax and account strategies (with a quick reality check)

Depending on your situation, certain costs might be eligible as medical expenses or payable through an HSA/FSAbut rules vary and documentation matters.
If you’re thinking about taxes, keep receipts and consider asking a tax professional what qualifies in your case.

How Much Do Medical Alert Systems Usually Cost?

Prices vary by provider, features, and whether you’re getting in-home vs. mobile coverage. As a general ballpark:
monthly monitoring often starts around $20 and can reach $60+ per month, with potential add-on fees (like fall detection) and occasional equipment/activation costs.
Some plans also offer device purchase options (especially smartwatch-style systems).

The best way to avoid surprise costs is to request a full breakdown:
monthly monitoring, equipment fees, activation/shipping, fall detection, extra buttons, lockboxes, and cancellation/return policies.

Choosing the Right System: A Quick, Real-World Decision Guide

The “best” medical alert system is the one you’ll actually use. The second-best is the one you’ll remember to charge. (This is a gentle nudge, not a lecture.)

Match features to real life

• If you mostly stay home: An in-home base unit with a waterproof help button can be cost-effective and reliable.
• If you’re out and about: A mobile/GPS option mattersbecause emergencies don’t respect your grocery schedule.
• If falls are a concern: Consider fall detection, but treat it as a backupnot magic.
• If you hate wearing gadgets: Look for lightweight options or wristbands you’ll tolerate daily.

Two quick examples

Example 1: Diane, 78, lives alone and has had one fall in the bathroom. She chooses an in-home system with a waterproof pendant and adds a lockbox so responders can enter without turning her front door into a demolition project.

Example 2: Marco, 71, walks daily and sometimes feels dizzy due to blood pressure meds. A mobile GPS unit makes more sense than a base station, because the sidewalk is not inside his home (even if it feels like it some mornings).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare cover Life Alert?

Typically, noOriginal Medicare does not cover Life Alert or similar medical alert subscriptions.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage or discounts for certain medical alert services, but it varies.

Can a doctor “prescribe” a medical alert system so Medicare pays?

A doctor can recommend a system, and a recommendation may help with documentation in certain contexts,
but it generally does not automatically make Original Medicare cover the cost.
Coverage depends on Medicare rules and your plan type.

What if I’m in a hospital or nursing facility?

Facilities typically have their own call systems as part of care. That’s different from Medicare paying for a personal medical alert subscription you take home.
If you’re transitioning home and worried about safety, ask about discharge planning and community resources.

Is a consumer smartwatch with fall detection covered?

Generally, consumer wearables aren’t covered by Original Medicare just because they include safety features.
The medical alert industry is usually built around a response center and monitoring service, not just the device.

Bottom Line

If you have Original Medicare, expect to pay out of pocket for a medical alert system in most situations.
If you have Medicare Advantage, you may have a path to coverage or discountsbut you’ll need to confirm exactly what your plan offers and how to access it.
The good news: even without Medicare paying, there are often discounts, plan options, and community supports that can make a system affordable.

Experiences: What It’s Like Navigating Medicare and Medical Alert Systems (About )

Here’s what people often experience in the real world when they try to answer the deceptively simple question: “Will Medicare pay for this?”
(These are composite examples based on common scenariosbecause no one needs their personal paperwork turned into public entertainment.)

Experience #1: The “But It’s Clearly Medical!” moment.
A daughter starts researching after her mom slips in the kitchen. She sees that Medicare covers walkers, hospital beds, oxygenso a medical alert button seems like the most obvious “yes” of all time.
Then she discovers the twist: Original Medicare doesn’t treat medical alert subscriptions as covered DME. The reaction is usually a mix of disbelief and a quiet, whispered “why,” directed at no one in particular.
The upside is that this is often the moment families start comparing systems properlyrealizing that a lower monthly plan plus a lockbox and a waterproof pendant can do a lot for safety without destroying the budget.

Experience #2: Medicare Advantage to the rescue… sort of.
A neighbor says, “My plan covers it!”which sparks hope, coffee, and a phone call. After 20 minutes of hold music (which now lives rent-free in the caller’s brain), member services explains:
yes, the plan offers a PERS benefit, but only through a specific vendor, and you have to request it through a benefits portal.
Sometimes there’s a yearly limit or the plan covers the device but not the premium monitoring tier you actually wanted.
The “sort of” part is that it still helpsjust not as cleanly as people expect. The lesson families learn: get the process in writing, ask what’s included, and don’t assume reimbursement if you buy a system on your own first.

Experience #3: The feature rabbit hole.
Someone starts with “I just need a button,” then ends up comparing fall detection, GPS accuracy, battery life, caregiver apps, lockboxes, speaker volume, water resistance, and whether the pendant looks like a tiny spaceship.
This is normal. Safety decisions are emotionalbecause the stakes are real.
But most people eventually land on a simple truth: the best device is the one the person will wear every day, charge when needed, and feel comfortable using.
A top-tier system that stays in a drawer is basically a very expensive paperweight with marketing.

Experience #4: Relief, not perfection.
After installation, many users describe the same feeling: a calmer house.
The person wearing the device feels more confident doing everyday thingsshowering, getting the mail, walking to the carbecause help is easier to reach.
Caregivers report fewer “just checking” calls and more breathing room.
Nobody expects the device to prevent all emergencies. They expect it to shorten the time between “something went wrong” and “someone is helping.”
And for many families, that’s worth the monthly feeeven when Medicare doesn’t chip in.