Does Medicare Cover Life Alert

Does Medicare Cover Life Alert?

Medicare coverage of personal emergency response systems (PERS) like Life Alert and others is often a complicated topic. There are some important factors to consider here, and if you’re working with the classic Medicare Part A and Part B packages, you will likely not be eligible for coverage. Still, it can’t hurt to explore the market a bit and figure out what options are available to you. The basic idea is that Part A and Part B plans don’t cover Life Alert devices, but you may still be eligible under other programs, such as the Advantage plan.

An Overview of Life Alert

Life Alert is a brand name in the market for personal alert devices. The general idea is that the device sends out an alert when it detects a fall or another type of incident that may put the life of the user at risk. Common incidents that may trigger a Life Alert device include a fall in the shower (or anywhere else in the home), sudden health complications that leave the user vulnerable, or even intruders attacking the person in their home.

The device is linked with a live monitoring center from which emergency services can be summoned. Additionally, the device may come with a button for manual activation. Common features include a waterproof design, additional buttons placed in strategic locations around the house, and a remote monitoring system that can allow someone else to listen in from a distance. GPS is also commonly available on these devices, which can be a particularly useful feature for people with dementia and similar problems.

Life Alert Cost and Alternatives

The cost for a service like Life Alert can vary greatly from one provider to another. Typically, you’ll have to pay an initial fee as well as an ongoing subscription. The latter part is the more problematic aspect for more people. In some cases, even if you have coverage for the device itself, you may still have to pay out of pocket for the subscription service. Some providers offer additional features on-demand, charging extra for them. For example, you may not always get GPS coverage by default, and may instead have to specifically pay for it.

This is standard for Life Alert and many other similar services on the market. Pay attention to cancellation fees as well! This has become a hot topic in the field lately, and some people have found themselves in very unfavorable conditions as a result of the way certain companies were approaching this.

Tips for Shopping for a PERS

If you have no idea what to look for in a PERS or how to even begin your search, you may want to check out the FTC’s official website, where they’ve provided a handy list of tips for shopping for a device for your needs. You should pay special attention to the manufacturers you’re considering. Look around to see if they have been involved in any recent controversies. This industry can be surprisingly full of incidents like these.

Pay specific attention to certain factors, such as the training available to staff providing the service, their repair and replacement policies, and details on unusual cases like relocation.

Ideally, this is something you will only have to research once. Investing in a good PERS device can significantly improve a person’s quality of life and can provide them with the reassurance they need to live in a relaxed manner. And if you are careful enough, you also won’t have to pay high fees for using the service in the long term, something which many people, unfortunately, fail to pay attention to until too late.