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Does Medicaid Cover Life Alert Devices and Monitoring?

Christian Worstell
Christian Worstell | July 13, 2023
In this article...
  • Does Medicaid cover life alert devices and monitoring? It depends on what type of Medicaid you have. Read on to learn more about emergency monitoring coverage.

Personal alert devices make it easy for older adults to get help in emergency situations. Each device has a call button to connect the user with dispatchers, reducing the amount of time it takes to get help from paramedics after a fall or some type of medical event. Whether you're interested in Life Alert or another type of device, it's important to choose something affordable. So, does Medicaid cover Life Alert devices and monitoring? The answer depends on where you live and what type of Medicaid coverage you have.

Types of Personal Alert Devices

The right device for your needs depends partly on whether you have a landline or a cellular telephone. Personal alert systems were originally designed for landlines, but they've been updated to ensure that people who rely on their cell phones can still take advantage of the benefits of emergency monitoring.

One advantage of choosing a mobile system is that you can use it even when you leave the house. If you fall while visiting a friend, for example, you can still get help quickly.

Although many devices are monitored, some companies sell personal alert systems that aren't monitored by dispatchers. Instead, pressing the button allows the user to connect with a friend or family member. Choosing an unmonitored device can help you save money, but you won't have the peace of mind of knowing that emergency services are always just the push of a button away.

Does Medicaid Cover Life Alert Under the Money Follows the Person Program?

Medicaid's Money Follows the Person program aims to help older adults remain in their own homes or in community settings for as long as possible. The program makes funds available to help Medicaid enrollees receive necessary services and supports, allowing them to maintain their independence and quality of life.

As of 2023, 43 states and the District of Columbia participate in this program; however, nine states have run out of MFP funding, leaving Medicaid beneficiaries in those states unsure of how they will pay for emergency monitoring and other services.

Medicaid Consumer Directed Services

In some states, Medicaid distributes funds to enrollees and allows them to determine how the money should be spent. This is known as the Consumer-Directed Services program or Self-Directed Services program.

If you qualify for this program, you may be able to use the funds to pay for a Life Alert system and ongoing monitoring. You'll have the opportunity to draw up a written service plan and get help from people you trust as you work to determine the best way to use your Medicaid funds.

Does Medicaid Cover Life Alert Under Any Waiver Programs?

Many states have waiver programs to help Medicaid enrollees access the services they need to stay in their communities. This type of program allows states to "waive" certain eligibility requirements, ensuring you get the support you need even if you wouldn't normally qualify for Medicaid coverage.

Each state is responsible for setting up its own waiver program, so the benefits covered in one state may not be covered in another state, or they may be covered at a lower level. Many waiver programs cover personal alert services.

Medicaid Personal Care Attendant Programs

If you qualify for a Medicaid PCA program, you may be able to use your benefits to pay for a Life Alert device and ongoing monitoring fees. PCA programs are designed to help Medicaid beneficiaries remain in their communities for as long as possible, so many programs pay for emergency monitoring and other services that can keep an older adult safe at home.

Paying for these services may prevent some enrollees from entering nursing homes, keeping Medicaid costs as low as possible.

State Medicaid Programs

So, does Medicaid cover Life Alert? As you can see, it depends on where you live and whether you qualify for full Medicaid coverage or some type of waiver program. If you need emergency monitoring, one of these state programs may be able to help.

Christian Worstell
About the Author

Christian Worstell is a senior Medicare and health insurance writer with HelpAdivsor.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.

While at HelpAdvisor, Christian has written hundreds of articles 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. You can find Christian’s most recent articles in our blog.

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@MyHelpAdvisor.com.

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