Life Alert and similar medical alert systems are not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B) or by most standard private health insurance plans. However, several other programs can help pay for these devices, including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicaid waivers, and VA benefits. You may also be able to use tax-advantaged health accounts to cover the cost.
Original Medicare Does Not Cover Medical Alerts
If you have traditional Medicare (Part A for hospital coverage and Part B for outpatient care), a personal emergency response system like Life Alert is not a covered benefit. Medicare classifies these devices outside the scope of durable medical equipment it reimburses, so there is no way to bill Original Medicare for the monthly monitoring fee or the equipment itself.
Medicare Advantage Plans Sometimes Pay
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is a different story. Some Medicare Advantage plans partially or entirely cover medical alert system costs as a supplemental benefit. Coverage varies widely between plans, so the only reliable way to find out is to call your specific insurer. When you do, ask these questions:
- Does my plan cover “personal emergency response systems”? The billing code is S5161, which helps the representative look it up quickly.
- What percentage of the cost is covered, and is there a dollar limit?
- Do I need a doctor’s prescription or a letter of medical necessity?
- Is there a deductible or co-pay I need to meet first?
Many plans that do offer this benefit require a documented medical reason for the device, so be prepared to get a note from your doctor explaining why you need one.
Medicaid May Cover It Through Home Care Waivers
Medicaid programs in many states cover personal emergency response systems through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers. These waivers are designed to help people stay in their homes instead of moving to nursing facilities, and a medical alert device fits that goal directly.
Kansas, for example, covers personal emergency response systems under at least three separate waivers: the Frail Elderly waiver, the Physical Disability waiver, and the Brain Injury waiver. Each provides an electronic device with a wearable button that connects the user to emergency help at any time of day. Other states have similar programs, though the specific waiver names and eligibility rules differ.
To qualify for an HCBS waiver, you generally need to be both financially and functionally eligible for Medicaid. In many states, the income threshold is 300% of the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit rate, which in 2023 was $2,742 per month per spouse. If your income exceeds that amount, you may still qualify but could be asked to share in the cost of care. Contact your state’s Medicaid office to find out which waivers are available where you live and whether personal emergency response systems are included.
VA Benefits for Eligible Veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs can provide a medical alert system to veterans who meet certain criteria. The VA views these devices as a way to help veterans remain safely in their homes, particularly those who live alone or are left alone for long stretches of the day.
Eligibility typically requires that the veteran cannot reliably reach emergency services on their own after a fall or other immobilizing event. Specific qualifying factors include impaired upper body function, impaired vision, or impaired cognition that makes using a regular phone difficult or impossible. The veteran also needs access to 911 service in their area. If you think you qualify, bring it up with your VA primary care provider, who can determine whether the VA will cover the cost.
Using an HSA or FSA to Pay
Even if your insurance won’t cover a medical alert system, you may be able to pay for it with pre-tax dollars from a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA). The IRS allows these accounts to be used for medical expenses that “alleviate or prevent a physical or mental disability or illness,” and that includes special equipment installed in a home when its main purpose is medical care.
The key requirement is that the device must be medically necessary for you, not just a convenience. A medical alert system purchased because you have a condition that puts you at risk of falls, seizures, or cardiac events would generally qualify. One purchased simply for peace of mind, with no underlying medical reason, would not. Keep documentation from your doctor explaining the medical need in case the IRS or your account administrator asks for it.
Tax Deductions as a Last Resort
If you pay for a medical alert system entirely out of pocket, you can potentially deduct the cost on your federal tax return as a medical expense. The IRS allows you to deduct qualifying medical costs that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, but only if you itemize deductions rather than taking the standard deduction. The same medical necessity rule applies: the system must be primarily for preventing or managing a health condition, not for general well-being.
For most people, this deduction only helps if total medical expenses for the year are substantial enough to cross that 7.5% threshold. But if you’re already paying significant medical bills, adding the monthly monitoring fee and any equipment costs to your deduction could reduce your tax burden.
What Life Alert Typically Costs Without Coverage
Life Alert specifically does not publish its pricing publicly and requires you to call for a quote. The company generally charges a monthly monitoring fee and may require an upfront equipment cost or installation fee. Competitors in the medical alert space range from roughly $20 to $50 per month for basic home systems, with GPS-enabled mobile devices costing more. If you’re paying out of pocket, comparing Life Alert’s quote against other providers is worth the effort, since the core functionality of pressing a button to reach a 24/7 monitoring center is standard across the industry.