Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Life Alert?

Life Alert is a type of personal emergency response system (PERS). PERS products come with a personal alarm, often a pendant or wristband, that the owner can press if they fall or experience a medical emergency. Pressing the button alerts the emergency services to assist, and some products also alert a nominated caregiver or primary doctor.

While Original Medicare (Parts A and B) don't cover Life Alert, some Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans like the ones offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield may cover personal emergency response systems like Life Alert.

Not all plans offer benefits like emergency response systems, and not all plans are available in all locations. You can use the Medicare plan finder to learn more about plans where you live.

Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Life Alert Cost?

Whether your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan covers Life Alert cost depends on your policy and which company you buy it from. Some Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Medicare Advantage plans may cover a free PERS system and regular monitoring through Blue Cross Blue Shield providers.

However, your plan may include a system from a different provider to Life Alert. An some plans may not cover emergency response systems at all.

Does Medicare Cover Life Alert?

Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B) does not cover Life Alert or a comparable system.

Medicare Advantage plans – including the plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – combine your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits into a single plan. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover additional benefits Original Medicare doesn't, such as dental, prescription drugs, vision or hearing aids.

Medicare Part B covers some durable medical equipment (DME). Life Alert doesn't meet the description of durable medical equipment because it doesn't treat a medical condition. Therefore, people enrolled in Original Medicare only will usually have to purchase their own system out-of-pocket.

Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Life Alert?

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. Approved private companies sell these policies and may include benefits beyond the scope of Original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage policies can come with benefits such as hearing and dental care, and they may also include PERS coverage for a Life Alert system or a similar alternative.

Coverage of Life Alert systems varies widely across different policies and providers. Therefore, you should consult your policy documents to determine if a free PERS is a covered benefit.

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