Does Wellcare Cover Life Alert?

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans – like the ones offered by Wellcare – can offer additional benefits that Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) doesn't cover. These additional benefits may sometimes include coverage for a personal emergency response system (PERS), similar to Life Alert.

Medicare Advantage plans that help cover a PERS like Life Alert may not be available in all areas. While some Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans may cover an emergency alert device in some areas, Wellcare plans available in another state might not offer the same benefit.

Current Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan members should contact Wellcare directly to learn more about their coverage.

Personal emergency response systems, such as Life Alert, can provide peace of mind for seniors who live alone, letting them easily signal for help if they fall or experience a medical emergency.

What Is Life Alert?

Life Alert is just one example of a personal medical alert system that provides at-home and on-the-road monitoring, quickly connecting users with lifesaving services after a fall or other emergency. There are other emergency response system companies aside from Life Alert, such as VRI or AvantGuard.

These devices sometimes give users access to a two-way communication system, which connects them to a certified monitoring center that can dispatch emergency services and other relevant assistance.

Does Wellcare Cover Life Alert?

Although Original Medicare doesn’t cover Life Alert and other personal medical response systems, some Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans may provide additional benefits that include PERS coverage. However, what’s covered by Wellcare varies, depending on the individual policy, and plan availability changes based on where you live.

To find out if your Wellcare Medicare Advantage plan covers Life Alert or another type of personal medical response system, reach out to your plan administrator for details on your coverage.

Does Wellcare Offer a Discount on Life Alert?

No, Wellcare doesn’t offer a discount on Life Alert. However, members of certain Wellcare plans may be eligible to receive discounts on personal medical alert systems from a different brand that offers similar services to Life Alert.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Life Alert?

The cost of a personal emergency response system like Life Alert can vary. In some cases, the costs for a system can broken down into three components:

• An upfront equipment fee
• A one-time activation fee
• A monthly subscription charge

Costs vary depending on the subscription type, the type of devices you use and other factors.

Can I Get Financial Assistance to Help Cover the Cost of Life Alert?

If your healthcare insurance doesn’t cover personal medical alert devices, you may be able to get financial assistance to cover some or all of the cost of Life Alert or a similar system through the following channels:

• Long-term care insurance: If you have long-term care insurance, your coverage may include the cost of a personal medical alert system, such as Life Alert. However, depending on the policy, you may need to meet certain criteria before reimbursement is approved.
  
  
• Veterans’ programs: Although the Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t cover Life Alert, eligible veterans may qualify for a free medical alert system through MedEquip Alert or LiveLife Personal Mobile Alarms. However, veterans whose benefits include TRICARE for Life may receive full or partial coverage for Life Alert.
  
  
• Local non-profit organizations: Many organizations throughout the United States offer resources to seniors who wish to continue to live independently. To find local resources, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging.

Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of MedicareAdvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor.