If you or your loved one is elderly and lives alone, buying and installing a medical alert device is the perfect way to put your mind at ease while facilitating an independent lifestyle. Medical alert systems provide around the clock monitoring, and make it easy for you or your loved one to call for help immediately if ever there is a need. Best of all, many medical alarms are easily affordable – some may even be covered by Medicare!
Which Medical Alarms Does Medicare Cover?
Medicare.com¹ reports that Medicare Part B covers medical equipment. However, Part B doesn’t have discounts or coverage for medical alarms, even if many people consider them medical equipment. Even so, a supplemental Medication health plan or a Medicare Advantage plan could cover the whole cost of one such medical alarm. Here are a few of the best medical alarms:
1. Lifeline: A Respected Name in the Medical Field
Lifeline is a part of Philips and offers a wristband or pendant medical alert system with a button, speaker, and receiver. All the communication is sent through AT&T, and the buttons are water-resistant.
The GoSafe from Philips can be used both at home and on the go. They use Wi-Fi and are best for seniors who travel a lot. In case of an emergency, Philips alerts medical personal about your location with an audio beacon. The GoSafe medical alert costs $149 for equipment and $54.95 per month, while the in-home version starts at $29.95 and equipment costs $50.²
2. Bay Alarm Medical: The Most Affordable Option
Bay Alarm Medical offers affordable monitoring with various options starting at $19.95 per month.³ These include In-Home monitoring, a Mobile GPS Help Button with tracking, and an In-Car monitoring system with crash and medical alert. Automatic fall detection comes at an additional cost and it sends a signal to emergency workers when a high-impact fall is picked up.
The In-Home system has 1,000 feet of range and waterproof call buttons ideal for seniors or people with disabilities who stay mostly at home. The base of this medical alert system can use VoIP, landlines, and cable internet. There’s also an option to reset and cancel accidental calls within 15 seconds.
3. MobileHelp: The Highest Quality Medical Alarm
MobileHelp offers high-quality monitoring devices that use a cellular connection. The Classic MobileHelp in-home alarm system provides customers with a wristband and pendant button, beside a base station.
The Solo model has GPS monitoring and the Smart option ties in a Samsung smartwatch with MobileHelp’s medical monitoring services. When it comes to the Duo option, it brings together the Solo and Classic alarm system at $41.95 per month which saves quite a lot of money over purchasing each one separately.
4. LifeStation: The Best Value for Your Money
Reviewers praise LifeStation as an affordable and reliable medical alarm system that is easy to use. The package includes a waterproof pendant call button or wristband and a base station that uses your landline. You can also purchase the LifeStation Plus and use it with cellular connections, or the LifeStation Mobile that uses GPS. Call buttons come with fall buttons and automatic notifications, 1,000 feet of range for in-home options, and up to five days of service for mobile bundles. If you have a medical need for one of LifeStation’s alarms⁴ you might get coverage under Medicare for the $29.95 monthly charge.
[1] https://medicare.com/coverage/does-medicare-cover-medical-alert-systems/
[2] “https://www.retirementliving.com/reviews/philips-lifeline
[3] https://www.pcmag.com/review/356879/bay-alarm-medical-in-home-medical-alert
[4] https://www.retirementliving.com/reviews/lifestation-review
