Does Medicare Cover Medical Alert Buttons?

The “help, I’ve fallen” button question comes up in almost every conversation about an aging parent — usually right after a scare. Here’s the straight answer.

The short answer

Original Medicare does not cover medical alert systems. They aren’t classified as durable medical equipment, so Parts A and B pay nothing toward them. Some Medicare Advantage plans include allowances or benefits that can help — but fewer plans each year, so it’s worth checking what yours actually includes before assuming either way. (We’ll look with you.)

The good news: you have better options

The heavily advertised TV brands often come with long contracts and up-front fees. You do not need to accept that. Today there are two better tiers:

One-time purchase

• Silent Beacon 2.0 — a button that calls 911 and alerts your family with your GPS location; pairs with a smartphone
• Apple Watch SE — genuine fall detection plus emergency calling, if there’s an iPhone in the picture
• FastHelp — dials 911 directly over its own cellular connection, no phone needed

The trade-off: no 24/7 monitoring center. When the button is pressed, help is 911 or family — there’s no trained agent staying on the line. We earn nothing on any of these; they’re simply the right fit for some situations.

Professionally monitored

For someone living alone or with a fall history, a monitored system — where a trained agent answers the button around the clock — is usually worth it. Our most-recommended option is Lively, from Best Buy Health: a mobile GPS device with no-contract plans, optional fall detection, and a Premium tier that adds a 24/7 nurse line. It’s backed by Best Buy, and you can see the device in a store before deciding.

How to choose

Living alone, fall history, or family far away → monitored tier. Tech-comfortable with family nearby → a one-time device may be plenty. Either way, don’t sign a long contract without comparing — we’re glad to run the comparison with you.