Does Medicaid pay for a medical alert in Florida?

By Carol Bennett, Senior EditorUpdated October 13, 2026How we evaluate

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The short answer

Yes, but only for people who live alone or are alone much of the day, or who would otherwise need constant supervision. Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program lists a medical alert, if your parent qualifies for nursing-home-level care.

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What stands out in Florida

1 Florida Medicaid program we read names a medical alert; it serves older adults. It sets a condition on who can get one. (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program)
For 2027, 67 Medicare Advantage plans in Florida list a medical alert, down from 115 in 2026. 48 of 67 counties have at least one, down from 66 in 2026. Hillsborough and Pasco have the most, 23 each. (CMS benefit files, 2026, CMS benefit files, 2027)
Medicare lists 1,184 equipment suppliers here, about 25 for every 100,000 people aged 65 and over. Miami has the most, 95. (CMS supplier directory, Census ACS 2020-2024)

Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program lists a medical alert

Medicaid calls it a PERS.

Programs for older adults
Program	Who it serves	Medical alert?	Source
Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) programSection 1915(c)Condition: PERS is not covered for enrollees who don't live alone or aren't alone much of the day, unless they'd otherwise need constant supervision.	Seniors 65+ and adults with disabilities 18+ needing nursing facility level of care	Lists a medical alert	Read the sourceChecked October 13, 2026 What it says “4.2.1.14 Personal Emergency Response Systems For installation and service monitoring of an electronic device connected to an enrollee’s phone that includes a portable “help” button, when provided to an enrollee at high risk of institutionalization to secure help in an emergency.” “Personal emergency response system services for enrollees who do not live alone or who are not home alone for significant parts of the day and would not otherwise require high intensity or constant supervision.”

One phone call starts the application

Call Florida Elder Helpline (1-800-96-ELDER), statewide ADRC intake: 800-963-5337

Ask for a “personal emergency response system” under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program. What else to ask

67 Medicare Advantage plans here list a medical alert

How CMS marks these

Find a county

Alachua1 plan

Baker5 plans

BayNo plans listed

BradfordNo plans listed

Brevard6 plans

Broward20 plans

Calhoun3 plans

Charlotte8 plans

Citrus16 plans

Clay9 plans

Collier7 plans

ColumbiaNo plans listed

Medicare lists 1,184 equipment suppliers here

Home equipment, not alerts; price labels explained

Find a city

Equipment

Alachua1 supplier

Altamonte Springs4 suppliers

Apalachicola1 supplier

Apollo Beach2 suppliers

Apopka3 suppliers

Arcadia1 supplier

Auburndale2 suppliers

Aventura3 suppliers

Belle Glade1 supplier

Belleview1 supplier

Beverly Hills2 suppliers

Big Pine Key1 supplier

Lift chairs · Medicare and lift chairs · Adjustable beds.

24.2% of older Florida residents live alone

People 65 and over who live alone: 24.2%; 1,157,090 people. Census ACS 2020-2024. Census source
Deaths from falls, age 65+, per 100,000: 82.0; Age-adjusted, 2024. CDC source

All states

If nothing pays, the monthly bill is yours

Original Medicare does not pay; compare prices.

Paying yourself? Medical Care Alert

From $29.95/mo for the Home plan; without a landline, LTE cellular adds $5/mo (price page, October 1, 2026).

See Medical Care Alert plans

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Questions families ask

Does Medicaid pay for a medical alert in Florida?

Yes: Florida's Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program lists one, with a condition.

Do Medicare Advantage plans in Florida cover a medical alert?

67 Medicare Advantage plans in Florida list a medical alert for 2027.

Data checked October 12–13, 2026. How we built this · Report a correction

Sources

Coverage checklist for Florida

Program: Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program. Call Florida Elder Helpline (1-800-96-ELDER), statewide ADRC intake at 800-963-5337.

Plans (2027)

Freedom Medi-Medi Partial (HMO D-SNP), Freedom Health, Inc. (plan ID H5427-078-0)
Optimum Emerald Partial (HMO D-SNP), Optimum HealthCare, Inc. (plan ID H5594-016-0)
Simply Complete Platinum (HMO D-SNP), Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. (plan ID H5471-118-0)
+64 more at the link below

Ask: does the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-term Care (SMMC LTC) program cover a personal emergency response system for my parent, and how do we apply?

Data checked October 13, 2026.

https://medicalalertreview.com/coverage/florida