Does Medicaid pay for a medical alert in Michigan?

By Carol Bennett, Senior EditorUpdated October 12, 2026How we evaluate

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The short answer

Yes. Michigan's MI Choice Waiver lists a medical alert, if your parent qualifies for nursing-home-level care.

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What stands out in Michigan

1 Michigan Medicaid program we read names a medical alert; it serves older adults. (MI Choice Waiver)
For 2027, 26 Medicare Advantage plans in Michigan list a medical alert, down from 39 in 2026. 83 of 83 counties have at least one, up from 71 in 2026. Oakland has the most, 16. (CMS benefit files, 2026, CMS benefit files, 2027)
Medicare lists 759 equipment suppliers here, about 40 for every 100,000 people aged 65 and over. Detroit has the most, 23. (CMS supplier directory, Census ACS 2020-2024)

Michigan's MI Choice Waiver lists a medical alert

Medicaid calls it a PERS.

Programs for older adults
Program	Who it serves	Medical alert?	Source
MI Choice Waiver	Elderly (65+) and adults 18+ with disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care	Lists a medical alert	Read the sourceChecked October 12, 2026 What it says “A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) is an electronic device that enables a participant to summon help in an emergency.”

Start on the agency's website

Go to Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Ask for a “personal emergency response system” under the MI Choice Waiver. Start the application online. What else to ask

26 Medicare Advantage plans here list a medical alert

How CMS marks these

Find a county

Alcona3 plans

Alger1 plan

Allegan12 plans

Alpena3 plans

Antrim5 plans

Arenac10 plans

Baraga1 plan

Barry7 plans

Bay11 plans

Benzie5 plans

Berrien5 plans

Branch7 plans

Medicare lists 759 equipment suppliers here

Home equipment, not alerts; price labels explained

Find a city

Equipment

Adrian3 suppliers

Algonac1 supplier

Allen Park3 suppliers

Alma2 suppliers

Alpena4 suppliers

Ann Arbor15 suppliers

Auburn Hills2 suppliers

Battle Creek5 suppliers

Bay City6 suppliers

Belleville1 supplier

Belmont1 supplier

Benton Harbor3 suppliers

Lift chairs · Medicare and lift chairs · Adjustable beds.

28.7% of older Michigan residents live alone

People 65 and over who live alone: 28.7%; 538,231 people. Census ACS 2020-2024. Census source
Deaths from falls, age 65+, per 100,000: 91.4; 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 Michigan?

Yes: Michigan's MI Choice Waiver lists one.

Do Medicare Advantage plans in Michigan cover a medical alert?

26 Medicare Advantage plans in Michigan list a medical alert for 2027.

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

Sources

Coverage checklist for Michigan

Yes. Michigan's MI Choice Waiver lists a medical alert, if your parent qualifies for nursing-home-level care.

Program: MI Choice Waiver. Visit Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/healthcare/seniors/michoicewaiver/mi-choice-waiver-program

Plans (2027)

HAP Medicare Diabetes and Heart (HMO C-SNP), Health Alliance Plan by Henry Ford Health (plan ID H2354-030-0)
PriorityMedicare D-SNP (HMO D-SNP), Priority Health Medicare (plan ID H8379-001-0)
McLaren Medicare Inspire Plus (HMO), McLaren Medicare (plan ID H6322-002-0)
+23 more at the link below

Ask: does the MI Choice Waiver cover a personal emergency response system for my parent, and how do we apply?

Data checked October 12, 2026.

https://medicalalertreview.com/coverage/michigan