+Medical Alert Review

Does Medicaid pay for a medical alert in Minnesota?

By Carol Bennett, Senior EditorUpdated How we evaluate

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The short answer

Yes. Minnesota's Elderly Waiver (EW) lists a medical alert, if your parent qualifies for nursing-home-level care.

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What stands out in Minnesota

Minnesota's Elderly Waiver (EW) lists a medical alert

Medicaid calls it a PERS.

Programs for older adults
ProgramWho it servesMedical alert?Source
Elderly Waiver (EW)Older adults (65+) needing nursing facility level of careLists a medical alertRead the sourceChecked October 13, 2026
What it says
“For people on AC, ECS and EW, PERS is available under the specialized equipment and supplies service.”

Also listed on these disability programs

Disability programs
ProgramWho it servesMedical alert?Source
Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) WaiverAlso on these waivers: Community Alternative Care (CAC) Waiver, Brain Injury (BI) Waiver, Developmental Disabilities (DD) WaiverPeople with disabilities (not older-adult waiver)Lists a medical alertRead the sourceChecked October 13, 2026
What it says
“For people on BI, CAC, CADI and DD, PERS is available under the 24-hour emergency assistance service.”

One phone call starts the application

Call Senior LinkAge Line (Minnesota Board on Aging): 800-333-2433

Ask for a “personal emergency response system” under the Elderly Waiver (EW) program. Start the application online. What else to ask

3 Medicare Advantage plans here list a medical alert

How CMS marks these

Aitkin1 plan
Anoka1 plan
Becker1 plan
BeltramiNo plans listed
Benton1 plan
Big StoneNo plans listed
Blue Earth1 plan
Brown1 plan
Carlton1 plan
Carver1 plan
Cass1 plan
ChippewaNo plans listed

Medicare lists 436 equipment suppliers here

Home equipment, not alerts; price labels explained

Ada1 supplier
Adrian1 supplier
Aitkin2 suppliers
Albany1 supplier
Albert Lea4 suppliers
Alexandria6 suppliers
Andover3 suppliers
Annandale1 supplier
Anoka1 supplier
Apple Valley5 suppliers
Austin4 suppliers
Bagley1 supplier

Lift chairs · Medicare and lift chairs · Adjustable beds.

28.6% of older Minnesota residents live alone

People 65 and over who live alone
28.6%
284,114 people. Census ACS 2020-2024. Census source
Deaths from falls, age 65+, per 100,000
158.7
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).

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Questions families ask

Does Medicaid pay for a medical alert in Minnesota?

Yes: Minnesota's Elderly Waiver (EW) lists one.

Do Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota cover a medical alert?

3 Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota list a medical alert for 2027.

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