Free Cell Phones For Seniors on Medicare

Free Cell Phones For Seniors on Medicare Application – There are many seniors who do not have cell phones and therefore Medicare offers free cell phones to the seniors. However, there are some steps and procedures needed to follow to receive a free cell phone. The government has understood the need for cell phones and how it can help the seniors with it. The government is providing cell phones to the eligible seniors under the Lifeline Assistance Program. Nowadays everyone needs access to community technology including the senior citizens. The senior citizens who are aged 65 or more also need cell phones to stay in touch with their family and friends.

Cell phones will also help the seniors to make necessary calls during emergency times. The problem is that the seniors have a very limited source of income and thus it is difficult for them to purchase a cell phone. There are free cell phones for seniors on Medicare, however they can apply for it through the Lifeline Program. Apart from that free monthly phone plans are also provided to the eligible seniors.

I am a senior citizen, are there any free phones for seniors??

Yes there are various govt free phones for seniors through government programs such as medicaid, medicare, lifeline as well as through various companies that offer free government phones to senior citizens. As you now know that the government already offers free cell phones to the seniors citizens that have limited income. It is really important for them to stay connected with their friends and family. Apart from that nowadays cell phones have become a necessary equipment that can be used to get access towards immediate health care. The cell phones also help seniors to stay entertained. There are a number of ways for the senior to qualify for the Lifeline Assistance Program.

• The seniors must have their income at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty level.
• They must participate in the government assistance programs.
• Based on their current income.

However, if any senior citizen or any of their family members is already receiving any kind of benefits from the government assistance program then the senior is already eligible to receive a free cell phone along with a monthly free cell phone service. The government assistance programs are listed below:

• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)
• Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• National School Lunch Program’s Free School Lunch
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Medicaid
• Food Stamps

What do you mean by Medicare Free Cell Phones?

First of all you should note that Medicare and Medicaid are two different programs and you should not get confused with each other. But both of them are government programs that help out the people with health care. Medicaid is generally a state level program whereas Medicare is a federal government program. The federal health insurance program mainly prioritizes the seniors and the disabled people. They can easily qualify for Medicare regarding their income and it mainly depends on the coverage plan that is chosen.

To qualify for Medicare, you need to meet at least one of the mentioned requirements.

• Your age is 65 or more.
• If you are a younger citizen below 65 having any disabilities.
• Any citizen who is suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease/ ERSE. Mainly people who are suffering from kidney failure and need transplant or dialysis.

You can also be eligible if you:

• If you are receiving social security benefits for a period of at least 24 months.
• Getting disability pension from Railroad Retirement Board.
• Suffering from Lou Gehrigh’s disease.

Different Parts of Medicare

The coverage of Medicare is mainly divided into 3 main factors. One of the first given factors is the federal and state laws. The second factor is the national coverage decisions that are made by Medicare. The third factor is that the companies decide what part is medically necessary and should be covered.

Different benefits that is offered by Medicare to cover specific services:

• Medicare covers the cost of prescription drugs that includes shots or vaccines.
• Medicare Part A is for hospital related insurance
• The Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stay, nursing facility and hospice care.
• Whereas, Part B offers only Medical Insurance.
• The Part B covers medical supplies, preventive services, doctor’s services and outpatient care.
• The Medicare Part D covers prescription drug coverage. It covers vaccomes. Shots and cost of other prescription drugs.

How Does Medicare Work?

First of all you should know that there are two options when you want to get your Medicare coverage. We will be discussing the two types of Medicare Coverage.

Original Medicare

Medicare Part A covers hospital insurance whereas Medicare Part B covers Medical Insurance. Both of them are a part of the Original Medicare. However, the coverage is administered by the federal government. Generally you are required to pay a deductible amount in the beginning of every year before Medicare pays their coinsurance or copayment. Medicare generally makes sure that they cover their share while you make payments for your services and supplies that need to be covered.

It is seen that in most of the cases it is not required to file your Medicare claims. According to the law the providers and suppliers are required to file their claims for the supplies and services that are covered. It includes home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, hospitals and doctors.

Also Read : Free Landline Phone Services for seniors

Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage is another alternative for Original Medicare Coverage. However, it is also known as MA Plans or Part C. Part A, Part B and Part D are all in the plans. However, most Medicare Advantage plans consist of benefits that are not covered under Original Medicare. Itt includes hearing, dental, vision and much more. The MA Plans are generally offered by the provider companies and there are certain rules that need to be followed. You can find several types of MA plants that includes:

• Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
• Private Fee For Service Plans (PFFS)
• Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO)
• Health Maintenance Organization Plans (HMO)

Ways To Get Free Cell Phones On Medicare for Seniors

Free cell phones are offered to the eligible citizens from the government under the Lifeline program. If you are looking for a free smartphone from the government then Medicare can be one of them. The free cell phone from Lifeline is offered on the basis of the income. The Medicare recipients can qualify for a free cell phone and remember that seniors who have already participated in the Medicare program, they have automatically qualified for the lifeline program. 

The senior can generally qualify by showing their low income states. Their income must be at or below the poverty line of the state where they are residing. However, only one household will be eligible for the Lifeline program. But remember that each state has their own requirements to get a free cell phone. Things you need to do to enroll yourself for the Lifeline program:

• First you need to check your income.
• Then you are required to do some research and check out the participating communication providers in your state.
• After that you need to fill up the application form with detailed information consisting of your name, address and social security number.
• Once you are done with that you need to produce your necessary documents and submit them using your phone or email. The necessary documents that are required are your proof of income and a government issued photo ID.
• Then you need to wait for the approval of your provider, however shipment of the cell phone might take time and it depends on the shipment services of your provider.

One more thing you need to understand is that the government offers low end phone types. It is not possible for the government to provide high end cell phones as the demand for it is very high. But do not worry about the cell phone as every feature that can be used by a senior. The providers offer T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizone cell phones.

Companies that offer free phones for seniors

At&T free cell phones for seniors are available, they mainly offer senior friendly smartphones, flip phones and high tech devices with better technology. does verizon have free phones for seniors? Yes, Free cell phones for seniors verizon are also available, Verizon is one of the reputed companies in the United States that offer high quality cell phones along with services. consumer cellular free phones for seniors a best choice for seniors if looking for free government phones for seniors on benefits. 

Once you are qualified for the program, you will be offered a new cell phone. But the type of cell phone you are going to receive depends on the providers. Also, remember you won’t be getting any iPhone or Android phones. The cell phone will only have basic necessary features that the senior can enjoy. Apart from the free cell phone, they also offer cell phone services each month. 

However, the services might vary from one service provider to another. Some providers offer 250 minutes of talk, voice mail, caller id, text message allotment and call waiting. The best thing is that seniors can always dial 911 for emergencies even if they do not have any minutes left in their cell phones. However, additional minutes can also be purchased at a cheaper rate from the provider. So, it is highly recommended for you to check out the websites of the provider to get more information. But always keep in mind the Lifeline program offers only one cell phone per household. It is a yearly service program and cannot be transferred. However, to get the benefits of the program you need to recertify every year.

Lifeline Free Cell Phone Providers For Seniors

The Lifeline Program is one of the well known programs that collaborates with the government along with the participating providers. You can check out the Lifeline website to find the available providers in your area. You can choose the suitable provider according to your needs. Some of the providers offer their services all across the United States. You can also find a few regional companies. We have listed some of the Lifeline providers below. Check them out.

At&T Free Phones for Seniors

At&T free cell phones for seniors are available, they mainly offer senior friendly smartphones, flip phones and high tech devices with better technology.

Once you are qualified for the program, you will be offered a new cell phone. But the type of cell phone you are going to receive depends on the providers. Also, remember you won’t be getting any iPhone or Android phones. The cell phone will only have basic necessary features that the senior can enjoy. Apart from the free cell phone, they also offer cell phone services each month. 

However, the services might vary from one service provider to another. Some providers offer 250 minutes of talk, voice mail, caller id, text message allotment and call waiting. The best thing is that seniors can always dial 911 for emergencies even if they do not have any minutes left in their cell phones. However, additional minutes can also be purchased at a cheaper rate from the provider. So, it is highly recommended for you to check out the websites of the provider to get more information. But always keep in mind the Lifeline program offers only one cell phone per household. It is a yearly service program and cannot be transferred. However, to get the benefits of the program you need to recertify every year.

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TruConnect Free Cell Phones for Seniors

TruConnect is a provider that has collaborated with the Lifeline Program that offers free cell phones to eligible seniors. They offer services in more than 25 states that includes Ohio, Kentucky and Alabama. Trueconnect provider offers free text, talk and data every month. Free international calling is also offered in some selected countries. The seniors will be able to communicate and stay in touch with their families and friends. Their cell phones give free access to 911 that will help the seniors in case of any emergency. if you want to know how to get a free truconnect free cell phone for low income families from lifeline program you must not miss our previous article.

Safelink Wireless Free Cell Phone For Seniors

Safelink Wireless is another provider that offers their services all across the nation including Wisconsin, California, Texas and Missouri. If you have qualified for the program, you will get a cell phone, sim card, unlimited text and 350 minutes of talk time. Apart from that they also offer 3-way calling, caller id features and voicemail. The senior will also get free access to 911 and 411 numbers for emergency purposes. Know more how to get a free safelink wireless free phone from government lifeline program that can help a low income individual to bridge the gap.

Q Link Wireless Free Cell Phones For Seniors

Q Link Wireless is another provider that offers services to the seniors in approximately 97 percent of the United States. They offer reliable services in areas like Iowa, Rhode Island and Maine. They not only provide free cell phones but also offer free monthly minutes, data and unlimited texts to the seniors. You can get cell phones from brands like Alcatel, Samsung, Motorola, LG and HTC.

Assurance Wireless Free Cell Phone For Seniors

Assurance Wireless is a subsidiary of Virgin Mobile Corporation Offering their services in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland,, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia . They offer cell phones and free cell phone plans to the seniors. However, to get the Assurance phones you need to be an eligible customer. They might offer your cell phones like Kyocera Verve S3150, LG LN280 and Alcatel Cinch depending on the availability of the device. They also offer a free service plan consisting of 350 minutes talk time, 2GB of data and unlimited talk.

enTouch Wireless Free Cell Phone For Seniors

enTouch Wireless is another provider covering services in Utah, Maryland, Indiana and many other states. However, the type of services might differ from state to state. The eligible seniors are offered 500 minutes calls, 100 texts and 10 MB of data each month.

Infinity Mobile Free Cell Phone For Seniors

Infinity Mobile is another wireless company that offers quality services to their subscribers. This provider has also participated  in the Lifeline program to offer cell phones to the seniors in various states and regions. They offer cell phones, unlimited text messaging, 1 GB of data and 1000 minutes of talk time. They offer services in Vermont, Wisconsin, Georgia, South Carolina, Maryland and Nevada.The Indian American who have qualified for the program are also offered 2 GB of data. They also offer extra call minutes along with data at an affordable rate.

Assist Wireless Free Cell Phone For Seniors

Assist Wireless is another provider that offers their services to the residents of Oklahoma, Maryland, Arkansas and Missouri. They offer their free phones and services to the senior people who are unable to afford purchasing a cell phone. They offer two types of versions consisting of tribal and non tribal plans. However, the cellular plans are not similar in each state. For example they offer 1000 minutes call, 500 texts and 50 mb of data in Arkansas and Maryland. However in Oklahoma they offer unlimited talk, unlimited text and 4.5 GB of data to the users. Assist Wireless is one of the next options for the tribal qualifiers.

American Assistance Free Cell Phone For Seniors

American Assistance is another wireless provider that offers cell phones and other services to the seniors. It is also known as American Broadband and mainly offers their services to the residents of California. They offer free cell phones, unlimited text, unlimited voice and 6GB of data to other users. However, they offer different schemes in different states offering a co-pay plan that is $14.95 per month. Under this offer they provide a free smartphone, 500 minutes, unlimited text and 4.5 GB of mobile data. 

American Assistance currently offers services all across the United States including Wisconsin, West Virginia, Utah, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Hawaii, Georgia, Colorado, California, Arkansas and Arizona.

Life Wireless Seniors Government free cell phones

Life Wireless offers free cell phone service to qualified low-income people and families. The federal Lifeline program, established in 1985 to guarantee that all Americans have access to high-quality telephone service, provides Life Wireless with financial support. See where you can get free phones for seniors life wireless.Life Wireless currently works in over 30 states and territories that include: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virgin Islands, Wisconsin, Washington, and West Virginia.

Also Read : Free stuff for senior citizens from government

T-Mobile Free Phones For Seniors

The two primary methods for getting a T-Mobile free phone for seniors are through bill credits via a particular phone deal or renting a free phone.

Get free T mobile phones through phone deals

The most well-known way T-Mobile gives free phones to seniors is by offering credits on their phone bill every month. This is normally because of the fact that you added a new phone line, exchanged your old device, or caught a free phone through a BOGO discount.

Open a new line

New and current T-Mobile clients can get a free phone while adding another line to their account, however there is a caveat. Customers who just want to add a new line to their current plan can take advantage of some deals. Different times these deals are solely accessible to new clients who are changing to T-Mobile. 

Trade in your old phone

T-Mobile occasionally offers trade-in deals that grant you free access to some of the most recent and top devices. They’ll give you a monthly credit to pay for your new phone if you give them your old one.

BOGO phone deals For Seniors

BOGO (buy one, get one) deals offer a simple method for getting a free phone for seniors if you’re already buying one for yourself. Compared to buying a new line or trading in, these deals are a little more complicated. They may apply to a specific brand, such as Apple, Samsung, or Google, or they may be restricted to a specific generation or device.

Leasing a free phone For Seniors

T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand Leasing program is another way you can score a free phone. Instead of purchasing phones, you can lease them through this program to use with T-Mobile’s plans. If you don’t like the phone you choose, you can even upgrade or change it every 30 days. T-Mobile won’t check your credit score to see if you qualify for this program, giving you access to phones for free.

AARP Free Phones For Seniors

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) provides assistance to seniors who are confronted with difficulties related to healthcare expenses, financial security, and community involvement. Through the participating wireless providers, the AARP includes a wide variety of discounted cell phone plans for senior residents.

Best providers to give AARP free cell phones for seniors include:

AT&T Free AARP Phone For Seniors

You can get a $100 credit for each line when you buy a new mobile phone on an eligible installment plan if you switch from AARP to AT&T Wireless. If your account has fewer than five lines, you can save $10 per month per line by signing up for the AT&T Unlimited Extra plan. In addition, if your account registers more than five lines, you will receive a monthly discount of $5 per line.

Cricket Wireless Free Cell Phone For Seniors

Cricket Wireless is a notable cell phone carrier that gives amazing discounts to AARP members. However, all AARP individuals who buy a mobile phone from Wireless will get a $20 Visa promotional card.

Sprint Free Smartphone Phone For Seniors

AARP senior members can get a discount on their cell phones and plans from Sprint. Notably, Sprint has merged with T-Mobile and the majority of their services, so you can only get the majority of their services at T-Mobile.

Consumer Cellular Free Phones for Seniors

Consumer Cellular is the most prominent US cell phone provider that offers AARP members discounts on cell phones. In addition, Consumer Cellular provides seniors with customized cell phone plans that satisfy their requirements.

Walmart Free Phones For Seniors

There are so many the Black Friday deals still available to all that it’s difficult to choose where to invest. But what if you could get a phone without having to make any upfront payments? In partnership with Walmart stores, Metro by T-Mobile is running an intriguing promotion where customers who are willing to buy and activate an unlimited plan can get a free phone.

Despite the fact that it’s typical for carriers to offer free prepaid phones through different dealers, rarely would Walmart be among the advertisers of such deals. Therefore, if you live in close proximity to a Walmart store, you might be able to find the deal that is being advertised there and select one of the four phones that Metro by T-Mobile is giving away for free.

Obama Free Phones For Seniors

Free cell phones, voice minutes, and texting are provided to struggling low-income Americans through the Obama Phone program. This program to assist poor Americans with getting free cell phones and free minutes was named “Obama Phone” in recent years as a result of its rapid development during the Barack Obama presidency.

It is essential to make it abundantly clear that the Lifeline Assistance program is commonly referred to by its unofficial name, “Obama Phone,” in order to dispel any potential confusion. However, the Obama Phone is the name that people know, talk about, and remember, so the official name is of little importance.

Getting an Obama phone and service is simple. Government programs like Medicaid and Food Stamps qualify you for its eligibility. Meeting requirements for low income also applies. The economic collapse, the severe recession that followed, and the nation’s ongoing economic difficulties have left millions of Americans economically devastated. Numerous of these desperate Americans have reached the point where they cannot afford a phone.

That burden can be lifted through the Obama Phone program, also known as Lifeline Assistance. Already, more than 20 million Americans have received a free Obama Phone and 250 free monthly minutes on their cell phones.

An Obama Free Phone for seniors is available from the following three major providers: ReachOut Wireless, Safelink Wireless, and Assurance Wireless. However, Obama Phones are not limited to these sources.

Many other cellphone companies take part in the program across the nation. They incorporate StandUp Wireless, Budget Mobile, Terracom Wireless, Cintex Wireless, Care Wireless, Assist Wireless, I-Wireless, YourTel Wireless, Life Wireless, True Wireless, Wireless for Hope, Tag Mobile and Alaska Communications.

Cell Phone Plans With Free Phones For Seniors

New customers to Verizon frequently receive a few free phones without the need for a trade-in. The catch is that you’ll in fact be buying your phone on a 36- month installment plan. Verizon cancels out the device payment for that month and credits your monthly bill.

Here are some of the cell phone plans with free phones for seniors that Verizon has offered:

• Samsung Galaxy A03s
• Samsung Galaxy A02s
• Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G UW
• Motorola edge 5G UW
• Motorola moto g pure

Getting a free phone from Verizon for seniors typically implies signing up with the big carrier on one of its unlimited plans. You must check out these popular Verizon unlimited plans.

Free Phones For Seniors With Hearing Loss

Using a phone can be nearly impossible for someone with hearing loss. Fortunately, there is a special kind of phone called a caption phone that solves this issue as telephones are an essential source of safety and social connection.

Even better, caption phones and service are free for individuals with hearing loss through a program subsidized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

On a caption phone, the live phone conversation is displayed on a large screen in clear text. Aside from that, it functions like a standard telephone, dialing and answering calls as usual. Talk and listen utilizing the telephone handset like generally.

There are many companies offering caption phones and service, here are some to consider to get free phones for seniors with hearing loss:

• CapTel
• ClearCaptions
• CaptionCall
• Hamilton CapTel
• T-Mobile CapTel
• InnoCaption – free service for smartphones

In order to get a free caption phone and service, seniors with hearing loss must prove that they have a hearing loss that requires use of captioned telephone service.

Before going through the process, ensure that your older adult has the following: Medically-recognized hearing loss, Free high-speed internet connection, standard home phone connection and standard electrical outlet.

Free Phones For Seniors on Medical

Medi-Cal patients who are seniors are generally eligible for a free or low-cost phone and wireless services through the federally funded Lifeline Program.

SafeLink Wireless gives away free smartphones with 3GB of data per month and unlimited talk and text. Participants will never receive a bill and will not be required to sign a contract.

Senior-Friendly Cell Phones Features To Check

There are two options for the eligible seniors to get cell phones from the providers. They might offer them basic cell phones or can also offer some best smartphones. However, most of the seniors prefer basic cell phones as they only use them for calling and texting. Any specific cell phones are not provided to the seniors, you can only find senior friendly cell phones with just necessary features. Features you need to check on your senior-friendly cell phones are:

Easy To Use

The Seniors might have issues with vision or hearing therefore it is important for them to offer a cell phone that can be easily used. Jethro SC435 cell phone is a powerful phone that has large icons that are easily visible to the seniors. The phone also has a powerful speaker and a large button that is easy for the seniors to use. The cell phone also offers simple navigation systems that help the senior  to easily use it.

Battery

One of the most important things for a senior to consider is the battery of the cell phone. Seniors often forget to charge their cell phone and therefore they need a cell phone that has a long lasting battery. Raz Memory Cell phone is best for the seniors as it provides a long lasting battery.

Emergency and health features

Seniors mainly search for cell phones that have all the basic features. It is mandatory for a cellphone to have a SOS button along with voice assistance to help out the seniors during emergency times. Jitterbug Flip is a cell phone that provides one touch 5 star button that is easily accessible for the seniors. Therefore it will help the seniors to access health care services 24×7. You can consider this cell phone as one of the best senior-friendly devices.

Monitoring Feature

It is important for the seniors to have monitoring features especially when they live alone or have memory issues. The Easyfone Prime A4 is another device that offers a location tracking system to the user so that you can keep an eye on them.

General Advice

It is seen that most of the senior people prefer simple phones and therefore flip phones are highly recommended for them. As you already know that you cannot choose a specific device on Medicare but during the application procedure, you can express your desire of having a flip phone. 

Sometimes they do consider when it is possible and you might get your wish fulfilled. If your provider has such phones they might provide you with it. But make sure you inform the provider about it or else they would have no idea about the kind of phone you want. We have found some of the smartphones that a Lifeline application can get for free that includes Samsung Galaxy S10, Motorola Moto G6, Google Pixel 3a, LG V50 ThinQ and Nokia 6.1.

Bottom Line

Now you already know the importance of cell phones for the seniors. It helps the seniors to stay in touch with their friends and family. Apart from that the seniors can also use the cell phones for emergency health care. Therefore the free cell phones for seniors on Medicare is a great opportunity for the low income seniors. The senior people have limited income and therefore it is really hard for them to afford a cell phone. 

The government offers  cell phones through the Lifeline program to the seniors that have low income. There are also free phones for seniors on social security that help the seniors to stay connected. Remember that income of the seniors must be at or below 135 percent of the federal poverty line. There are also other benefits offered by the federal government to the sensors. However, remember the eligibility requirements are different from one state to another. So, if you know any seniors looking for a free cell phone then ask them to enroll themselves in the Lifeline program. Thanks for going through this article till the end. I hope you have a great day ahead!

Frequently Asked Questions 

We are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions on Free Cell Phones for Seniors on Medicare. Go through the question and answers to gain additional knowledge.

Is a non-citizen senior eligible for a free phone on Medicare?

A: Medicare does not offer any free phones but Lifeline does offer. Lifeline offers free phones to all eligible residents including the non-citizens that have temporary or permanent houses in the United States. Therefore, permanent USA citizenship is not required to get a free phone from Lifeline.

Q: What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?

A: We have been forced to put such a heading in this article because there are so many people who have confusion about Medicare and Medicaid. So, it is better to provide you with the differences between these two Medical programs.

Q: What do you mean by Medicaid?

A: Medicaid is a state federal program that offers health insurance to the low income people. You should also understand that Medicaid is an income based program.