Free Cell Phone for Medicaid Recipients
Medicaid is a health program in the U.S. that benefits certain types of people. For those on Medicaid, your health care would be paid mostly by the government. The types of people that qualify for this program are low income adults and their kids and people with disabilities.
A lot of people are unaware that you could get a free cell phone if you are a Medicaid recipient. Under the lifeline Assistance Program, you would be able to get a free cell phone along with free minutes. This program is supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. There are several wireless companies that offer the free cell phones. One is Safelink Wireless and the other is Assurance Wireless. Typically, you would a free wireless phone plus 250 free voice and text minutes each month.
Most people that want to apply for a free cell phone must meet the total household income guidelines set in their particular state. However, if you already have Medicaid that means you already meet the income qualifications. To apply you would need to provide proof that you are on Medicaid. The free phone service program is not available in every state yet. You would have to call up the wireless company and check to see if there is service in your area. If one provider does not service your area, then check another provider. You can also go to the wireless company’s website and see which states are has this service.
Usually, there are restrictions to these free cell phone programs. For example, you are only allowed to have one cell phone per household and you must be living at the address that you provide. You will also have to certify that you are still eligible for the lifeline Assistance program every year. You can do this by showing proof that you are still in the Medicaid program.
The free cell phone program offers a certain amount of free minutes and text per month. If you wanted, you could add more minutes and text to your plan. Of course, that would mean you would have to pay some money. For those that use the cell phone for emergency purposes only, the amount of free minutes that are offered should be sufficient. Since there is no contract involved in this program, you can cancel your service at any time. It is a great program for those who do not have phone service and really need to use one on occasion.
If my care provider lives with me and got a free phone from the government, can I also get one being disabled and on social security ssi? Someone told me no only one per household!! Please let me know as I cannot afford one and could really use one. Thank you, Anna peterson
You might want to call the service provider and ask them directly for your case.
I live in Texas and this was under the requirements and eligibility. The Lifeline Assistance program is available for only one wireless or wire line account per household. Separate households that live at the same address are eligible, including residents of homeless shelters and nursing homes, for example. Residents with temporary addresses are also eligible.
Get a job you lazy people. Tired of my money paying for your cell phones. Ugh.
Oh what a thoughtless ignoramus you are. You could just as easily be getting strokes and heart attacks when tryimg to work in severe pain with the illnesses I have……., which are just as able to knock you down and into a disabled state as anyone else. Do you seriously think people ASK to be in pain and sick? Medicaid does not arrive on a plate. Multiple proofs of disability are used. In my case it took ten years before they finally realized that SSI was cheaper than my living in hospital with two rare diseases not “on the list” of approved illnesses.
Grow up and stop being such a heartless blind and selfish type, be a man. Learn compassion. Diabled and lazy are not the same thing, and you neex to know what you are talking about before tou make such ignorant statements about the subject.
.
Besides it is MY past hard earned and paid up social security taxes that pay for this, not your possibly puny income taxes (assuming the tax rate you pay aligns with your selfishness and ignorance.)
You really prefer I drop dead from a heart attack than have a cellphone to calll911?
How callous can you get?
Just be thankful nobody treats YOU so badly.
Irene.
OMG you nailed it Irene De villiers I could not have said it better
lazy??? my uncle is a double amputee. Alot of these people get medicaid due to a severe disability–is that OK with you?
I am not on medicaid however people need to realize that there are interested people on medicaid besides those that do not work for whatever the reason. Teens who are transitioning out of foster care are on medicaid and could get a free phone if they wanted one. People who have medical conditions that are terminal are in medicaid and can get a free phone I they want. People who are deemed disabled by a doctor as well as the courts are eligible for a free phone. When senior citizens go into nursing homes or assisted living facilities they have to get on medicaid if they aren’t able to pay the rate which is not covered by regular insurance and they are eligible for a free phone.
Alright. I understand. How soon will I receive my cell phone?
A paper came around for a phone and I faxed in my request for it since I am on SSI and never recieved it.
Am interested in obtaining a phone for my brother in mo. He is a Medicaid recipiant
Lifeline assistance program allows only One wireless or wired line per household.
i am on medicaid i really need a cell phone. my husband has reach out but i work partime could really use one when i go to work.
i like to have 1 free
Assurance Wireless is supposed to provide this service but is impossible to deal with. I’ve been trying to get my elderly mother signed up for over six months Can you please provide a list of alternative cell phone providers under Medicaid in NYS?
I need to know how to receive free minutes on a cell phone for someone on disability and is in dire need of a way to stay in touch with me4dical and also a contact person. To this point in time he has been buying minutes for a tracfone but due to some other medical expenses he can not afford to at this time. Is there anything that you can do to help? Thank you
Wanted to see about a free phone
Can a mother w/out a social security number get a phone if their children qualify for medicaid?
I live in South Dakota and custody of our granddaughter. She has medicaid would she be eligible to get a free phone?
My mom is in a nursing home in Ohio as a Medicaid resident. Does she qualify for the free cell phone and monthly cell phone service?
please provide me with information I might need to apply for this service. I am a Medicaid recipient.
I am a social worker in a long term care facility. I tried to get a resident here a free cellphone as he goes out into the community alone and occasionally needs assistance. I have found it impossible to deal with the customer service people at the safelink “free cellphone” establishment. They pretend they don’t hear you and hang up, or if you ask to speak to somone who can answer a question they can’t answer, they say there is no one else available. The wait time is always longer than 10 minutes.It’s not worth the hassle so we gave up and will not recommend this to anyone.
They are a lot of people out there need it and can’t get any help,but that is what wrong with our country the good old USA. Need all of our money to stay in the USA and help people here. My God Bless You.
Are nursing home patients eligible for free phones if they receive Medicaid benefits?
How do long term care residents get a cell phone when they all have the same address?