As you already know, Medicare is a government program for medical coverage. You probably have also heard of the free phone service from the government through Lifeline and ACP program. But now, do these two programs also offer free phones for seniors on Medicare? If YES, which free phone is the best to get?
If I can start with the first question, the answer is a YES, you might get a free phone for seniors on Medicare through Lifeline or ACP. The keyword here is “might” since not everyone on Medicare will qualify, as we shall shortly.
As for the second question…
What’s the Best Free Phone For Seniors on Medicare?
In this guide, I’ve covered over a dozen free phones available to seniors on Medicare. But before we look at the whole list, the overall best free phone is:
- Overall Best: SafeLink Wireless
- Best of Free Phone: AirTalk Wireless
- Best of Bonus Tablet: Cintex Wireless
- Best of Coverage: TAG Mobile
- Best of International Calls: TruConnect
- Best Alternative: Q Link Wireless
What Is A Free Phone For Seniors On Medicare?
Do you remember my previous guide on how to get a free phone from Medicaid? I wanted to say the two scenarios are a lot similar, but they’re not.
Medicaid is an assistance program that the government offers medical coverage to low-income individuals. The federal and state governments jointly sponsor the program from the funds they collect through taxes. It’s available for all ages, provided you’re in either of the four categories: Pregnant Women, Children & teens, aged/ disabled/ blind, or Other Situations (after leaving welfare).
Meanwhile, you can get a free phone with Medicaid when with an official proof of participating in the program. And this is something not guaranteed for the people in the Medicare program. Why so?
Medicare is more or less a health insurance program. It primarily targets seniors at the age of 65. But you could qualify at a lower age if with kidney failure, certain disabilities, End-Stage Renal Disease, or Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Unlike Medicaid, the government doesn’t sponsor the Medicare program from the general funds collected through regular taxes. The government offers the benefit through the Medicare Trust Funds, which comes from the social security credits you earned during your working days.
The “working days”, according to the Social Security Administration, are ten years, when you’ll have accrued all 40 credits needed. But for those who developed a disability before the age of 24, only 6 credits (about 1.5 years of work) are required.
Now, a “free phone for seniors on Medicare” is where you get a free phone through Lifeline or ACP benefit while on Medicare. Then again, the problem is that Medicare, unlike Medicaid, isn’t one of the programs eligible for discounted government phones.
The Process How To Get A Free Phone On Medicare
As I’ve just said, Medicare isn’t a federal-funded assistance program like Medicaid. It’s only available to people who have worked long enough, paid their social security “taxes”, and earned all the needed credits.
FYI: Besides the direct beneficiaries (who worked and paid social security taxes), Medicare is also available to the survivors. The Medicare/ Social Security Survivors entail:
- A surviving spouse – a senior widow or widower of a partner who earned all the necessary credits.
- A surviving spouse (widow/ widower) of any age but takes care of a child under 16 years old (or a child with a disability)
- A surviving child/ children under 18 years old (or up to 19 years) who are still unmarried. The children can be biological or stepchildren, adopted children, or grandchildren
- A surviving unmarried child/ children who got disabled before 22 years old
- A surviving parent of a child who paid the social security taxes & all required credits
Unlike Medicaid that’s only available to low-income consumers, the Medicare program is available to all levels of income. And this includes even people with an average or higher income. Thus, not everyone will qualify for free phones from the government. Why am I saying this?
The free government cell phone service through Lifeline or ACP is usually available to only low-income individuals. If on Medicare with an average or higher income, you won’t qualify for the phone benefit. It’s only those on Medicare with a low income get to qualify.
A “low income” when we’re talking about Lifeline or ACP often entails consumers with an actual proof of a low income or a qualified government assistance benefit.
Free Phones for Seniors on Medicare with an Income-based Requirement
First, how you can get a free phone depends on whether you will qualify with Lifeline or ACP plan. If you qualify with the Lifeline plan, the income-based requirement is that your total household income must be at or below 135% of federal poverty guidelines.
As for the case of the ACP program, you only qualify for the free phones for seniors on Medicare with an income level at or below 200% of the latest poverty guidelines.
Tip: if you fancy playing with numbers, what this means is that you automatically qualify for the ACP program if on Lifeline. It also means you necessarily don’t qualify for Lifeline because you’re on ACP. And for that, you may fail to get the free phone for seniors on Medicare if your desired provider requires a Lifeline + ACP Combo plan.
Free Phones for Seniors on Medicare with a Program-based Requirement
In this eligibility requirement, you can get free phones for seniors on Medicare if on a qualifying federal assistance program, such as:
- Medicaid
- Supplemental security income (SSI)
- Federal public housing assistance (FPHA)
- Veterans & Veteran’s Survivors Pension
- A Federal Pell Grant in the current award year
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
- Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Head Start, Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, and other Tribal-administered assistance programs
- School Breakfast or School Lunch Program (including from the USDA Community Eligibility Provision).
Tip: All the assistance programs above are usually eligible for the ACP program. However, in the requirements for Lifeline benefits, the Federal Pell Grant, WIC, and School Breakfast/ Lunch programs are usually not eligible.
So, again, you may be qualified to get a free phone for seniors on Medicare with your favorite carrier on an ACP-only plan. But if the carrier has the offer with Lifeline-only or Lifeline + ACP combo plan, you may fail to qualify.
Also, don’t forget Medicare and Medicaid are both programs that cover your medical bills. The best part of all, you can qualify for both at the same time, as long you’ve met the necessary financial qualifications.
The Special Case of Free Phone with Medicare/ Social Security/ SSI
Among the federal assistance programs eligible for free phones I’ve listed above, the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is one of them. SSI, as its full name suggests, is under the Social Security Administration, just like social security benefits (SSB) or Medicare.
Unlike Medicare or SSB, the federal government is the one that funds SSI using the monies collected through general taxes. But like Medicare or SSB, the SSI is only available to seniors and those with disabilities, albeit those with proof of limited resources or income.
As per the Social Security Administration, limited resources refer to the things you (the person applying for SSI) own. And if applying as an individual, the limited resources should be at or below $2000, then at/ below $3,000 for a couple.
Meanwhile, you can qualify for both SSB and SSI at the same time. When this happens, you automatically become eligible for the Medicare program. And since SSI is a Lifeline/ ACP-eligible federal assistance program, here you automatically qualify for a free cell phone for seniors on Medicare.
The 15 Best Free Phones for Seniors on Medicare
As of today, we now have over two dozen carriers you can get a free cell phone from the government while on Medicare. The problem is that not all these options are great. Hence, the reason I’ve limited the list of the favorable options to only fifteen. See below.
| Carrier Network | Lifeline-Only Data | ACP+ Lifeline Data | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafeLink Wireless | Verizon/ | 4.5GB (6GB California) | Unlimited (2.1TB) |
| AirTalk Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB | 15GB |
| Cintex Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB | 15GB |
| Assurance Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) | 25GB |
| TAG Mobile | T-Mobile/ Verizon/ AT&T | 1GB (3GB California) | 8.5GB (8GB California) |
| Q Link Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB | 28GB |
| Newphone Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB | 15GB |
| Access Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) | 15GB |
| TruConnect | T-Mobile | 250MB (6GB California) | 14GB |
| Life Wireless | AT&T | 4.5GB (6GB California) | 15GB |
| StandUp Wireless | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) | 10GB |
| American Assistance | T-Mobile | 4.5GB (6GB California) | 14.5GB (16GB California) |
| Assist Wireless | T-Mobile | 50MB or 3GB | 12GB |
| Safety net Wireless | AT&T | 1GB (6GB California) | 22GB |
| Easy Wireless | T-Mobile | 25MB | 7.5GB |
Out of the favorable fifteen here, my favorite six companies you can get a free cell phone for seniors on Medicare are still:
SafeLink Wireless
Safelink Wireless has just become the overall best free phone from the government. Of course, not many people have been happy with Verizon acquiring TracFone, the parent company of Safelink and other small carriers. But the truth is that you can still get service on AT&T or T-Mobile if the Verizon network isn’t great in your area.
As for the “best” part, anyways, SafeLink is my first recommendation for anyone looking for free phones with Medicare as you get:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Free calling to U.S., Canada, & Mexico
- Unlimited data (2.1TB high-speed data)
- Great 5G data speeds (up to 400Mbps)
- Up to 10GB of personal hotspot/ tethering
- Free access to emergency services (911 & 411)
- Free access to Voicemail/Caller ID/3-Way Calling
- A free smartphone, which can be Alcatel TCL A3/ A30, Blu View 2, or Motorola Moto G Pure
AirTalk Wireless
AirTalk Wireless has the best free touchscreen phones for seniors on Medicare when you join for the first time. It features high-end brands, such as Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, LG, et cetera.
Air Talk runs on T-Mobile towers, which have the 5G network in many parts of the country. Then you’ll also have access to features like:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (15GB high-speed data)
- Free access to WiFi calling & texting
- Budget-friendly international calling rates.
Cintex Wireless
Cintex Wireless is the sister brand of AirTalk, which is why you’ll notice they’re similar in a lot of ways. For instance, you’ll get free phone service through the T-Mobile network. Then the Lifeline + ACP Combo plan has up to 15GB of high-speed data and a FREE tablet, which you can choose your preferred flagship brand.
Furthermore, Cintex offers free phone service with:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- FREE WiFi calling & texting
- An option to bring your own phone
- Friendly international calling rates
TAG Mobile
TAG Mobile has the overall best coverage, as you can get a free phone from the government with the network that works best in your location. The carrier has a network deal will the three Major Carriers, including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
Furthermore, TAG Mobile offers free phone service with:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (with 8.5GB of high-speed data)
- Free texting to US & international destinations
- Free access to Voicemail/Caller ID/3-way Callin
- A Free touch screen phone, which in most cases is a NUU Mobile
TruConnect
Do you have relatives or friends outside the US? TruConnect will be a great option to consider in this context. The free phone service you receive usually includes unlimited international calling.
Furthermore, TruConnect runs off the T-Mobile network, then you also get to enjoy:
- Unlimited talk & text in the US
- Unlimited data (with 14GB high-speed data)
- FREE WiFi calling & texting
- Option to bring your own phone
- FREE 2 months of Amazon Prime when you join
- A Free phone, which in most cases is a Cloud Mobile Stratus
Q Link Wireless
Q Link Wireless is another decent option when looking for free phones for seniors on Medicare. It runs off the T-Mobile network. But the 28GB high-speed on Lifeline + ACP combo plan is the reason I’ve included the provider on my favorite list.
In addition to that, Q Link’s free phone service offers:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- FREE WiFi calling & texting
- Option to bring your own phone
- FREE domestic roaming feature
- A Free phone, which in most cases is an HP Serrano 3
Besides my favorite six above, other alternatives to consider for the free phone for seniors on Medicare are:
Assurance Wireless
Assurance Wireless offers the free phone for seniors on Medicare via the T-Mobile network. The service has:
- Unlimited talk minutes & texting
- Unlimited data (with 25GB high-speed data)
- 2.5GB of personal hotspot/ tethering
- Free calling to local emergency services
- Option to call internationally at affordable rates
- A free smartphone, which can be a Motorola, Wiko, Unimax, or Schok
Newphone Wireless
NewPhone Wireless is the second sister to AirTalk and also runs off T-Mobile towers. It offers free cell phone service for seniors with features like:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (15GB high speed)
- You can bring your own phone
- Free calling to emergency services
- Affordable international call rates
- A free phone, which could be flagship brands like iPhone, Samsung, etc
Access Wireless
Access Wireless is another provider of free phones from the government that utilizes T-Mobile towers. It offers the service with:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (15GB high speed)
- Personal hotspot to share data
- Option to bring your own cell phone
- A free touchscreen phone, which can be a Sky Devices, BLU, or NUU
Life Wireless
Life Wireless is one of the few providers of free phones for seniors on Medicare that utilizes the AT&T network. The service comes with features & perks such as:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (15GB high speed)
- Option to bring your own cell phone
- Personal mobile hotspot (up to 5GB)
- Domestic roaming free of charge
- Caller ID & Call Blocking support
- Free calling to emergency services
- A free touchscreen phone for new customers
Safety Net Wireless
Safety Net Wireless is another provider of the free government phone that runs off AT&T towers. It offers features like:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (22GB high speed)
- Has access to Caller ID & voicemail
- Free calling to emergency services
- It also offers free phones from brands like Samsung, LG, Google, etc.
StandUp Wireless
If TMobile is the best network in your area, StandUp Wireless is yet another provider of free phones for seniors to consider. It has features & perks such as:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (10GB high speed)
- An option to bring your own phone
- Includes free Caller ID & Voicemail
- It offers a free smartphone from SKY Devices, BLU, Hot Pepper, etc
American Assistance
American Assistance also offers free phones from the government through the T-Mobile network. It has features & perks such as:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (16GB high speed)
- Includes Caller ID, voicemail, & call waiting
- You can make free calls to Canada/ Mexico (only Californians)
Assist Wireless
If you’re still looking for free phones for seniors on Medicare through T-Mobile, Assist Wireless is a decent option. It has lovely perks such as:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (12GB high speed)
- Has free access to Caller ID & voicemail
- Offers free calling to emergency services
- Features amazing rewards from time to time
- Includes physical stores to shop & seek support
- It gives free touch screen phones when you join
Easy Wireless
Last on the list is Easy Wireless, yet another provider of free cell phones for seniors that utilizes T-Mobile towers. It has decent features, such as:
- Unlimited talk & texting
- Unlimited data (7.5GB high speed)
- FREE Calls to emergency services
- Has the option of a personal hotspot
- Supports Caller ID, voicemail, & 3-way calling
- It gives you a free phone, which will be Sky Devices or BLU.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a free cell phone for senior citizens?
It’s pretty easy to get a free cell phone for senior citizens if you have a low income. You’ll only need to visit my list of providers and select your favorite option. Then fill in your application details and attach the necessary document copies.
Can I get a free phone if I’m on Social Security?
YES, indeed, you can get a free phone and monthly service if you are on social security benefits. The only rule is that your total income (plus social security benefits) must be at 135% of poverty guidelines if applying through Lifeline. Then when applying for the free phone through the ACP program, your total income must be at or below 200% of poverty guidelines.
How do I qualify for a free phone with Medicare?
As we’ve just seen, Medicare is usually available to all levels of income, including even consumers on mid-range/ average and high income. Thus, the only way how to qualify for a free phone with Medicare will be if you can prove you also have low income or participates in a qualifying government assistance program.
You will Need Proof of Income or Assistance Program
If I’m to talk about everything there’s about the free phones for seniors on Medicare, we can be here the whole day. However, I’ve tried the best I can to include the most relevant details in this short guide. And the most crucial part of all to remember is that Medicare alone doesn’t qualify for the free phone.
To get the free phone for seniors on Medicare, you will need to have proof of low income or participation in a qualifying government assistance program. “Proof” is crucial here as you can’t complete an application with either of the free phone providers without an official document to prove your information.
Also, you should know most of the said providers don’t give you a free phone with only a Lifeline program. They require you to have a lifeline + ACP combo plan, whereas a few have an offer on the ACP-only service tier.
