The American Association of Retired Persons, better known as the AARP, is the nation’s largest organization for seniors aged 50 and older. Founded in 1958 by retired school principal Dr. Ethel Percy Andus, the AARP aims to enhance the quality of life for older Americans, promote independence and advocate for senior-friendly government policies and services.

There are over 38 million members, in this nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, who enjoy a host of benefits, including discounts on restaurant meals, hotel stays, travel and retail purchases at a number of locations nationwide.

The AARP also provides its members with valuable information about services that can help them retain their independence and enhance personal safety and security, which is why the AARP advocates the use of medical alert systems. These small systems pair a cellular or landline phone connection with one or more devices equipped with a user-activated help button. When the button is pressed, the user is instantly connected with a 24/7 emergency call response center that can quickly dispatch a neighbor, caregiver, family member or first responders.

Does AARP Cover Medical Alert Systems?

Although AARP membership doesn’t include coverage for personal help buttons and other emergency call systems, AARP members can find special deals on medical alert systems through some providers. These deals can range from free shipping and activation to ongoing price reductions on the monthly monitoring costs, which can add up to significant savings over time.

Given the fact that 25% of adults aged 65 and older suffer from at least one fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of fatal and acute injuries among older adults, it’s easy to see why the AARP endorses personal call buttons for seniors.

AARP Member Medical Alert Discounts

Right now, Philips Lifeline is the only medical alert provider on AARP’s list of companies offering discounts to AARP members. AARP’s discount list is updated regularly, so it’s always worth checking to see if more medical alert companies have been added before signing up for an emergency call monitoring service.

According to Philips Lifeline, active AARP members can save 15% on their monthly medical alert system monitoring fee. This means AARP members could pay only $46.71 per month for Lifeline’s landline GoSafe package that normally costs $54.95, while the HomeSafe with AutoAlert fall detection is discounted from $44.95 to $38.21. AARP members also get free shipping and activation fees are waived.

That said, a number of other medical alert companies also offer deals for AARP members, even though these deals are not listed on AARPs website.

For example, Bay Alarm Medical, another industry-leading company that has in-home, mobile and in-vehicle emergency call systems, offers special discounts for AARP members. Bay Alarm Medical is a preferred partner of the Association of Mature American Citizens, and AMAC members qualify for discounted monthly monitoring fees. Although Bay Alarm Medical isn’t an official AARP partner, AARP members qualify for the same discounts that AMAC members do.

Ask About AARP Discounts Before Picking a Medical Alert System

If you’re an AARP member who’s in the market for the best medical alert system for yourself or a loved one, be sure to ask about AARP discounts and deals before signing up for a service. Many medical alert companies are willing to offer incentives to new subscribers, which can include anything from waiving the activation fees to reducing monthly monitoring costs or adding features, such as a PIN-protected lockbox.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to call each medical alert company directly to ask about AARP discounts on medical alert systems, as these deals usually need to be authorized through a company sales rep.