Oct 26, 2022

If You’re on Medicaid, You Can Get FREE Wireless!

If You’re on Medicaid, You Can Get FREE Wireless!

There are a lot of Government subsidized programs that have been put in place to be lifelines to those who need them. Here we’re going to talk about two that are vital. Medicaid and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

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Let’s start first with Medicaid

Medicaid, like Medicare, can be confusing, so we’re going to break it down here to make it easier to understand.

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Who does Medicaid help?

Medicaid is a Federal-state assistance program that provides health coverage for some low-income people, needy families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states the government assistance program also covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.

In the recent past, Medicaid has begun to expand its coverage.

First, you should find out if your state is expanding Medicaid and learn what that means for you.

If your state is expanding its Medicaid program, you can use this chart to see what you may qualify for and if you qualify for a Medicaid cell phone based on your income and family size.

Even if you were told you didn't qualify for Medicaid in the past, you may qualify under the new rules. You can see if you qualify for Medicaid 2 ways:

Visit your state's Medicaid website. Use the drop-down menu at the top to select your state. You can also apply online right now and find out if you qualify. If you qualify, coverage can begin immediately.

Fill out an application in the Health Insurance Marketplace. When you finish the application, they will tell you which programs you and your family qualify for. If it looks like anyone is eligible for Medicaid and/or CHIP, the Marketplace will let the state agency know so you can enroll.

Moving On

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At the beginning of this post we said we’d be talking about two subsidized government programs that have been put in place to be lifelines for those who need them. Now that we’ve covered Medicaid, let’s move on to another powerful lifeline program – the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).  ACP helps keep you connected by providing discounted or free cell phone service and, if you are qualified for Medicaid, you are qualified for ACP.

About the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a government benefit program operated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides free cell phone service. Affordable Connectivity Program benefits may be obtained from any participating provider of eligible telecommunications carrier of your choice including Life Wireless. Only one member of a household can participate in the program and the free cell phone service cannot be transferred to another family member or individual.

Because many families struggle to afford cell phones and broadband Internet access service, both of which are vital to staying connected with their children’s schools, doctors, and employers, among others, the Federal Government also offers its Lifeline program.

About Lifeline

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Lifeline service is a federal program created to help qualified households pay for connectivity services such as wireless and internet plans. As with the Affordable Connectivity Program, only one such lifeline assistance program discount can be used per household and the Lifeline service program and the Lifeline service cannot be transferred to another family member or individual.

Examples of one household:

  • A married couple that lives together

  • A parent/guardian and child who live together

  • An adult who lives with friends or family who financially support him/her

Each of these are one household and must share one benefit.

Examples of more than one household:

  • Four roommates who live together but do not share money are four households. They can have one benefit each, for a total of four benefits.

  • 30 seniors who live in an assisted-living home are 30 households. They can have one benefit each, for a total of 30 total benefits.

Each state has different eligibility requirements such federal poverty guidelines such as receiving government assistance or having a household income that is at or below the federal poverty level for the state in which you reside.

In general though, you are qualified to receive Lifeline assistance if you participate in any of the programs listed here:

  • Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). (The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), was formerly known as Food Stamps.)

  • Medicaid (not Medicare)

  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

  • Section 8 Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA)

  • Veteran's Pension or Survivor's Pension Benefit

Additionally, if you are a resident of Federally-recognized Tribal lands, you may qualify for this government benefit program under the following programs:

  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

  • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance

  • Tribally Administered Temporary Assistance (TANF)

  • Head Start (if you meet the income-qualifying standards)

Even if you’re paying your monthly bills of just $20 a month for cell service, wouldn’t it be great to have that $240 to spend on groceries? If you apply for Lifeline support and are approved, you’ll receive:

  • FREE Unlimited Talk & Text

  • FREE 15GB Data (+ more data for California residents)

  • FREE Smartphone (or bring your own)

Double your connectivity. Pair Lifeline with the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

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If you’re approved for Lifeline supported services and you sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), you get two sources of free talk, text, and unlimited data that you can split between two phones. That means free cell service for you and free cell service for someone you love. If your child has been asking for a cell phone, this is a terrific opportunity to provide him or her with talk, text, unlimited data and the ability to stay in touch with you!

Of course you don’t have to split the service between two phones, you can keep it all on one. But it’s a wonderful option if your spouse, child or relative needs a phone – and who doesn’t? – but has been unable to get one due to the expense.

Whichever option you choose – to keep the data on one phone or split it between two – Life Wireless will make sure you receive the free talk, text, and unlimited data to help you stay connected.

Option 1: Combine Your Data

Activate Lifeline and ACP on the same device and receive unlimited talk, text, and data, plus 5GB of mobile hotspot.

Option 2: Split Your Data


Split your data between two phones or supported devices and you’ll have one device with ACP’s free talk, text, and 6GB of data and a second device with Lifeline’s talk, text, and 4.5GB of data (6GB of data in California).

Important things to note:

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Lifeline service and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) are separate programs. Lifeline service benefits may be combined with ACP benefits and applied to the same service plan. You may also apply Lifeline service and ACP benefits to different service plans. You don’t need to enroll in Lifeline service in order to enroll in ACP and you do not need to enroll in ACP to enroll in Lifeline service . You may choose to get Lifeline service and ACP services from different service providers, and you may transfer your Lifeline service and ACP services to another provider subject to certain regulatory restrictions.

About Life Wireless

Cute couple wearing backpacks and checking their cell for directions.

Life Wireless service is a prepaid service offered to those eligible for ACP discount benefits and those eligible for Lifeline service benefits.  To maintain your service and benefits, you need to activate your service by calling someone, initiating data usage (by going on Facebook, for example), or by responding to instructions from Life Wireless to activate the service.

To keep your account active, you must use the service at least once during any 30-day period by calling someone, answering a call from someone other than Life Wireless, sending a text message, using cellular data (again, by going on Facebook or Amazon, for example), purchasing additional service from Life Wireless, or by responding to a direct contact from Life Wireless confirming that you want to continue receiving service from Life Wireless.

Should your service goes unused for 30 days, you will no longer be eligible for Lifeline benefits and your service may be suspended (allowing only 911 calls and calls to the Life Wireless's customer care center) subject to a 15-day cure period during which you must use the service (as described above) in order to fully re-activate your service, keep your telephone number and remain enrolled in the ACP.

For questions about Life Wireless, visit our Contact Us page here.

Like Medicaid, Lifeline is your lifeline to maintaining a healthy life.

Happy young couple wearing blue jeans and sitting on the sofa.

See if you or anyone in your family is entitled to Medicaid, then stay connected for FREE to family, friends, employers, your children, your whole world with Lifeline.

Enroll now by using the Life Wireless Online Enrollment form.

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Fast facts about Life Wireless

Yes, you can add more minutes and data!

You can purchase additional minutes or data one of the following ways:

  • Go to www.LifeWireless.com and click "Add Minutes/Data"

  • If you have a smart phone, go to your MyLifeWireless app and click "Add Minutes".

  • Call Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620, or by dialing 611 on your Life Wireless phone.

  • You can also go to any Moneygram location and use Receive Code: 7924

Yes, you can track your minutes!

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Your minutes replenish each month on your anniversary date before end of the day. For example if you signed up and received your minutes on the 12th of the month, your minutes will replenish every month on the 12th of the month.

You can check your account balance the following ways:

  • Go to www.LifeWireless.com and click "My Account"

  • Go to your MyLifeWireless app on your phone, and click "Check Balance"

  • Call Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620, or by dialing 611 on your Life Wireless phone.

Yes, you can keep your current phone number!

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If your application is approved, you have the option to keep your current phone number.

Once you receive your Life Wireless phone in the mail, call Life Wireless Customer Service at 1-888-543-3620 and a representative will assist you in keeping your current number. Make sure that you don't call from your Lifeline phone and have your account number and password from your previous carrier handy.

What our customers are saying:

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"Life Wireless has been great. I have used it so many times for appointments and finding the proper care providers for my needs as well as for my family's needs. Thank you so much Life Wireless!" Rebecca L., KY

“Without this free phone, I would be lost. It has helped me stay in contact with my daughter’s specialist. I schedule her appointments and they can call back if there are any complications with her results. Thank you, Life Wireless.” Amanda Z., PA
 
“I've been looking for apartments, doctor’s offices, and school phone numbers, and my data provided has been a tremendous help in gaining access to this information. I'm very grateful for this service.” Maria R. AZ

 

 

Posted 1 year ago