Personal medical alarms
Apply for government help to pay for a monitored medical alarm service if you have an ongoing illness, an injury, age-related health problems or if you’re a disabled person.
For information about medical alarm services, equipment and calling for help, see Using a personal medical alarm.
What government help is available
If you have an ongoing illness or are a disabled person
The Disability Allowance from Work and Income can help cover the rental and monitoring costs of your medical alarm. You can apply for you, your partner, or a child.
Find out who can get the Disability Allowance, which medical alarm suppliers are MSD-accredited, what support you can get and how to apply. Whether you qualify or not depends on how much you earn.
Medical alarms — Work and Income
After an accident or injury
If the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is supporting you after an accident or injury, they may be able to cover the costs of aids and equipment for your recovery.
Getting aids and equipment to help with an injury — ACC
Living in a retirement village
If your alarm was paid for by a Disability Allowance before you moved into the retirement village, when you move in you’ll still receive the Disability Allowance for your alarm if:
- you still need it, and
- the cost is not covered by the service fee at the retirement village.
If the cost is part of the standard service fee you’re paying to live in a retirement village, you cannot apply for a Disability Allowance to pay for it.
Medical alarms — Work and Income
What other help is available
Medical alarm suppliers
Most people get their alarm from a supplier accredited by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). This means the supplier:
- has to meet certain standards of service
- has an approved complaints process
- provides the alarm at a reasonable cost.
To find out which providers are MSD-accredited check the Work and Income website.
MSD-accredited medical alarm suppliers — Work and Income
Utility links and page information
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