No-Cost Cell Service

Sentara Health Plans partners with Assurance Wireless, a federal Lifeline Assistance program supported by the federal Universal Service Fund. Assurance provides free smartphones and lifeline cell service to qualified members. This is not a benefit managed or provided by Sentara Health Plans.

Visit the Assurance Wireless website and enter your zip code to check if service is available in your area. Offers vary by state.

To view network coverage, Assurance Wireless provides street-level maps online.

Assurance Wireless Lifeline service is free to qualified Sentara Health Plans members. Additional voice minutes, data, international calling, and international texting are available for an additional fee. For more information, go to the “Adding Services to Your Account” section on the Assurance Wireless website.

Enrollment in this government benefit program is available to people who qualify based on federal or state-specific eligibility criteria. You may qualify for Assurance Wireless if you participate in any of the following government programs:

• Food Stamps/SNAP
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veterans pension benefit or survivors pension
• Medicaid
• Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
• Tribal specific programs
  
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance
  • Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reserves (FDPIR)
  • Tribal Head Start Income Eligibility

You can:

• Apply online.
• For a physical application, please call customer care at 1-888-898-4888 (TTY: 711) and one will be mailed to you.
• Call Assurance Wireless customer care at 1-888-898-4888 (TTY: 711).
• Speak to a representative in your neighborhood. The representative will help you apply. Along with proof of eligibility, you will be required to provide proof of address and identity to qualify for a free Assurance Wireless phone. Once the representative receives confirmation that you are approved for Lifeline service, you will be provided with a free phone. The representative will help you activate it.

If you are applying with SNAP or Medicaid, you will need ONE of the following Eligibility Documents.

• Benefit ID card with name and either expiration date or issue date printed on card (for example: SNAP or Medicaid card).
  • The issue date must be within the last 12 months, or the expiration date must be in the future. Cards with expiration dates in the past or issue dates more than a year old will not be accepted.
  • Benefit ID cards without name/expiration date/issue date will not be accepted and will result in application denial.
• Award or Notice Letter of Participation from an authorized government agency

OR

• Benefits Statement for qualifying program
  • Must include your name and address and be dated within the past 12 months.

• Assurance Wireless is only available to individuals who participate in a qualifying government program or are income-eligible.

• Only one wireless or wireline Lifeline account is allowed per household and service is non-transferable.
• Separate households that live at the same address are eligible, including residents of homeless shelters and nursing homes. Residents with temporary addresses are also eligible.
• The address you provide for your phone service must be your place of residence, whether permanent or temporary.

Call Assurance Wireless as soon as you know that you no longer qualify for Lifeline service from Assurance Wireless and they will stop your Assurance Wireless Lifeline service.

Yes, if you are approved, you can keep your current phone number.

Once you receive your Assurance Wireless phone, you can contact Assurance Wireless customer care at 1-888-321-5880 (TTY: 711) and they will help you keep your current number. Just call from a different phone and have your account number and password from your previous cell phone company handy.

Yes. Assurance Wireless offers directory assistance calls to blind, visually impaired, and other members with qualifying disabilities.

Please allow three business days to process the request after Assurance Wireless receives the request.