For many seniors, the typical cell phone plans available via major US cellular providers are ill suited to their needs. This is particularly true for those who no longer work and have adult children who are no longer in their household. As calling plans have matured and consumers have begun to increasingly rely on their cell phones, the typical plan includes hundreds of minutes of talk time that some seniors simply won't use.
For these individuals there are options however. The first and most obvious option are any of the plans offered by Jitterbug, maker of the uncomplicated senior friendly cell phone. Jitterbug offers a variety of cell phone plans which are certainly less complicated and perhaps more appropriate for those needing fewer minutes of talk time. All of the Jitterbug plans eliminate the complexity of varied billing that is dependent upon time of day and location, as all calls are billed the same. Minutes rollover for at least 90 days and there is no contract to bind users if they choose to opt out at any time. One of the plans offers users a pay-as-you-go option at 35 cents/minute; a fairly high per minute rate but one that can still save money for those that have limited calling needs. There are also a number of monthly plans. For instance, a user can select a 150 minute plan for only /month or if they dislike monthly bills they can choose an annual plan. In fact, a user is able to select add-on-minutes only which roll over for an entire year and can cost as little as 15 cents/minute.
Verizon Cell
Another option for seniors who have more restricted calling needs is the AT&T Senior Nation 200 Plan. By committing to a two year agreement, users can get 200 anytime minutes, 500 night and weekend minutes, and unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling. The fact that there are no roaming or long distance charges does make the plan a bit simpler and the .99/month fee is certainly more affordable than the typical plan. Calls beyond the plan limit do however incur a higher rate; at 45 cents/minute.
Verizon Wireless offers an equivalent plan through their Americas Choice 65 Plus Single Line Plan. It too provides 200 anytime minutes, 500 night & weekend minutes, and unlimited in network calling. Like its AT&T competition, this plan is available for .99/month for users who agree to a 2 year contract. For senior couples there is also an appropriate option; the Americas Choice 65 Plus Two Line Plan. This plan provides 450 shared anytime minutes, 1,000 shared night & weekend minutes and costs .99. Just as the Jitterbug plans require users to use a Jitterbug cell phone, these Verizon Senior plans require the use of Verizon's Coupe cell phone which is designed with larger buttons and an easy view screen.
Certainly, pay-as-you-go phones are another option for avoiding cell phone plans that commit the user to large bundles of minutes. However, for seniors who want a predictable bill, the consistency of a plan, and a phone that is for general use versus "emergency only", the above options are the primary choices at this time.
Cell Phone Plans That Make Sense For Seniors
The Jitterbug is a great choice for a senior cellphone. How does it stack up against the prepaid phones like the TRacfone SVC in terms of cost?
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