Assurance Wireless just leapfrogged past everyone else in the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone business by offering its customers much, much more.
The company serves low income Americans in 40 states plus the District of Columbia and we can’t help but say that its new Free Talk & Unlimited Text Plan is unlimited and unbelievable. Especially when you compare it to the plans offered by Assurance’s major competitors.
What are the new Assurance Wireless unlimited plans?
In California: New customers in California will now receive a free cell phone, unlimited voice minutes and unlimited texts every month.
Wait. Let’s pause for a moment and repeat that, because you may not have believed it the first time you read it: Assurance’s California FREEdom Plan includes a free cell phone, unlimited voice minutes and unlimited texts. It’s the best deal in the free government cell phone business anywhere in the country.
Assurance has also assured its current California customers that they will be added to the new unlimited plan on a rolling basis.
In all other states: New customers in 39 other states* plus the District of Columbia will now receive a free cell phone, 250 voice minutes, and unlimited texts each month. No, it’s not quite the incredible deal being offered in California, but it’s still big news in the Lifeline Assistance business. Current customers in those states will also be migrated to the new unlimited plan on a rolling basis.
States being offered the Free Talk & Unlimited Text plan are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
But Assurance isn’t done sweetening the pot for new customers in those 39 states and the District of Columbia. Anyone who enrolls by December 31, 2014 will also get 250 free bonus voice minutes during each of their first four months of service. That’s a total of 500 free voice minutes during each of those months. Beginning in the fifth month, they’ll continue to get unlimited text messages each month plus 250 free monthly voice minutes.
It’s all good for current Assurance Lifeline customers, too, because they’ll be switched over to the Free Talk & Unlimited Text plan on a rolling basis.
Assurance understands its customers
“For more than 25 years, the Lifeline program has provided support to low-income Americans to keep them connected through periods of financial hardship,” Grace Boehm, Assurance Wireless Director of Strategy & Business Planning said in a press release. “As more and more Americans choose wireless service to stay connected with employers, doctors, schools and families, we are pleased to provide additional service and ease their burden.”
What else comes with the new unlimited Assurance Wireless plans? Voicemail account, call waiting, caller ID and access to 911 in case of emergency.
Assurance seems to be doing everything it can to make things easier for its Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone customers. For example, Assurance makes it easy to move your existing cellphone numbers over to a new Assurance Wireless account. It also offers affordable data plans and international calling plans.
You may qualify for one of these great Assurance Wireless unlimited plans if you live in one of the areas they serve (40 states plus the District of Columbia). You may qualify if you currently participate in one or more state or federal assistance programs. And you may also qualify if your total household income falls at or below federal poverty guidelines.
As we said in our headline, these unlimited plans from Assurance Wireless are tantamount to a declaration of war in the Lifeline Assistance free government cell phone business. Now we’ll just have to sit back and see how the other big competitors (Safelink Wireless, Budget Mobile, Life Wireless and ReachOut Wireless) fight back.
S says
Free talk and unlimited text plan. Colorado is one of the states being offered this. says free talk so Colorado residents on assurance can talk as much as they want for free
Michelle says
I have one of ur free phones I can’t find anyone to call I need help I can’t text please I need help
Free Government Cell Phones says
We’d love to help, Michelle, but we’re not sure what you’re asking. What do you mean when you say you find anyone to call?
Nina Castillo says
Unlimited talk would be awhole lot better than the text minutes cause we need talking with familys or our kids in case we cant me it home on time or something happens anytime sign and dated 3-12-15 Ms.Nina Castillo of P.T.LA
Cheryl says
obama phone? reallly
Collie says
Does anyone know how to send these wireless phones a text? I am helping a neighbor whose daughters phone won’t take he calls so we are trying to see if we can get her to be able to text since this is her only phone any help is appreciated.
BB says
YEs. The text address may be @yrmobl.com with that you can send the number a text from email. if it doesn’t work, the phone number can send a text to an email instead of phone number, and that will give you the text address in the email header.
Sandy Palacio says
I am trying to help an elderly lady to get her in touch with a live person to talk to her regarding the OBAMA phone
I ahve tried looking on line for her and I keep coming up with recording, she does not to go through the recording she get mixrf up . can someone help her. Thank You Sandy
charles says
what type of phones are available with Assurance ? are they out of date used phones ?
FreeGovernmentCellPhones.net says
You will need to contact Assurance Wireless to see what phone they are giving out. These companies change out the models all of the time.
Dr TCH says
OK,this sounds like a good plan…and I immediately called their number to requets an application. Yet, Assurance’s website seems to answer all the questions, but one. Will I still get my present “Lifeline” discount on my land-line? Though I like the idea of the cell phone for emergencies, I ‘d prefer to keep the landline for most of my calls.
sr says
No. You can only have one Lifeline account. You can’t have it on both a landline and a mobile phone.
Lauren says
I currently have an account with Assurance, & was texted by them saying I now had unlimited mins. & texts. (I’m in CA) But the phone I was originally sent is the worst, & I’d like to upgrade it. A CS rep told me I could use any paylo phone, but how do I find out what to do & what is included (I’m guessing I won’t be able to get internet or most apps, but what about photos, etc.?) Every site I go to keeps rerouting me to another site that reroutes me back to the first site! I can’t seem to find any place that has all the info I need in one place. Can you provide one please? Or a link? Or a phone #? I’d really appreciate it, & there are probably other people having the same problem.
Thanks much!
Free Government Cell Phones says
Here’s what I found on the Assurance site here. But I don’t see any instructions on what to do once you buy the phone. If anyone knows we’d be interested in hearing how you do it.
Can I use a Virgin Mobile PayLo phone with an Assurance Wireless account?
Selected Virgin Mobile phones other than the primary handset, the Assurance Wireless Jax by Kyocera, may be used with an Assurance Wireless account. However, for the best customer experience, we encourage you to use the handset sent to you by Assurance Wireless. From time to time, a different model phone may be provided to new Assurance Wireless customers due to availability.
Can I use any Virgin Mobile phone with my Assurance Wireless account?
Selected Virgin Mobile phones may be used with an Assurance Wireless account excluding the Party Animal, Super Model, Blackberry® and Android™ models. However, for the best customer experience we encourage you to use the handset sent to you by Assurance Wireless.
BB says
you cant use a smartphone with assurance wireless. just the “dumb” phones.
Anita Rossi says
I’m a former Assurance customer. I was satisfied with their old service. However, I did have to buy a more current phone at the time it was during the holidays and I found a model for under $20. (Just happened to have that extra cash then.) Unfortunately, that phone was either stolen or lost, and when I called Assurance to request a phone for which I could text from I was told that they would ‘consider’ a model better suited for texting when they sent me my replacement phone. Needless to say, I did not receive such a phone. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I am deeply appreciative of the service. I don’t mean to be a snob–it just so happens I’ve come to find out that my family do more texting than calling these days. Assurance told me that I could purchase such a phone on my own. Now I’m in the middle with no cell phone (which doesn’t feel weird to me because I only wanted it for emergencies at the time). I am chronically ill and receive social security disability as my only income. I rarely have much company from anyone–friends and family forget I exist or they forget that I’m home alone and not out having fun elsewhere–and I now need a cell phone as my ‘only’ phone. The landline phone I have is too expensive to keep. This news of unlimited minutes and texts is great, but how come Assurance is still ‘giving’ double minutes for new customers? One last thought, I’m still without a cell phone and I’d like to know how one would send a text more than 4 or 5 characters with a phone that has a regular phone dial? As I have cognitive disabilities due to my illness I couldn’t keep it together enough to get a sentence out requesting help if I were to need assistance of some kind. Please advise.
Lauren says
To Anita: Are you in CA? You can buy a paylo phone at Walmart, Best Buy, CVS, & a few other places. I have one that I hate from when I had Virgin Mobile (who is apparently the parent company of Assurance, but Assurance doesn’t seem to drop calls the way Virgin Mobile does for some reason?) Anyway, if you have access to a computer, look up “paylo phones for Assurance Wireless” & it will list the places you can buy them, & the prices. I think I saw one for as low as $10.00. I paid $30.00 for the one I have, & if it doesn’t work any better once I figure out how to switch it over from Virgin Mobile to Assurance, I’d happily give it to you. Not sure how we could hook up to do that, I’d be willing to mail it to you (since I seem to be in a little better situation than you are~ I’m so sorry your family isn’t taking better care of you!) but I also have limited funds so I couldn’t afford much. We’d have to exchange contact info somehow. Facebook? I don’t know, just a thought. Best wishes & good luck to you.
charles says
walmart has a nice one for $14 11/16/2014
sharon says
But when will Assurance offer free data enabled internet phones????
Like Budget Mobile!
I wont switch to Assurance til they offer that.
BB says
the service is designed as a LIFE LINE. its not for surfing the internet or jacking around. There will never be smartphones and data with it.
Terry says
This is great news. The only problem is you can’t get in touch with Assurance. We are a large Social Services Agency in Tennessee and we would like to give out Assurance materials to our clients. In three years of trying, we can’t get in touch with anyone at Assurance to talk to about doing this.
BB says
Why not just give out the applications?
larry rogers says
I am try two get a phone but I not onw ebt