True emergency use doesn't require a phone plan at all. Legally, all working cell phones must be able to call 911 without any service plan. However, if you want something that allows calls to people other than 911, your best bet is either to do tracfone or to get a family member or friend to add her phone to their plan as a second line for $10/month. Then you can just pay them for any non-night/weekend minutes you do use and the $10/month surcharge.