Easy fix if anyone is really honestly worried about this: even if you do not have an active account a phone jack that is connected to your normal hard line phone system is required to operate for operator and emergency services. (This rule was put in place to ensure emergency service availability for people who's phone service has been disconnected for non-payment.)
It should be possible to keep one cheap phone connected to your old hard wired main phone jack and 911 should activate properly from that phone.
I know some people have kep a bare bones landline just in case. Have you done this?