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December 2, 2021
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Founded in 1987, Life Alert is one of the most popular medical alert systems. Thanks to their famous commercials, the Life Alert name has become synonymous with in-home protection. However, there are a few key aspects of this company you should consider before investing in their system.
In this article, I’ll review all things related to Life Alert: their systems, their costs, and their baffling requirement of long-term contracts.
| In-Home System | $49.95 per month |
| Mobile System | $89.95 per month |
| Most Affordable System | $49.95 per month |
| Fall Detection | Not available |
| Extra Users | $10 per month |
| Protection Plan | $198 lifetime warranty |
Pro Tip: Life Alert is not the only medical alert system — take a look at my favorite alternatives to Life Alert.
If you’re interested in Life Alert systems, you’ll have to order over the phone, as they don’t currently sell their products over the internet. Further, their equipment is only available for leasing (not owning), and the company requires a minimum three-year contract commitment.
Currently, Life Alert offers three systems: Life Alert Basic, Life Alert Basic with Help Buttons, and Life Alert Basic with Help Buttons and Mobile. None of these systems provide fall detection capabilities. Also, surprisingly, I found out that there’s actually an expensive one-time membership fee of $198. While this includes the activation fee and other up-front costs, it’s fairly pricey compared to more affordable medical alert systems.
This system starts at $49.95 per month, with a one-time cost of $95. It’s intended for those who spend a majority of their time at home. With 72 hours of backup battery, the Life Alert Basic comes with one main base station unit that uses either a landline or cellular connection. By pressing the medical alert button, a user will activate two-way communication and wait for emergency dispatchers to come on the line and alert paramedics if needed.
This second-tier system has an up-front cost of $96 and a monthly $69.95 subscription charge. In addition to the main unit, this package comes with a help button that comes in the form of either a wristband or a pendant (both are waterproof). The main unit uses a landline or cellular network which connects to both the monitoring center and the help buttons. For peace of mind, the help buttons work within an 800-foot range of the base station and come with a seven-year battery life.
As the third and most expensive plan starting at $89.95 per month, with a one-time fee of $198, this premiere package comes with a base station, a pendant, and a mobile pendant. The only difference is that the second pendant comes equipped with built-in GPS to provide users with more peace of mind when they’re on the go. The GPS system works to pinpoint a user’s location and alerts the Life Alert monitoring center when there’s a medical emergency either in or outside the home. As a plus, the mobile pendant has a battery that can last up to 10 years.
FYI: Life Alert doesn’t offer fall detection. If you’re looking for a system with this feature, then take a look at our guide to fall detection devices.
| System | Life Alert Basic | Life Alert Basic With Help Buttons | Life Alert Basic With Help Buttons and Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $49.95 | $69.95 | $89.95 |
| Initial Fees | $95 | $96 | $198 |
| For Use | In-home | In-home | In-home and away |
| Equipment | Life Alert Base Station | -Life Alert Base Station -Help Button (bracelet or necklace) |
-Life Alert Base Station -Help Button (bracelet or necklace) -Mobile pendant |
| Connection Type | Landline or cellular connection | Landline or cellular connection | Landline or cellular connection |
| Fall Detection | No | No | No |
| Caregiver Portal | No | No | No |
| Additional Features | 72-hour battery backup | -Help buttons have a 7-year battery life -Waterproof pendants or wristbands |
-Built-in GPS -Mobile pendant with a 10-year battery life |
For users who prefer adding more features to their system, Life Alert provides a few options. While their add-ons are not as exhaustive as other medical alert systems such as Bay Alarm Medical, they are still helpful for extra protection.
FYI: To learn more about Bay Alarm Medical, take a look at our Bay Alarm Medical review and Bay Alarm Medical costs.
Wall help button: For extra protection, these waterproof buttons can be mounted anywhere in the home. Using a cellular connection, they can be attached to high-risk areas where users are most likely to fall. This could include areas such as the bathroom, shower, or stairway. Since these buttons are water-resistant, they can be placed in the bathroom without being damaged. Additionally, these buttons have a built-in battery that lasts for up to ten years.
Home security help button: In the event of a home intrusion, this button helps provide an extra layer of protection. The user can simply push the home security button, which connects them to a security dispatcher. From there, the dispatcher can alert the police or scare away an intruder using a loud voice through the speaker.
There is no other way to purchase from Life Alert other than over the phone. For some people, this may be less convenient, as it may require them to listen to an extended sales pitch. However, Life Alert has maintained its high standards and is a trusted name in medical alert systems, which justifies why they might prefer establishing communication with potential customers over the phone rather than modern online checkouts with little social interaction.
With Life Alert, refunds are only offered in the event that a user transitions to a care facility or passes away. In terms of warranty, users can enjoy a free lifetime guarantee warranty and the flexibility of leasing, rather than purchasing their equipment from Life Alert. For instance, your equipment will be replaced if it breaks, regardless of how long you’ve had it. However, keep in mind that Life Alert charges $49 to replace any lost pendants.
FYI: Not sure which medical alert system has the best features? For a comprehensive system comparison, read our helpful guide on Life Alert vs Philips Lifeline.
Life Alert offers a free user-friendly app for both iPhone and Android users. The app is designed to help users contact the monitoring center in the event of a medical emergency or home intrusion. Users who can’t access their physical help button can press a large red emergency help button on their smartphone for at least three seconds. When I checked the iOS app version, I was also pleased to see a variety of protection services listed — ranging from medical and fire protection to gas poison protection.
As a trusted brand for over 30 years, Life Alert has been used by hundreds of thousands of people that require monitoring both on the go and at home.
With UL Certified Monitoring Centers in the U.S., Life Alert provides 24/7 help. Since 2008, Life Alert claims to have saved a person from a catastrophic situation every 11 minutes — with the total figure now surpassing over 500,000. Other credentials that are worth pointing out include an A+ rating as an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau, along with a five-star Consumer Affairs accredited rating. Additionally, Life Alert is Five Diamond certified with the International Central Station Alarm Association.
“Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” is a phrase that many of us have heard on TV. Overall, Life Alert is a trusted brand that owns and operates its own monitoring centers in the U.S. and provides speedy response times. It’s also the only company endorsed by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop. Another plus is that their batteries don’t require constant charging or replacing and last for nearly a decade compared to other medical alert systems. Life Alert also excels by connecting with its customer base over the phone, rather than having them make online transactions.
To learn more about Life Alert, check out my Life Alert reviews.
To learn more about medical alert systems, check out our helpful guides:
Life Alert’s most affordable system will cost $49.95 monthly, and these prices can go as high as $89.95 per month. Each system also comes with activation fees.
Life Alert requires a minimum three-year service agreement. The only way to opt out of this contract is if the user either passes away or transitions to a 24/7 care facility.
Your local Area Agency on Aging likely has some sort of program to provide discounted or free medical alert systems; however, in most cases, they’ll offer these deals on more affordable systems than Life Alert.
At a minimum, you’ll end up paying $49.95 per month plus a one-time $95 activation fee for Life Alert. Keep in mind that you’ll also have to lock into a three-year contract, meaning you’ll end up paying a good chunk of change over time.
Life Alert and other medical alert systems are not covered by Medicare, as they’re not considered durable medical equipment. However, your insurance provider or local Area Agency on aging will likely offer some sort of discount on a different brand of medical alert system.
Life Alert does not require a WiFi connection, as their systems use either an existing landline connection or a built-in cellular connection to connect you with their monitoring center.
AARP has no formal connection with Life Alert; however, Philips Lifeline, another medical alert provider, offers discounts to current AARP members.
MobileHelp, Medical Guardian, and Bay Alarm Medical offer in-home medical alert systems that start at under $30 per month, far less than the $49.95 required for Life Alert.
