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July 14, 2023
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We picked out a few more recommendations worth considering:
| In-home system | $19.99 per month |
|---|---|
| Mobile system | $39.95 per month |
| Most affordable system | $19.95 per month |
| Fall detection | $10 per month |
| Extra users | Not available |
| Protection plan | $1 per month |
After more than 35 years in the business, Medical Alert has become the United States’ largest independent provider of medical alert systems, with five regional and local field offices across the country. Medical Alert retails at-home and on-the-go devices that provide peace of mind during emergencies.
Are you considering Medical Alert for yourself or a loved one? Read on for details on each of Medical Alert’s systems and how they compare to devices and services offered by other companies.
Pro Tip: Despite its confusing name, Medical Alert is one of many companies that makes medical alert systems. There are many types of medical alert systems, including portable, GPS, and even landline-based systems.
You can choose from two streamlined Medical Alert systems: the Home System or the Mobile System.
The Home System offers the option of cellular or landline connectivity, starting at $22.95 to $32.95 per month. Additionally, the Mobile System starts at $42.95 per month.
Pro Tip: Medical Alert systems don’t require a long-term commitment, which is a plus if you like the flexibility of switching to a new medical alert provider.
The Medical Alert Home System starts as low as $19.95 per month, but that’s if you choose to pay on a semi-annual or annual basis. The Medical Alert Home System with the option of a cellular connection is the best choice for older adults who might spend most of their time at home and don’t have a landline connection. However, the pricing for this is slightly higher starting at $32.95 per month, compared to the landline connection at just $22.95 per month.
When you receive your system in the mail, you’ll find the following in the box: a base unit, an emergency pendant or wristband, a phone cord (or power cord for cellular systems), and step-by-step setup instructions. After you set up your system and turn on the base unit, you’ll be able to contact the monitoring center by pressing your lightweight emergency help button.
The Medical Alert Mobile System is a great option for older adults who live an active lifestyle. With 24/7 emergency assistance and GPS tracking, this system starts at $39.95 per month.
This all-in-one, easy-to-use mobile system includes AT&T’s cellular service and combines a traditional emergency help button with a two-way speaker and GPS technology. The waterproof system has a rechargeable battery that lasts for five days. Your package also includes a charging cradle and power cord for when your battery needs to recharge. You’ll also receive access to the Medical Alert Connect app to check the status of your system and a pendant or bracelet.
This lightweight and wearable system is one of our favorite medical alerts with fall detection. It has life-saving features such as a 24/7 help button that’s waterproof as well as a two-way speaker for clear communication.
FYI: To learn more about these systems, check out my hands-on review of Medical Alert.
| System | Home System | Mobile System |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Monthly price | $22.95 | $42.95 |
| Initial fees | None | None |
| For use | In home | In home and on the go |
| Equipment |
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| Connection type | Landline or cellular | Cellular |
| Fall Detection | $10 per month | $10 per month |
| Caregiver Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Features |
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Savings tip: If you want to get the most bang for your buck, then save up to $75 a year by paying annually.
Medical Alert’s $10 per month fall-detection pendant is arguably the brand’s most important add-on. The waterproof fall-detection pendant syncs with your medical alert system, and it can prove quite valuable if you are unable to activate an emergency call by pressing your device’s red button. Programmed with sensors to identify a falling motion, the fall-detection pendant immediately connects you to the emergency response center in the event of a fall. Even if you live alone, your emergency contacts and medical response team will be alerted instantly if you fall.
Lockboxes are free with a Medical Alert annual subscription plan, but they’re almost always worth the price even when they’re not free. If there’s an emergency and you can’t come to the door, a lockbox would allow first responders to enter your home by accessing a key inside the box using a code provided by your monitoring center.
Medical Alert services and devices can be purchased directly from the company website or over the phone. Several supermarket chains also sell the brand’s systems, which is convenient if you prefer to see the product before buying it. You may also see Medical Alert devices sold via popular senior-service companies.
Each of Medical Alert’s devices comes with a lifetime warranty. If you’re a new customer, you can qualify for a protection plan for just $1 per month to help you save up to $350 if your system is lost, stolen, or damaged.
Pro Tip: Limited time promotion for new customers only: Get select Medical Alert systems starting at $19.95 per month with free shipping, one month free, and a Protection Plan for just $1 per month.
Medical Alert’s customers receive a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to return any undamaged product for a full refund, minus the shipping cost. Any returns after your first 30 days are processed on a prorated basis.
To cancel your Medical Alert subscription, send an email to Medical Alert customer care at customerrelations@medicalalert.com or call 800-800-1003. No cancellation fees will be charged.
Caretakers who wish to bridge the geographical divide can use the Medical Alert Connect mobile app. This free app, available for both iOS and Android devices, delivers regular updates about the well-being of the older adults in their care. Upon clearance from the Medical Alert subscriber, the authorized caregiver gets access to the user’s device’s status, contact list, and test schedule.
Most importantly, the Medical Alert Connect app sends caregiver notifications every time the subscriber activates the emergency response or runs device tests. Caregivers can even get in touch with the emergency call center via the app, making it a great tool for caregivers.
Medical Alert takes monitoring quite seriously. The company is equipped with several fully redundant Five Diamond and UL-certified monitoring centers across the U.S. These monitoring units are available at all hours to answer distress calls.
Whether you’re calling to request assistance or to test your device, one of Medical Alert’s highly trained and multilingual operators should be at your service within approximately 20 seconds. Medical Alert believes language should never be a barrier to health care, so it provides its care agents an International Language Line capable of translating conversations into 140 languages in real time.
Medical Alert doesn’t offer many fancy add-ons or detailed caregiver tracking. It does, however, offer a simple line of systems that are reasonably priced and highly reliable. It’s not quite the best medical alert system, but it’s certainly a great option for people seeking protection inside or outside the home.
To learn more about our favorite medical alert systems, read our helpful guides:
Medical Alert panic buttons and fall-detection devices are waterproof, so they are perfect for you to take into your shower or bath. This capability allows the devices to stay on all the time. Your device should not be submerged in water for long periods of time, though, so you should avoid swimming with your device on.
Both systems are connected to AT&T’s network, but the in-home device has a fixed range in the home and the mobile device works anywhere in the United States.
The device itself is not what you are paying for. Rather, you’re paying for the monitoring service. For a slightly lower cost per month, you may want to consider paying annually.
Yes! In addition to the translation services available for more than 140 languages, Medical Alert hires monitoring center staff who are native speakers of languages other than English so they can help in these situations.
Ground shipping is the default shipping method, and it takes five to seven business days. It’s free for semiannual and annual subscribers, but it costs monthly customers $14.99. Medical Alert provides two other shipping options for an additional cost: second-day shipping, which costs $18.50 and arrives in two business days, and overnight/next-day delivery for $35.
