Medical Guardian: Costs, Systems, and Plans
While every penny counts in our golden years, investing in a medical alert system is a wise financial decision that can save much more in the long run. These devices can allow you to age in place, which, according to AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey, is the desire of most U.S. adults.1
So, how do providers like Medical Guardian fit into this picture? Starting at $27.95 per month, in addition to one-time equipment fees, Medical Guardian systems are more expensive than average; however, the company’s reliable equipment and useful caregiver features make them worth considering.
Medical Guardian Costs
Every Medical Guardian system has two primary costs: a one-time equipment charge and a recurring monthly payment.
| Product | Monthly Service Price | Equipment Cost | Type | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MGHome Landline | From $27.95 | $149.95 | Home | Landline |
| MGHome Cellular | From $34.95 | $149.95 | Home | Cellular |
| MGMini | From $39.95 | $149.95 | Home On-the-go |
Cellular WiFi GPS |
| MGMini Lite | From $42.95 | $149.95 | Home On-the-go |
Cellular WiFi GPS |
| MGMove | From $38.95 | $199.95 | Home On-the-go |
Cellular WiFi GPS |
| Fall Detection | $10 | – | – | – |
| Protection Plan | $6.99 | – | – | – |
Compared to other companies, these prices are higher than average. Bay Alarm Medical, for example, starts at $27.95 per month, but its home-based systems include devices. That said, Medical Guardian is not quite as expensive as Life Alert, which starts at $49.95 per month plus a $198 equipment and activation fee.
Pro Tip: To find options from $20 per month, check out our guide to the best medical alert systems.
Medical Guardian Systems
Medical Guardian offers five systems: two home and three mobile systems. In addition to costs, the primary differences between all of these systems will be the connection type (landline vs. cellular) and how you wear it.
To learn more about our experience with these systems, read our full Medical Guardian Review. This article will focus on the specific devices, their features, and their costs.
MGHome Landline
Overview
The MGHome Landline is Medical Guardian’s most affordable and classically styled medical alert system. The base unit connects to your home’s landline and offers two-way communication between you and the emergency response operator. The pendant has an impressive 1,300-foot range, more than enough for the one-bedroom apartment we tested in, and the system’s 32-hour backup battery is a nice feature, especially in the event of a power outage.
Pricing
One-time equipment fee: $149.95
Subscription plan options:
- $31.95 per month
- $89.85 per quarter ($29.95/month)
- $335.40 per year ($27.95/month)
MGHome Cellular
Overview
There’s been a steady decline of landline use in recent years — nearly 72% of U.S. adults rely on wireless phones!2 If you’re among non-landline users, the MGHome Cellular is a good option for you.
The MGHome Cellular is similar to the MGHome Landline, except it runs on AT&T’s cellular network. The base unit features an LED display screen and a 32-hour backup battery. The cellular connectivity is nice, and the range is even higher: 1,400 feet away from our base station—not that we needed it, given our square footage!
Pricing
One-time equipment fee: $149.95
Subscription plan options:
- $38.95 per month
- $110.85 per quarter ($36.95/month)
- $419.40 per year ($34.95/month)
MGMini
Overview
The MGMini is the company’s most affordable portable system, which we wore as a pendant necklace. Designed with discretion in mind, the MGMini is half the width of traditional devices. It’s only slightly taller than a matchbox and less than half the weight of one, coming in at a mere 1.3 ounces.
Despite its small stature, this sleek cellular system boasts a five-day battery, water resistance, four color choices, two-way talk, and built-in GPS and WiFi tracking that can pinpoint your exact location during an emergency. We loved the fact that we could wear it for days without charging it, even bringing it into showers with us. The pretty rose gold color didn’t hurt, either! For more information, read our MGMini review.
Pricing
One-time equipment fee: $149.95
Subscription plan options:
- $43.95 per month
- $125.85 per quarter ($41.95/mo)
- $479.40 per year ($39.95/mo)
MGMini Lite
Overview
The MGMini Lite is the MGMini, but as you may have guessed, even lighter, just 0.004 pounds. This watch has a three-day battery life and operates off a cellular network, so we could wear it anywhere without worrying about losing connection. To learn more about this system, read our MGMini Lite review.
Pricing
One-time equipment fee: $149.95
Subscription plan options:
- $46.95 per month
- $134.85 per quarter ($44.95/month)
- $515.40 per year ($42.95/month)
MGMove Smartwatch
Overview
The MGMove smartwatch is a medical alert watch with many of the same features other smartwatches have, such as SMS text messaging, schedules, and weather forecasts, but it has the added bonus of a medical alert system.
This device also features GPS tracking and Wi-Fi connectivity. The MGMove is the most expensive option available from Medical Guardian because the other watch lacks advanced features, like sending texts and checking the weather. To learn more about this system, read our MGMove watch review.
Pricing
One-time equipment fee: $199.95
Subscription plan options:
- $42.95 per month
- $122.85 per quarter ($40.95/month)
- $467.40 per year ($38.95/month)
Medical Guardian Add-Ons
In addition to its systems, Medical Guardian offers accessories and add-ons that can help users customize their medical alert system to their needs.
Fall detection
Price: $10/month
Seniors who want added protection can purchase fall detection. This feature, built into the mobile systems, detects falls and alerts Medical Guardian's 24/7 monitoring centers, even if the user is unable to press a button or ask for help.
The MyMedicalGuardian Mobile App
Price: Included
Medical Guardian has its own customer care portal to help individuals communicate with a close-knit network during emergencies. The MyMedicalGuardian app is a platform that includes important health and safety information all in one place, as well as billing features to manage your account. You can download the MyMedicalGuardian app for free on the App Store or Google Play.
OnGuard Alerts
Price: $2.99/month
OnGuard Alerts provide enhanced emergency notifications and real-time text and email notifications for both you and your Care Circle, i.e., your designated caregivers.
Support Circle App
Price: $5/month
The Support Circle app, available with the MGMove smartwatch only, lets caregivers text, chat, and set calendar reminders and events through the device itself.
Protection Plan
Price: $6.99
The protection plan covers equipment replacements for your device, plus two help buttons per year, if they are lost, stolen, or damaged.
Lockbox
Price: $2.99/month
A lockbox is a great option if you want to store a house key in a place where emergency response workers can access it.
Wireless Wall-Mounted Button
Price: $2.99/month
Medical Guardian offers an optional wall-mounted emergency button for extra protection throughout the home, providing up to 2,000 feet of coverage. Pressing the button connects you to a monitoring center. It's easy to install and move between rooms. Since people with cognitive impairment, visual impairment, urinary incontinence, and gait instability are more likely to fall around the toilet,3 the bathroom would be a good place to mount your button.
Voice-Activated Wall Button
Price: $4.99/month
Use this button at home and initiate a call to the monitoring center by using a voice command or pulling the cord.
911 Speaker Box
Price: $9.99/month
Elite 911 is a speaker box that, with the touch of a button, can let you communicate with either 911 or the nearest monitoring center. This device uses the same cellular network as the rest of your system, and it plugs in, meaning you don't have to worry about the battery running out.
Purchasing From Medical Guardian
You can purchase Medical Guardian systems online or over the phone. With no cancellation, installation, or activation fees, Medical Guardian comes with little in the way of startup costs, just equipment and subscription fees.
You can easily select which subscription plan is right for you when you purchase systems through online checkout.
Medical Guardian Warranties and Refunds
Medical Guardian doesn’t charge any cancellation fees; however, it provides prorated refunds for the months of unused service. If you want to cancel your service, call the company. You’ll receive a signed cancellation letter via snail mail or email.
Once you return the equipment or receive the letter, you’ll get that prorated refund. However, you may have to pay a restocking fee, and your refund could take up to three to five business days to process from the time you return your system or receive your cancellation letter. Also, note that you can’t cancel before the first 90 days, so you’ll definitely have to pay for at least three months.
Medical Guardian will replace any system with defects in materials or workmanship, as long as you still have an active subscription. However, it will not replace equipment damaged by normal wear and tear, accidents, or abuse. If you add the Protection plan for an extra $6.99 per month, you'll get coverage for:
- Accidental damage
- Defects
- Malfunction
- Normal wear and tear
The company will replace your item with either a new or refurbished version.
Medical Guardian Monitoring
Medical Guardian provides exceptional customer service and reliable 24/7 monitoring services. Its monitoring center features emergency operators that are certified and trained to meet the industry’s highest standards. Medical Guardian currently has the following certifications: TMA Five Diamond certification, ESA Security certification, FM Approved certification, and UL Listed certification. In terms of assistance in different languages, Medical Guardian’s highly certified operators can speak with users through a third-party translation service.
Is Medical Guardian Worth It?
As a top contender in the medical alert industry, Medical Guardian provides high-quality in-home and on-the-go products that make it easier for adults to stay protected at all times. With no contracts, Medical Guardian systems offer several benefits such as long signal range, spousal monitoring, and 24/7 UL-certified monitoring.
While there’s no free trial offer, Medical Guardian excels at providing modern devices ranging from an in-home system to a smartwatch medical alert system that works for any lifestyle. With impressive range coverage and responsive water-resistant features, Medical Guardian provides streamlined systems and services for both caregivers and users.
Pro Tip: To learn more about medical alert systems, check out our medical alert system guide.
Medical Guardian is great for:
- Largest signal range in the industry: Medical Guardian’s in-home systems provide exceptional coverage range, up to 1,400 feet from the base unit (approximately four football fields of protection).
- 24/7 quality protection: Medical Guardian has UL-certified monitoring centers with highly trained emergency call operators who provide 24/7 emergency assistance.
- Flexible payment plans: Medical Guardian allows you to pay on a month-to-month basis. If you want to cancel at any time, all you need to do is contact Medical Guardian and send back your equipment.
- Long battery life: Medical Guardian’s mobile systems have up to five days of battery life.
Medical Guardian is not ideal for:
- Affordability: While Medical Guardian provides high-quality products and services, it is a bit pricier than Bay Alarm Medical systems, which start at $31.95 per month. You can also check out our list of affordable medical alert systems to learn more.
Want to explore more options? Compare Medical Guardian vs. Lifefone or Medical Guardian vs. MobileHelp.
Compare Medical Guardian to Other Brands
Our Methodology
Our medical alert system testing process takes one week per device, during which time we install the system in our homes, test out each of its features, and examine how it compares to similar devices.
Because most providers offer a range of systems — including in-home units, mobile devices, and smartwatches — we evaluate each one with the understanding that, at their core, they all serve the same purpose: quickly connecting users to help in an emergency.
From there, we assess performance based on:
Response times: We place multiple test calls (typically 10 per device), measure how long it takes to reach a monitoring agent, and calculate an average response time.
Ease of use: In an emergency, simplicity matters. We evaluate how easy it is to activate each system, including button size, device design, and overall usability for older adults.
Customer support: We interact with both monitoring center staff and customer service teams to assess responsiveness, professionalism, and how well they handle senior-specific needs.
Affordability: Most medical alert systems fall between $20 and $50 per month. We prioritize options within this range that still deliver strong value.
Contract flexibility: We favor companies that offer month-to-month plans with no long-term commitments or cancellation fees.
Extra features: We also consider added functionality like fall detection, GPS tracking, voice commands, and caregiver apps. While not essential for everyone, these features can enhance safety and convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much does Medical Guardian cost?
Medical Guardian costs start at $27.95 (see graph above). Fall detection is available on select systems for an additional $10 per month. Discounted rates are available when you choose to pay annually rather than month to month.
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What is the policy for lost or damaged equipment?
Without the Protection Plan, which costs an additional $6.99 per month, Medical Guardian will not repair or replace lost or damaged equipment, only defects in the materials and workmanship. If you have an active Protection Plan, the company will replace lost or damaged equipment with new or refurbished equipment.
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Does Medicare or other insurance companies cover Medical Guardian?
You may need to check with your specific provider regarding possible coverage. However, in general, standard Medicare will not cover the cost of a medical alert device.
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Can fall detection be added to an existing system?
Yes, you can add fall detection to any Medical Guardian system for an additional $10 per month.
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Is there an app available for all Medical Guardian devices?
Yes, all Medical Guardian systems support the MyMedicalGuardian app; however, we found that the mobile systems have the most in-app features, including location tracking.
