Medical Guardian: Costs, Systems, and Plans

Medical Guardian Costs

Medical Guardian’s costs depend not only on which system you choose, but also on which contract length: monthly, quarterly, or annually. Prices are lowest if you sign up for a year, but you’ll have to pay for the entire year upfront, which may not be an option for everyone. Overall, you’ll pay somewhere between $27.95 and $46.95 per month for your medical alert system, plus $10 extra per month if you want to add fall detection.

Compared to other companies, these prices are a bit higher than average. Bay Alarm Medical, for example, starts at $24.95 per month. However, it’s not quite as expensive as Life Alert, which starts at $49.95 per month.

Medical Guardian Systems

There is an extensive range of Medical Guardian systems to choose from: the MGHome Landline, MGHome Cellular, MGMove, MGMini Lite, and MGMini. Each of them provides in-home or mobile protection. First, you’ll have to pay for the equipment itself. All of the systems, save for the MGMove, cost $149.95 upfront. The MGMove, on the other hand, costs $199.95. After you’ve paid for the equipment, you’ll choose a contract length. Here are the monthly prices with each contract length:

Of course, you won’t actually pay for the annual or quarterly packages in 12 installments, so here are the total amounts you’ll be billed for each option. While annual packages may be the cheapest, they require large upfront payments, which may not be an option for everyone.

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.

The Expert Take

From Ryan Molloy,

Caregiver and Tech Expert

When choosing a system, comfort is likely one of the most important factors. Through working with caregivers, I’ve found that the biggest issue is getting a loved one to actually wear the device. A medical alert is useless if your loved one refuses to wear it!

MGHome Landline

Monthly price: $27.95 to $31.95

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 out of, and the system’s 32-hour backup battery is a nice feature, especially during a summer power outage. We had a landline, but if you don’t have a landline like half of all seniors, according to data from the Chamber of Commerce, and want an at-home system, read on about the MGHome Cellular.

MGHome Cellular

Monthly price: $34.95 to $38.95

The MGHome Cellular is similar to the Classic Guardian, 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!

MGMini

Monthly price: $36.95 to $39.95

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.

MGMini Lite

Monthly price: $42.95 to $46.95

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 full MGMini Lite review.

MGMove Smartwatch

Monthly price: $38.95 to $42.95

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 the advanced features, like being able to send texts and check the weather. To learn more about this system, read our full MGMove watch review.

Want a closer look at all of Medical Guardian’s systems? Check out our video review below.

Current Medical Guardian Systems

Medical Guardian Add-Ons

In addition to its systems, Medical Guardian also offers several helpful accessories and services which add to your monthly payment.

Here is a little bit more about each product and service.

• Additional pendants: For peace of mind, users can purchase additional medical alert buttons for their existing plans. These water-resistant necklaces come as adjustable lanyards that make it easy to press the emergency button when out and about. The range coverage is between 1,300 to 1,400 feet from the base unit, depending on the medical alert system you choose. Price: $2.99 per month.
• Fall detection pendant: For active seniors who want added protection, they can purchase a fall alert pendant, which they can wear all the time, even in the shower. It is designed to automatically detect falls and alert Medical Guardian’s 24/7 monitoring centers, even if the user is unable to press a button or ask for help. Price: $10 per month. 
• Wall-Mounted Button: Medical Guardian offers the choice of an extra wall-mounted button that can be placed around the home for extra protection. It provides users with up to 2,000 feet of coverage in the home and, when pressed, connects users with a monitoring center in the event of an emergency. With easy installation, the buttons can be easily moved from one room to the other with no hassle or maintenance. However, given the fact that, according to a study published by the National Institute of Health,  people with cognitive impairment, visual impairment, urinary incontinence, and gait instability are more likely to fall around the toilet, the bathroom would be a good place to mount your button. Price: $2.99 per month.
• Caregiver tracking: Add OnGuard Alerts to your Medical Guardian system. These alerts provide enhanced emergency notifications and real-time text and email notifications for both you and your Care Circle, i.e., your designated caregivers. Price: $2.99 per month, or $0 with the MGMini only
• Voice-Activated Wall Button: Use this button at home and initiate a call to the monitoring center by using a voice command or pulling the cord. Price: $4.99 per month. 
• Lockbox: A user can purchase a lockbox to safely store the key to their home if EMTs need a code to access it. The lockbox gives emergency responders and other personnel access to your home if an emergency were to happen. A lockbox is a cost-effective item that removes the need for EMTs to break down your door to access your home in an emergency. Price: $2.99 per month.
• Protection Plan: For $6.99 per month, you can add on a protection plan, which covers equipment replacements for your device, plus two help buttons per year in case they are lost, stolen, or damaged. Price: $6.99 per month.
• 911 speaker box: Called Elite 911, this 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. Price: $9.99 per month. 
• Extra monitoring: If you want to add monitoring for another person — a spouse, perhaps — you can add extra monitoring for a low price. Price: $2.99 per month. 
• Support Circle app: Finally, the Support Circle app, available only with the MGMove smartwatch, lets caregivers text and chat through the device itself, as well as set calendar reminders and events. Price: $5 per month. 

Purchasing From Medical Guardian

You can purchase Medical Guardian systems online, over the phone, and at stores like Walmart. With no cancellation, installation, or activation fees, Medical Guardian comes with little in the way of startup costs.

You can easily select which subscription plan is right for you when you purchase systems through online checkout. For example, the subscription plan for the MGHome Landline starts at $36.95 per month, followed by a quarterly rate of $104.85 per quarter and an annual plan of $395.40. This plan also includes equipment at no extra charge.

Medical Guardian Warranties and Refunds

Medical Guardian doesn’t charge any cancellation fees; it does, however, provide prorated refunds for the months of unused service. While Medical Guardian doesn’t offer a free trial period for its systems, you can opt to safeguard the equipment by purchasing Medical Guardian’s protection plan, which starts at $6.99 per month. Otherwise, you’ll be responsible for the cost of any damaged equipment.

The MyGuardian Mobile App

Medical Guardian has its own customer care portal to help individuals communicate with a close-knit network during emergencies. The MyGuardian 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 MyGuardian app for free on the App Store or Google Play.

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.