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Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian each offer mobile systems; however, the latter’s Active Guardian (right) has a longer battery life and built-in fall detection.
Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical alert services are designed to offer a sense of security––whether you’re at home or away. On the surface, both of these companies are quite similar. Each of them offers a variety of systems and devices that allow subscribers to obtain help quickly in an emergency. They also offer automatic fall detection, no-contract service agreements, and medical alert watches.
With that said, there are some key differences between Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical. Before you go ahead and purchase a system from one of these companies, you should take a closer look at each of them, ultimately helping you find which one has the right solution for your needs.
Pro Tip: Looking to purchase a medical alert system? Be sure to check out my guide to medical alert devices.
Medical Guardian Overview
Founded in 2006, Medical Guardian is one of the newer players in the world of medical alert systems. In this short time, it has quickly become one of the most popular ways to protect yourself, both in and outside your home. Their Freedom Guardian smartwatch also offers a modern way to stay protected on the go.
With support for over 200 languages, Medical Guardian will monitor your system with compassion and attention, offering support in the event of an emergency. As an added feature, they offer medication reminders and a lockbox.
Medical Guardian Equipment
Extra Help Buttons: In addition to push-activated wall-mounted help buttons, Medical Guardian also offers voice-activated help buttons.
Medical Guardian Systems
System
Monthly Starting Cost
Connection
For Use
Ideal For
Classic Guardian
$29.95
Landline
In-Home
Someone who spends most of their time at home and has a landline.
Home Guardian
$34.95
Cellular
In-Home
Those who spend much of their time at home.
Mobile Guardian
$44.95
Cellular
On-the-Go
A person who wants a mobile medical alert system with GPS.
Active Guardian
$44.95
Cellular, WiFi, and GPS
On-the-Go
A person who wants a mobile medical alert system with fall detection.
Freedom Guardian
$44.95 (plus $299.95 one-time equipment cost)
Cellular, WiFi, and GPS
On-the-Go
Someone who wants a discreet mobile medical alert system.
Mini Guardian
$39.95 (plus $124.95 one-time equipment cost)
Cellular, WiFi, and GPS
On-the-Go
Those who want a discreet medical alert with the option of fall detection.
What We Love About Medical Guardian
Impressive 1,300 feet in-home range
24/7 professional monitoring based in the U.S.
Wide range of systems, both in-home and on-the-go
Affordable options
No contracts required
Caregiver features for non-emergency communication
Founded in 1946, Bay Alarm Medical is a leader in the world of medical alert systems. Their professional monitoring centers support over 170 languages, and they are known for their quick and courteous responses to distress calls.
Both in and outside the home, Bay Alarm’s line of medical alert systems provides location tracking, caregiver access, and automatic fall detection––all powered by super-fast 4G LTE service, which is included in your monthly subscription.
Bay Alarm Medical’s Full medical alert lineup
FYI: Before contacting emergency responders, Bay Alarm Medical will automatically alert friends, family members, and caregivers, allowing them to help in non-life-threatening situations.
Bay Alarm Medical Systems
System
Monthly Starting Cost
Connection
For Use
Ideal For
In The Home
$19.95
Landline or Cellular
In-Home
Someone who spends most of their time at home.
GPS Button
$24.95 (plus $70 one-time equipment charge)
Cellular
On-the-Go
Those who want a mobile medical alert system with the option of fall detection.
SOS Smartwatch
$24.95 (plus $179 one-time equipment charge)
Cellular
On-the-Go
Someone who wants a discreet, mobile medical alert system.
In-Car Alert
$29.95
Cellular
In-the-Car
Frequent drivers who already have an in-home medical alert system.
What We Love About Bay Alarm Medical
Professional monitoring for as low as $19.95 per month
Unique in-the-car medical alert system
Free spouse coverage
Savings through bundled systems
No contracts required
24/7 professional monitoring based in the U.S.
Low startup costs
AARP, AAA, and USAA discounts
What We Don’t Love
No guarantee on subscription costs
Monthly fee for full app access
Less affordable smartwatch
Pro Tip: To learn more about my experience with Bay Alarm Medical, read my hands-on Bay Alarm Medical review.
Bay Alarm Medical vs. Medical Guardian Similarities
Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm are similar in both their response times and the level of protection they offer in their “at home” and away packages. Both companies have proven response rates of less than 45 seconds, and both companies have earned five-diamond certifications from TMA, the highest standard in the world of monitoring centers.
Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical Differences
The main differences between Medical Guardian and Bay Alarm Medical come down to the actual devices offered, in addition to their pricing.
With their in-home systems starting as low as $19.95 per month, Bay Alarm Medical has one of the most affordable medical alert systems on the market. Additionally, their mobile medical alert, the GPS button, starts at $24.95 per month. Of course, you’ll still have to pay the $79 fee to purchase the equipment, but after a year of use, this will make up for the costly subscriptions you’d find with other companies. On top of this, Bay Alarm Medical is known for offering discounts through AARP, AAA, and USAA.
Medical Guardian, on the other hand, charges significantly more for similar features. Their landline in-home system starts at $29.95 per month, and their mobile units start at $39.95 per month for the Mini Guardian and $44.95 for the Active Guardian.
Systems & Devices
Medical Guardian offers a medical alert bracelet or a waterproof necklace device. All equipment is UL-certified and their in-home systems have up to 32 hours of battery backup. Help button batteries can last anywhere from three to five years, and your system will notify you when its batteries need replacement. Their in-home systems have an approximate range of 1,300 feet from the base, and they’ll test themselves on a monthly basis to ensure proper function.
On-The-Go, Fall Detection, and Wearable Pendant from Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm Medical offers equipment that is UL-Certified. Both the necklace and the wrist button are water-resistant, and they have a range of up to 1,000 feet from the base station. Batteries can last up to five years and have at least 32 hours of backup if needed. Similar to those of Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical’s systems perform self-tests on a weekly basis. Bay Alarm does not offer 24-hour technical support.
Emergency Response & Call Centers
Medical Guardian uses cellular service to maintain contact with their Five Diamond Certified call center. It can take staff at the monitoring center anywhere from 30 – 45 seconds to respond to an emergency.
Bay Alarm Medical uses AT&T or T-Mobile cellular service to maintain emergency connectivity with their call center. Their call center is Five Diamond Certified and has a 45-second response time if an alert is received.
Bay Alarm Medical In-Car Medical Alert side view.
Our Favorite
When it comes down to it, there’s no wrong choice between Bay Alarm and Medical Guardian, two of the top medical alert systems. Each of them provides durable equipment, excellent customer service, and a wide range of devices that can protect you both in and out of the home, not to mention that neither company requires long-term contracts.
The differences, however small, lie in the minute details, ultimately making your choice a matter of personal preference. Bay Alarm Medical offers systems with slightly lower monthly costs, making them an excellent option for the budget-minded. Medical Guardian, however, offers in-home systems with a greater range of connectivity, making them preferable for those with larger homes.
Written By
Amie Clark
Amie has been writing about senior care products and services for the last decade. She is particularly passionate about new technologies that help improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Seeing her parents and grandparents age made Amie ask herself, “Would this be good enough for my loved ones?” In her spare time, Amie enjoys outdoor adventures and spontaneous road trips. Learn more about Amie here
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January 13, 2022
