MobileHelp Medical Alert Review

MobileHelp by the Numbers

As the name implies, MobileHelp offers medical alert systems for use both in the home and away. What’s more, they offer discounted bundled systems that offer protection in any environment.

I recently tested MobileHelp’s Duo system, which includes an in-home system and a mobile medical alert with GPS. For those in need of protection both in and outside the home, this system can certainly do the job.

Pros and Cons of MobileHelp

MobileHelp Video Review

MobileHelp Systems Overview

MobileHelp offers seven systems that can protect users both in and out of the home. Here is an overview of each:

• MobileHelp Classic: This basic in-home system uses a base unit and a waterproof help button to contact emergency monitoring services. It can also be paired with MobileHelp’s fall-detection pendant for an extra $10 per month.
• MobileHelp Wired Home: This in-home system functions almost exactly the same as the MobileHelp Classic, but it operates through a landline connection instead of the Classic’s cellular connection.
• MobileHelp Solo: This mobile system consists of a mobile unit and a pendant help button. Its built-in GPS capabilities can send accurate location information to the monitoring center, allowing them to help you no matter where you are.
• MobileHelp Micro: Weighing only 52 grams, the MobileHelp Micro is one of the smallest mobile medical alerts. It features a built-in speakerphone and GPS for location tracking; however, it is not compatible with fall detection.
• MobileHelp Touch: This system combines the functionality of a computer tablet with the emergency capabilities of a medical alert system. In addition to professional monitoring, this device allows you to monitor health vitals, set medication reminders, and even send messages.
• MobileHelp Duo: For those looking for protection both in and out of their home, this system combines MobileHelp’s Classic and Solo systems at a discounted rate.
• Mobile Duo: The Mobile Duo is great for spouses since it’s essentially two mobile units combined into one system at a discounted rate.
• Touch Duo: The Touch Duo is a bundled system of a MobileHelp Touch and a MobileHelp Solo. It provides protection both in and out of the home.

Using MobileHelp Medical Alert System

I purchased the MobileHelp Classic system. When it arrived, I opened the box and found the following:

• 1 in-home base unit
• 1 pendant help button
• 1 fall-detection pendant
• 1 mobile unit
• 1 wall help button
• 1 lockbox
• 1 instruction manual

MobileHelp Installation

To install my MobileHelp Duo, I plugged the base unit’s power cord into an outlet, turned it on, and held down the test button. After holding the test button for six seconds, it said, “User auto test,” and I was instructed to press the help button on my pendant. The base unit then said, “Test call sent to the emergency response center” and “Thank you for testing your device.” Not too bad! Although I have a landline in my house, I didn’t need to use it since the Duo system relies on AT&T’s cellular network.

Testing MobileHelp

To use the pendant, I just had to be within 1,400 feet of the base unit — one of the longest ranges I’ve seen from an at-home unit. It should work for the vast majority of homes, but if you have an extremely large house, MobileHelp also offers cellular options that work everywhere.

After pressing the button, the base unit said, “Call in progress,” and then “Please stand by for operator.” A few seconds later, an emergency operator answered me through the base unit. I told him it was just a test call, but I knew he’d coordinate the appropriate response with emergency responders if it weren’t a test.

To test my fall-detection pendant, I pretended to fall down the stairs by dropping the button from about three feet off the ground. About 20 seconds later, the button beeped and flashed yellow, prompting the base unit to announce, “Fall detected. Press and hold button to cancel.” I wanted to cancel, so I pressed and held the button until it flashed green — saving the emergency operator’s precious time. It’s nice to know MobileHelp’s fall detection works well, although, like any fall-detection pendant, it won’t catch 100 percent of falls.

MobileHelp Connect

Another feature I was excited to try was the MobileHelp Connect caregiver portal. With this feature, caregivers can keep track of a system’s location, activity, and alert usage. When connected to my system’s fall-detection pendant, my husband could log on to our caregiver portal to track my movement and any inactivity periods. This feature would certainly come in handy for those caring for people from afar. The portal can also be used to set up medication reminders for an extra $5 per month.

MobileHelp Medical Alert Systems Pricing

Like with most medical alert systems, I didn’t have to pay any up-front costs for MobileHelp. Instead, I rented the equipment, which required a monthly fee. For my MobileHelp Duo system, I paid $41.95 per month plus an additional $10 per month for the fall-detection pendant.

The cost of each system varies, but MobileHelp offers discounts for annual, semi-annual, and quarterly payments. You can also pay on a monthly basis, but it will cost slightly more.

For $5 per month, you can subscribe to MobileHelp Connect Premium, which protects your equipment from damage, guarantees your monitoring costs won’t rise, and offers additional discounts on fall detection.

For more information on MobileHelp’s systems and their costs, take a look at my rundown of MobileHelp costs.

MobileHelp vs. Life Alert

At their core, MobileHelp and Life Alert work in the same way. Both companies provide in-home and mobile medical alert systems. At the touch of the button, a system from either company will connect you with trained monitoring agents.

That said, in our tests, Life Alert took far longer to pick up the calls. On average, MobileHelp answered our calls in under 30 seconds. Life Alert, however, usually took two minutes or longer to answer the calls. This is far longer than average.

Additionally, Life Alert costs far more than MobileHelp. Life Alert systems start at $50 per month, while MobileHelp’s start at $20. Additionally Life Alert locks you into a minimum three-year contract, while MobileHelp contracts are only required on a monthly basis.

To read more about our experience with Life Alert, read our Life Alert review.