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Bay Alarm Medical’s four distinct alert systems each provide meaningful protection for the most unexpected emergencies.
We tend to associate medical alert systems with senior adults, and it is true that the older among us sometimes have more medical conditions or more trouble getting around.
Whatever your reason for investing in a system, you want good value for your money. You can’t put a price on safety and security, but none of us is made of money. We review all the best medical alert systems on the market to make sure you can make informed decisions about which system is going to suit your particular needs. It’s just as important, though, when shopping for a system, to know what you’re going to pay and what you’re getting for your money.
Here, we focus on Bay Alarm Medical, one of the most recognizable and reputable companies out there. If you’re looking for an in-depth review of its equipment and services, you should check out our review of Bay Alarm Medical. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for info on Bay Alarm costs, a rundown of Bay Alarm packages, or a complete examination of what you’ll get for your money, you’ve come to the right place.
Bay Alarm Medical makes it easy to order a system. All four of the company’s primary systems are laid out on the online homepage with pictures that offer a clear sense of what each option includes. Click on any of them, and a new page pops up focused on that particular system with the most important details.
Equipment prices are included in clear, bold fonts so there’s no question about what you’ll pay. Likewise, a single drop-down menu at the top of the page brings up information on monitoring plans and their costs. And finally, as you put your cart together, all prices are listed so you know what you’re getting and what it’s going to cost. The bottom line is that seniors can get exactly what they need with no hassles and no confusion.
You are limited to Bay Alarm’s pre-packaged systems. Though, the company offers add-ons and amenities. We added fall detection and extra help buttons to work with our devices. Those cost extra, but they helped tailor our Bay Alarm system to our needs. Again, we didn’t have to go searching for any of these. Once we chose our primary package, Bay Alarm gave us a list of options, and it was easy to select the ones we wanted.
Pro Tip: If fall detection is a top priority for you, check out our guide to the best medical alert systems with fall detection.
We should have guessed this from the purchasing process, but the installation process was equally as simple and easy. Bay Alarm takes the trouble to post several informative support videos on its website. Following these, we got the entire system set up in under two minutes. We had no problems getting our devices up and running. Studying and reviewing these products is our job, but even the least tech-savvy customers should be able to get their devices up and running without an issue. If you run into an issue, however, customer support can help.
We like taking charge of our systems ourselves, so when we ran into a problem with the volume on the base station, we pulled up the Bay Alarm homepage and made our way to the Help section. There, we found a FAQ, a set of clearly written Help Guides, and a series of instructional videos. There’s also the option to email with specific questions.
The thing is, not everyone is comfortable navigating websites, even when they’re user-friendly. We get it. The good thing about Bay Alarm is that they offer the option to talk in real-time to a real person using your actual voice by phone. It’s worth pointing out that this option is also valuable in case of an emergency.
Bay Alarm Medical offers four separate medical alert systems. Each one comes with its own set of options, though, so we recommend taking them one at a time.
First up is the SOS Home system. This is a standard home-only system that works through a landline. However, you can upgrade it to an LTE cellular connection for an additional price, and you can further improve your package with fall detection.
There are three ways to purchase the SOS Home system. Note that all three include 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring with pricing as follows:
If you spend time outside the home, take a look at the SOS Micro. This system comes in the form of a wearable emergency button that, as the name implies, allows you to get protective and emergency care when you’re away from home. There’s a $99 fee for the device itself, but with 24/7 monitoring and caregiver tracking, the system can help you feel safe anywhere you go.
Like the SOS Home, the SOS Micro comes in three flavors, all three with 24/7 professional monitoring included.
The SOS All-In-One 2 is a hybrid system. It doesn’t come with a base station, but it does include lanyard emergency buttons you can wear around the house, so you’re protected just as you would be with an SOS Home system. It also includes the SOS Micro, so you get the benefits of mobile protection too.
In this case, you have two plan options.
Finally, Bay Alarm offers a stylish SOS Smartwatch. The smartwatch offers the mobility of the Micro but adds features like a step tracker and a weather app and packages it all in a sleek high-tech design that conceals the fact that you’re using a medical alert system. The Smartwatch requires an initial investment of $199.99, but you can choose from multiple monthly plans.
Pro Tip: Take a look at our guide to the best medical alert systems to see how Bay Alarm Medical stacks up against some of the top brands in the industry. You may even change your mind and go for another system altogether.
Below is an overview of all of Bay Alarm Medical’s alert systems.
Bay Alarm Medical Alert systems | System type | Connection type | Monthly plan cost | Equipment fees |
---|---|---|---|---|
SOS Home Landline | At-home/landline | Landline | $19.95 | $0 |
SOS Home Cellular | At-home/wireless | Cellular | $29.95 | $0 |
SOS Home Cellular With Fall Detection | At-home/wireless | Cellular | $39.95 | $0 |
SOS Mobile | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $29.95 | $79 |
SOS Mobile With Fall Detection | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $39.95 | $79 |
SOS Mobile 360 Bundle | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $54.95 | $79 |
SOS All-In-One | All-in-one | At-home/on-the-go | $39.95 | $129 |
SOS All-In-One With Fall Detection | All-in-one | At-home/on-the-go | $49.95 | $129 |
SOS Smartwatch | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $34.95 | $159 |
SOS Smartwatch With Fall Detection | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $44.95 | $159 |
SOS Smartwatch 360 Bundle | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $59.95 | $159 |
The bottom line is that Bay Alarm provides excellent monitoring with 24/7 customer support to handle any emergency you might experience. That’s by far the most important qualification for any home medical alert system. In addition, though, the company offers a number of additional features depending on the particular system you choose.
SOS Home
SOS Mobile
SOS All-In-One 2
SOS Smartwatch
Pro Tip: If the smartwatches by Bay Alarm Medical caught your eye, check out our review of the best medical alert systems worn as watches. Surprisingly, Apple landed on our list, but you’ll have to read on to find out why.
In addition to the select bundle plans, there is also a variety of add-ons that each subscription offers to add more security benefits. Below is an overview of the add-ons you can include with any system.
Add-on equipment | Cost | Features and functionality |
---|---|---|
Fall detection | $10 per month |
|
Extra buttons | $39 each |
|
Wall buttons | $35 each |
|
Lockbox | $30 each |
|
Vial of L.I.F.E. Kits | $8 each |
|
Extra auto fall-detection buttons | $10 each |
|
Warranty plan | $2.95 per month |
|
Bella Charms | $25 each |
|
Bella Bands | $17 each |
|
Additional charger | $49.95 each |
|
Each plan also comes with access to the Bay Alarm Medical app. That ensures that your information and subscription plans remain up to date, even if you’re not currently near your Bay Alarm Medical device.
It’s not necessary to download the app, but we found it useful. It’s where you’ll find guides, general information, payments, transaction histories, subscription statuses, and more without having to contact tech support. The app is also a useful resource for subscribers with caregivers.
A 360 Bundle offer is available with both the SOS Mobile and SOS Smartwatch plans. The bundle includes either the SOS Mobile or SOS Smartwatch, along with the SOS Home System as follows:
SOS Mobile | SOS Smartwatch | |
---|---|---|
Deals and perks | SOS Mobile and SOS Home Systems | SOS Smartwatch and SOS Home Systems |
Services | Cellular | Cellular |
Equipment | SOS Mobile System, SOS Home System, lanyard, wrist band | SOS Smartwatch System, SOS Home System, lanyard, wrist band |
Bundling the two systems saves you about $60 per year compared to buying each system separately.
There isn’t a wrong Bay Alarm Medical system, but some may be more useful than others depending on your situation. To answer which plan is right for you, we first need to talk about the benefits of an on-the-go system versus a home system.
Who needs on-the-go medical alert systems?
As their name implies, on-the-go medical alert systems are great for active people who are constantly getting out of the house. Whether you’re going to a nine-to-five job or taking a vacation, the mobile systems add the protections of an at-home alert system while you’re on the move. The mobile nature of the devices means they’ll work even if you’re in another state, since the hotline will patch you through to any available local emergency services. If that sounds like you, go with the SOS Mobile or SOS Smartwatch system.
Who needs home medical alert systems?
Since many (but not all) individuals who need medical alert systems are seniors, many people using the devices aren’t able to leave the house without assistance. If that’s the case for you, a home SOS system will be perfect. We recommend having a mobile medical alert option in case you need to leave your house, but a home system will keep a close watch on your daily activities and will be available to assist you during an emergency.
Pro Tip: Our medical alert system buying guide will tell you what you should be looking for in a device. If saving as much money as possible is your priority, skip ahead to our guide to the cheapest medical alert systems.
It’s difficult to think of anything Bay Alarm Medical gets wrong. An easy-to-use website, affordable pricing, and diverse subscription options with extra add-ons to fit your needs make it one of the best alert services money can buy. The world is a scary and unpredictable place, and systems like these can help alleviate fears dramatically.
In our extensive reviews of the SOS Home, SOS Mobile, SOS All-In-One, and SOS Smartwatch systems, we found that all four are worthwhile choices. That’s true not just for individuals at an advanced age or with serious health conditions that require close monitoring, but also anyone who wants to keep their health at the forefront in case of an emergency.
They say you should know who to call when an emergency strikes, but you don’t need to do that if you have a Bay Alarm Medical system. Every emergency resource you need is just one click away — or one automatic signal away if you spend the extra 10 bucks on fall detection.
Bay Alarm Medical is powered by 4G LTE cellular data. Depending on your area, the watch runs on either AT&T or Verizon.
That depends on what you’re looking for in a medical watch. The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch has a simpler user interface and an easier learning curve. It’s also cheaper. The Medical Guardian smartwatch has more abilities for its wearers to play around with, including calendar alerts and messaging apps, and it has a tracking app that allows caregivers to track you.
After the up-front fee of $159, you’ll pay $34.95 a month to continue using Bay Alarm Medical’s services. If you want the trusty fall detection with your watch, you’ll have to pay an extra $10 a month. That isn’t bad, but we’d prefer it included with the monitoring fee.
No, Medicare usually doesn’t cover Bay Alarm Medical devices. Medicare generally doesn’t cover any medical alert systems, regardless of the company.
Yes, to a point. You probably wouldn’t want to take your SOS Smartwatch with you for a swim, but it offers protection from rainwater and you can use the device while showering, which is one of the times you need it most.
Alzheimer's Association. (Retrieved February 2023). Wandering and getting lost: Who’s at risk and how to be prepared.
https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-dementia-wandering-behavior-ts.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics. (Retrieved February 2023). Wireless Substitutions.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless202212.pdf
Bay Alarm News. (2016, April 6). Bay Alarm Brothers Inducted Into Security Sales and Integration Industry Hall of Fame.
https://www.bayalarm.com/news/bay-alarm-brothers-inducted-into-security-sales-and-integration-industry-hall-of-fame/
Bay Alarm Medical: Better Business Bureau® Profile. (Retrieved May 2020). BBB.
https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/concord/profile/medical-alarm/bay-alarm-medical-1116-310903