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Bay Alarm Medical Alert Systems: Cost, Features, and More 2024

Bay Alarm Medical’s four distinct alert systems each provide meaningful protection for the most unexpected emergencies.

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SecureScore™: 9.3 / 10 This rating is derived from our editorial team's research, hands-on product testing, and customer surveys.
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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 home device unboxed

Bay Alarm Medical home device unboxed

Expert Examined
From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)
Christopher Norman Headshot
“In my experience, it’s what the medical alert device represents that can be threatening, scary, or intimidating to people: aging, the idea of infirmity, threats to independence, and slips and falls. Conversations about the adoption of a medical alert system (MAS) should be open, honest, allowing for discussion of any associated fears that might come with the MAS and/or what it represents. To a loved one, it might mean safety and peace of mind, but the intended user might feel annoyed or embarrassed by the MAS. Both parties are correct!”

Key Takeaways

  • Medical alert systems can offer life-changing services to people living alone or with health conditions.
  • Bay Alarm Medical has four alert systems: SOS Home, SOS All-In-One, SOS Mobile, and SOS Smartwatch.
  • Systems like Bay Alarm Medical give you rapid access to emergency services at the push of a button.
  • Plans for Bay Alarm Medical’s alert systems start at $19.95 per month.

Ordering Bay Alarm Medical Alert Systems

Buying Experience

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.

Bay Alarm device options

Bay Alarm device options

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.

Installation Process

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.

Customer Support

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.

How Bay Alarm devices work

How Bay Alarm devices work

Packages and Pricing

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:

  • The SOS Home Landline costs $19.95 per month
  • The SOS Home Cellular costs $29.95 per month
  • The SOS Home Cellular With Fall Detection costs $39.95 per month

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.

  • SOS Micro costs $29.95 per month.
  • SOS Mobile with Fall Detection costs $39.95
  • The SOS Mobile 360 Bundle, which includes both the Home and Micro devices, costs $54.95
Expert Examined
From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)
Christopher Norman Headshot
“I have had some caregivers that have used tracking capability to good effect to mobilize help from the medical alert system user’s local neighbors, which has avoided emergency personnel use and been better for everyone involved. Having caregiver tracking is most often beneficial as part of a comprehensive safety plan, not as an independent feature.”
Bay Alarm purchase help and options

Bay Alarm purchase help and options

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.

  • The basic All-in-One 2 costs $39.95 per month.
  • The All-in-One 2 with Fall Detection costs $49.95 per month.

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.

  • The basic Smartwatch with monitoring costs $39.95.
  • Add Fall Detection to your Smartwatch and pay $49.95.
  • Add the SOS home monitoring system and pay $64.95.

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

Bay Alarm Medical Alert System Features

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

  • At-home device
  • Landline or LTE cellular
  • 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring
  • Wearable button
  • Neck lanyard or wrist band

SOS Mobile

  • Mobile device
  • 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring
  • Caregiver tracking

SOS All-In-One 2

  • All-in-one device
  • 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring
  • Caregiver tracking
  • In-home wearable button
  • Lanyard and wrist band

SOS Smartwatch

  • Smartwatch device
  • 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring
  • Caregiver tracking
Holding extra pendant for Bay Alarm Medical home device

Holding extra pendant for Bay Alarm Medical home device

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
  • Automatically detects when a user has fallen without the push of a button
  • Helpful if the user is unconscious or unable to reach their button
Extra buttons $39 each
  • Spare buttons for if the main button is lost or damaged
Wall buttons $35 each
  • Extra wall-mounted buttons
  • Used for high-risk areas of the home
Lockbox $30 each
  • Lockbox for spare keys in the event first responders or caretakers need to enter a home
Vial of L.I.F.E. Kits $8 each
  • List of lifesaving information for first responders
Extra auto fall-detection buttons $10 each
  • Extra buttons that feature automatic fall detection
Warranty plan $2.95 per month
  • Lifetime replacements for low batteries on help buttons
  • 1 free system replacement per contractual year
  • 50% off accessory replacements
Bella Charms $25 each
  • Stylish necklaces for your wearable button
Bella Bands $17 each
  • Stylish wrist bands for your wearable button
Additional charger $49.95 each
  • Extra mobile chargers for the SOS Mobile or SOS Smartwatch
Bay Alarm Medical home device in box

Bay Alarm Medical home device in box

Bay Alarm Medical App

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.

Bay Alarm mobile app download page

Bay Alarm mobile app download page

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.

Current Bay Alarm Medical Alert System Deals

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.

Looking at the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch

Looking at the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch

Which Bay Alarm Medical Alert System Is Best for You?

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.

Testing Bay Alarm Medical home device

Testing Bay Alarm Medical home device

Bottom Line

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 FAQs

  • What cell service does Bay Alarm Medical use?

    Bay Alarm Medical is powered by 4G LTE cellular data. Depending on your area, the watch runs on either AT&T or Verizon.

  • Is Bay Alarm Medical better than Medical Guardian?

    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.

  • How much does Bay Alarm Medical cost per month?

    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.

  • Does Medicare cover Bay Alarm Medical?

    No, Medicare usually doesn’t cover Bay Alarm Medical devices. Medicare generally doesn’t cover any medical alert systems, regardless of the company.

  • Is Bay Alarm Medical waterproof?

    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.

Citations
SafeHome.org only uses high-quality sources to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. 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

  2. National Center for Health Statistics. (Retrieved February 2023). Wireless Substitutions.
    https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless202212.pdf

  3. 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/

  4. 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

Jenny-Wisneiwski
Written By
Jenny Wisniewski
Medical Alert System Expert

After earning a degree in journalism, Jenny Wisniewski spent much of her professional life in education; however, she returned to writing in earnest in the senior care space, acting as caregiver to her mother. She has hand-tested the industry’s top medical alert systems, writing nearly 50 in-depth articles that help seniors age safely in place. Jenny also covers caregiving, Medicare, assisted living, memory care, and Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Previously, she’s written for national publications such as Country Magazine and Sierra Magazine. Jenny holds dual bachelor’s degrees in English/Journalism and Political Science from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She currently resides in Milwaukee, WI.