Best Medical Alert Systems of 2024

If you’re making a list of the qualities to look for in a medical monitoring system, you could do worse than simply listing out powerful protection and affordability. Everything else is just window dressing. That’s why Bay Alarm Medical is our favorite provider – they provide top-tier safety and security, and they do it at reasonable prices.

Want to get into the fine details? OK, we can do that. For instance, Bay Alarm is always innovating. A few years ago, the company replaced its on-the-go device with the SOS Micro, a more responsive version of on-the-go monitoring. It is sleek, lightweight, and offers the choice of a Verizon or AT&T 4G connection. Bay Alarm also now offers the SOS Smartwatch, popular with active older adults who want a discreet device with extra features.

More recently, the company rolled out a free app. When connected to a monitoring subscription, it provides caregivers with the ability to track SOS Mobile and SOS All-in-One users. Other functions let users manage contact information and make changes to their accounts.

More reasons to like Bay Alarm Medical? All of their products are made in the U.S.A, by a company that’s been family owned and operated since 1946. Their three accredited, redundant call centers are TMA Five Diamond Certified. They offer multiple equipment packages. And if that isn’t enough, their home systems come with free equipment, so all you pay is the monthly monitoring fee. When they do charge for equipment, prices are reasonable. The SOS Smartwatch, for instance, costs $111, and Bay Alarm frequently offers discounts that can reduce that already low price.

The only downside to Bay Alarm Medical is that it offers a lot of choices, which can overwhelm first-time customers. It means you need to dive into the details of every possible combination to find the best one for you and then go through all the optional add-ons. It’s a double-edged sword – we love having the ability to customize a package to our individual needs, but sometimes less is more. To help make it a little easier for you, here’s a rundown of Bay Alarm Medical’s offerings.

Bay Alarm Medical Product Breakdown

If you’re on the fence about signing up for a medical alert system, try the Medical Guardian alert system. There are no long-term contracts to worry about, so you can check it out for a month and if you decide it’s not for you, simply return the system.

Medical Guardian offers a number of options when it comes to systems and plans. If your loved one spends most of their time at home, there are two offerings. First, there’s the MGClassic with a landline connection. That plan costs $32.95 per month, but there’s no cost for equipment. Then there’s the MGHome Cellular package. It costs more, $37.95 per month and you have to pay a one-time equipment fee of $149.95. However, it allows you to use Wi-Fi and cellular signals to send alerts, which makes it a more reliable system.

We were impressed by the equipment’s range. Both systems continued to operate when we were within 1,300 to 1,400 feet of the base station, which is more than other medical alert systems. So you can feel assured that if you stumble in the back garden and need help, these systems will get the call out.

For adults who like to be out and about, Medical Guardian offers three options: the MGMini, the MGMini Lite, and the MGMove, with monthly monitoring costs that range from $39.95 to $44.95 per month. In addition, all systems are GPS-enabled with Wi-Fi and 4G connectivity. All the on-the-go systems have unlimited range. You can use them at home or outside, and no matter where you go, you should be covered.

The MGMove is particularly interesting, because it’s a smartwatch with medical alert capabilities. Among its features are the ability to set up medication reminders, messaging, physical activity monitoring, and emergency calling. The downside, of course, is that it needs to charge, but the watch can run up to a full day on a single charge, even with heavy usage. You should also know that the watch itself carries a pricetag of $200. However, Medical Guardian is continually running specials, so you may be able to cut into that price significantly if you look for their current specials before you commit.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“I had a patient with end-stage multiple sclerosis and her short-term memory was increasingly affected by this disease process. She was an artist and would sit for hours and paint, often becoming so absorbed that she would miss medications and even forget to go to the bathroom. With the help of her daughter, her medical alert system prompted her to not only take her medications at their scheduled times, but also to go to the bathroom proactively. The outcome: less discomfort and more hours to do what she enjoyed.”

You might recognize the name ADT as one of the best home security brands in the country. It’s been in business for over 150 years and is known for its superior equipment and best-in-industry response center. But how is its medical alert system? Well, we think it’s pretty good.

ADT Health keeps it simple with three plans: the Medical Alert Basic (in-home), Medical Alert Plus (in-home), and On-The-Go (mobile). Monthly monitoring charges range from $31.99 to $41.99 per month, but for that price, you get equipment with the latest innovations, like base units with integrated temperature sensors. And you pay nothing for that equipment, which means you can protect your loved ones without any upfront investment.

The On-the-Go Medical Alert System centers around a basic mobile device that gets the job done. It includes two-way talk, GPS location detection, and an optional fall detection pendant.

As you might expect with a company that’s been in business as long as ADT, there’s a strong emphasis on customer service. ADT Health, for instance, offers a ForeveRate. Basically, customers can lock in monthly fee prices for life. Plus, there are no contracts, no hidden fees, and all equipment comes with a lifetime warranty.

We should point out that ADT Health medical alert system add-ons are limited. They offer additional waterproof wearables (white or black waterproof wristband or pendant help button), the fall detection service, a leather case for the mobile device, and a lockbox.

MobileHelp offers all the key features you’d expect from any medical alert system — and then some — all for an affordable price. MobileHelp Solo costs $34.95 per month, and if you’re looking to protect more than one person, Mobile Duo offers the same features for $49.95. For context, this is industry-standard pricing.

One of the key selling points for MobileHelp is its extensive range. Landline systems provide up to 1,400 feet of coverage, while cellular systems work up to 1,300 feet. That means seniors are protected whether they’re working in the garden, checking the mail, or washing the car. With two-way talk, location tracking, and fall detection, your loved ones are protected no matter where they might be around the home and what they might be doing. Alternatively, you can sign up for the MobileHelp Micro device. That allows seniors the freedom to go anywhere with 24/7 protection.

Be warned, MobileHelp equipment doesn’t have the same modern design as other medical alert systems on this list. There’s nothing discreet about the devices, and they are easy to spot inside every home. But they are reliable and one of the most affordable mobile systems available, so it’s worth keeping it in mind.

While ADT has been around longer as a company, LifeLine, originally Philips Lifeline, is the oldest medical alert provider. It’s basically responsible for inventing the industry over 40 years ago. It was originally run by hospitals and healthcare facilities but has since shifted to offering medical alert systems. It was the right move as it’s one of the top providers in the industry.

Lifeline offers three different plan options; two at-home plans and one on-the-go plan, which all range from $29.95 per month to $39.95 per month. There’s also a one-time $99.95 setup fee with each at-home plan.

Finally, when you’re considering Lifeline, keep in mind that their prices include many features and extras you pay for separately with other companies. Fall detection, for instance, is standard with all Lifeline systems and it’s figured into the cost of the system. That justifies LifeLine’s higher prices. You’re paying more but getting more. However, that approach might turn some customers off, since it means you don’t get to choose for yourself which features matter most to you.

Medical Alert is another provider that offers the flexibility of month-to-month payments without any hidden fees or long-term contracts. They offer at home and mobile plans, and can be installed using a cellular connection or a landline.

Plans start at $19.95 per month, a competitive price point, though fall detection costs an extra $10.00 per month. As with other systems on this list, Medical Alert rents at-home system equipment and the price is part of the monthly subscription fee. The base unit, the neck pendant, and the wristband are included in the $19.95 per month price. Unlike a lot of other systems, Medical Alert doesn’t charge for its mobile equipment either. Mobile systems come with a charging base, handheld device, and interchangeable wrist/neck button. The monthly rate for these packages is a little higher at $47.95 per month.

All the products and services are easy to use – all you have to do once you receive your system is plug the base unit into a wall outlet, connect the phone cord (if you are using a landline system) and turn it on. If you should ever need assistance, you simply push the button and you will be immediately connected to a trained operator who will assist you or send help if needed. The on- the-go system is just as easy to use. You simply plug in the charger and push the help button should you need assistance. And, the on- the-go help devices are equipped with GPS location services should you ever need assistance, become disoriented, or don’t know where you are. Someone is always there to help.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“In my experience as a nurse practitioner working with people with memory loss (and their families), there have been several instances where GPS tracking has prevented harm or been life-saving. One instance involved a person living on several acres of rural farmland: this person was an avid gardener and continued to do so as her dementia progressed. Using GPS tracking and the corresponding smartphone app, her family was able to determine her whereabouts on more than one occasion.”

LifeFone offers two at-home devices and four on-the-go devices. The at-home systems start at $24.95 per month, with the option to cancel anytime. It has a 1,300 ft. range from the base. The devices have a decent battery life and a few distinguishing features like temperature sensors.

As for its on-the-go systems, those also come with useful features. While the monthly fees are a bit higher than most other competitors, there are no startup or equipment fees for any of the devices. Monthly prices start at $37.95 and cap out at $43.95. Unlike the home systems, these have unlimited range, since they do work off the AT&T LTE cellular network. The battery life on most of the mobile systems are far more impressive than LifeFone’s home devices. The At-Home & On-the-Go VIPX system has a 10-day battery life, the At-Home & On-the-Go VIP Active system and the At-Home & On-the-Go VIP Flex have a 5-day battery life, and the At-Home & On-the-Go Safe Watch Active has a 24-hour battery life.

All the mobile systems are water resistant and function with Wi-Fi and cellular location services. Fall detection is optional for all LifeFone devices. At $5 extra per month, it’s more affordable than most other medical alert systems. With LifeFone you also get a 30-day money-back guarantee and can cancel any plan at any time.

GetSafe is a relatively new product from the same company that offers one of our highest-rated alert systems, Bay Alarm Medical. It’s a great system for seniors looking to stay safe at home without the hassle of having to wear a wristband or pendant. The system works through a 4G LTE base unit, powered by AT&T cell towers. That means you don’t need a landline, though you do need to make sure your home is an area with a strong cellular signal. It also includes built-in two way talk. The best part, though, is that help is always available, even without a wearable device. Any time your loved one needs help, they or you can say Call 9-1-1 two times. That gets an emergency response agent on the line immediately.

GetSafe equipment costs start at $79 for a base unit, a voice-activated wall button, and a lanyard help button. But you can spend as much as $279 for multiple voice-activated buttons and traditional wall buttons. Monitoring will only set you back $29.95 per month, which is surprisingly affordable considering what you get.

Thankfully, GetSafe does have optional wearables, just to cover all the bases. They also offer a mobile GPS unit for an additional fee. And if you really want peace of mind, we recommend signing up with automatic fall detection — this $10 per month upgrade isn’t 100% accurate all the time, but it’s known to save lives.

All in all, we really think GetSafe brings some much-needed innovation to the medical alert system market. And we’d definitely recommend it to our loved ones.

Lively is unique among medical alert companies because they began as a phone company. The fact that their phones were targeted at seniors made it inevitable that they would eventually offer medical alert devices as well. The cool thing is that you can use your phone to get full-service monitoring. No need for extra equipment. Your Jitterbug Smart3 or Flip2 give you all the advantages of monitoring and all the features of a smartphone. You can text, email, check the news, and surf the web, but you’re completely protected in case of a medical emergency.

Of course, if you want to go the more traditional route, Lively has you covered. The company recently introduced a single emergency button you can wear on a lanyard. Even with this device, though, you’re not tied to a home base or a charging station. The button takes advantage of Lively’s cellular network so wherever you go help is just a push away.

Lively is a well-known name with a great reputation when it comes to senior products and services. Lively’s traditional medical alert devices offer three Health & Safety packages that range from $24.99 per month to $49.99 per month that include features such as urgent care (access to registered doctors and nurses), a Lively Link (to stay connected with friends and family), product replacement, and fall detection depending on the package you choose. They have a wide variety of affordable accessories you can purchase as well. And, if you are in need of a mobile phone, they offer flip-phones and smartphones with a 5Star emergency button and other advanced features like brain games and voice typing.

Price Alert: Right now Lively’s Mobile+ plan, which provides you with protection at home and on the go, is on sale for 50 percent off. For just $24.99, you get a waterproof, wearable mobile device that not only lets you press a button for help 24/7, but is also capable of alerting emergency personnel when it detects a fall.

Although Aloe Care Health is relatively new-to-market, you definitely don’t want to write them off. While you have to be careful before investing in younger companies, the truth is that these companies often offer more features at a better price. After all, they’re trying to disrupt the market. Aloe Care has created a niche for itself, targeting families that want or need functions for both the older adult and family caregiver. We recently tested their “Essentials Plus” package and were thoroughly impressed by the advanced capabilities.

Aloe Care Health offers 24/7 coverage with an automatic fall detection option (as expected), but the features and tech really take off from there. The well-designed caregiver app allows you to check in on your loved one, with real-time updates on their activity/movement and even their air-quality. And with voice-activated help calls, seniors can access the emergency helpline using only their voice.

Aloe Care Health offers four different options, including an on-the-go system and three at-home packages that all include an advanced base unit. Aloe Care Health prices start at a reasonable $24.99 per month and range up to $49.99 monthly (for a bundled at-home plus on-the-go system), which is right in line with the industry average. The new Mobile Companion Go will cost you just $29.99 per month, which is a great price for an on-the-go system. However, keep in mind that you will need to purchase the equipment upfront, which will cost you between $100 and $350 — not exactly cheap. But still, we think Aloe Care Health is a great option for seniors who could use a little extra care and coverage.