Life Alert Medical Alert System Cost and Pricing

Packages & Pricing

Right off the bat, we have to bring up a bit of an issue. Life Alert’s pricing is a little, well, pricey. Life Alert’s monthly monitoring fees range from $49.95 to $89.85 or more depending on which options you choose. They also charge a one-time membership fee of $198 — which we rarely see in the industry. That said, there are no activation or installation fees, so once you pay your dues, you’re in.

Life Alert Base Station

When compared to Medical Guardian and other great brands, we found that Life Alert is sometimes twice as expensive. But again, you’re not just paying for a medical alert system — you’re paying to receive around-the-clock emergency coverage from a pioneer in the medical alert industry. And in our eyes, there’s value in that.

It’s worth pointing out that no matter the Life Alert plan you select, you’ll have to sign up for a three-year contract. We normally don’t recommend getting locked into a service in this way, but the contract can be canceled if your loved one’s circumstances change. If they require 24-hour care, move into a nursing home, or pass away, the contract is invalidated.

Another thing to keep in mind is that at this time, Life Alert does not offer fall detection. This is a little disappointing, as this feature is quickly becoming an industry standard, usually sold as an add-on service for an extra $5 or $10 per month.

That said, Life Alert does have the option of sharing an account with a spouse for an additional $10 per month, which can help if you’re looking to take care of elderly parents or want to protect both yourself and your spouse.

*Providing accurate information is our top priority and we make significant efforts to do so on our site. However, the companies covered on our site may occasionally change their packages, offerings, and pricing and there may be a delay in us making those changes. If you notice any outdated or inaccurate information, please do let us know.

Package Pricing Snapshot for Life Alert

Equipment Upgrade Costs & Freebies

Life Alert offers some pretty nice upgrades and add-ons so that you can customize your coverage to meet your needs. These costs can easily add up, so we recommend going easy on the extras if you’re on a budget. Fortunately, you’ll also have access to some freebies as well if you sign up with this provider.

Life Alert Help Button

When you add it all up, Life Alert is a solid option when it comes to reliability and pedigree. If you’re looking to save money, though, you should check out our review of Bay Alarm Medical. They offer peace of mind with more budget-friendly options.

Alert Systems & Packages

There are three different Life Alert systems to select from. Each one offers round-the-clock professional monitoring and none require a landline or Wi-Fi connection.

We’re going to go through each one in detail, starting with their at-home systems. Then we’ll discuss their hybrid options, which are geared towards seniors who live more active lifestyles but need an added layer of protection.

At-Home Alert Systems

Complete In-Home Plan

Life Alert’s at-home system comes with a base station that runs on your choice of a landline or cellular connection and offers a decent coverage range of 800 feet. The Complete Plan also includes two waterproof wall buttons that you can place in your bathroom or kitchen where falls are more prone to happen,4 and one wearable neck or wrist pendant. One nice thing about the wall buttons is that, like the base station, they offer two-way communication in order to talk directly with a monitoring center agent.

We have to say, at $89.85 per month, this plan is quite a bit more expensive than other brands that offer better coverage at more affordable prices. One Call Alert, for example, provides a 1,300-foot range at the low price of $24.95 per month.

Who It’s Best For: Seniors who mostly stay at home and would like the flexibility (or range) to safely water their plants or talk with their neighbors outside.

Expert Examined

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

“As most falls happen in the bathroom or bedroom, the waterproof feature has always been appealing to me as a clinician. One woman, in particular, had a preoccupation with her bowel movements (after living many years with an irritable bowel) and would often spend up to an hour at a time in the bathroom, or spend extended time in the shower. With her medical alert system (MAS), she, her family members, the aides who worked with her, and myself, all had more peace of mind that if she fell or needed something, she had a way to call for assistance quickly.”

Modified In-Home Plan

This is Life Alert’s most affordable plan at $69.90 per month (which still costs a pretty penny compared to the competition). The plan includes your standard base station, wearable pendant, and one waterproof wall button. We recommend this option for seniors who don’t need the additional device.

Who It’s Best For: The Modified plan is best suited for home-bound seniors who want to keep things simple with a more basic system.

Combo In-Home and Mobile Alert System

Life Alert Pendants

Home & GPS Plan

This system combines both in-home and mobile coverage for more peace of mind in and outside of your home. You pay $89.85 per month and receive a mobile GPS button, your standard in-home base unit, one wearable pendant, and one waterproof wall button. We like that Life Alert’s mobile device comes with a 10-year battery life so you won’t have to worry about charging it. And keep in mind that when your battery runs low on juice, Life Alert replaces it for free.

Who It’s Best For: Seniors who live an active lifestyle and who desire the added protection of at-home and mobile coverage.

Current Deal

Currently, Life Alert is offering a free month of service if you opt for paying annually. As mentioned, they aren’t fully transparent with their pricing on their website, so we had to rely on the information different sales reps gave us and what little information we found on their site. So if you’re interested in Life Alert, you might want to call them to learn more about their latest deals and discounts.

Is Life Alert Worth It?

Life Alert’s monthly fees are pricey, ranging from $49.90 to $89.85 per month. For context, most medical alert costs range between $24.95 and $49.95 monthly.

With all of that in mind, we think Life Alert is priced a little too high for what you get. We do like that the monitoring center has demonstrated reliability with a TMA Five Diamond Certification. We also like that the battery on the on-the-go device has an extended life and doesn’t need charging. Most mobile devices require daily charging, so this is a definite plus.

We were also disappointed that Life Alert doesn’t provide fall detection, which we consider a standard service in the industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older.5 So, even though the technology isn’t 100% accurate, we still recommend it as a lifesaving investment.

In addition, you don’t need to buy Life Alert’s equipment or hem and haw over whether to invest in a warranty. It is covered under your membership, as is a lifetime price lock and the Life Alert app. Keep in mind that the one-time membership fee is $198.

Overall, we found that Life Alert offers several notable features. But we would have liked to see greater transparency in their pricing and better at-home coverage. An 800-ft range isn’t great compared to other brands like Medical Guardian, which offers 1,300 ft. in-home range for only $29.95 per month.

While they might have one of the biggest names in the industry and one of the best reputations, we’d really like to see them rely less on name recognition and more on improving their offerings and lowering their costs.

Life Alert Company History

Life Alert is a household name and has been providing reliable products and services for more than 30 years.

Today, the brand has over 600 employees in their Encino, California headquarters.6

*Providing accurate information is our top priority and we make significant efforts to do so on our site. However, the companies covered on our site may occasionally change their packages, offerings, and pricing and there may be a delay in us making those changes. If you notice any outdated or inaccurate information, please do let us know.

Life Alert FAQs