Medical Alert Systems

A medical alert system provides safety for seniors through emergency monitoring both in home and on the go. If you have a medical emergency, accident or other incident requiring first responders, the system will notify emergency personnel for you.

Injuries — especially falls — can be serious for older people. They can also incapacitate you to the point where you can’t get to a phone to call for help if you are alone.

Medical alert systems can call for help by simply pressing a wearable button. Mobile units can be worn outside the house and can feature a GPS that lets emergency responders know exactly where you are.

Different emergency alert systems offer different features and options. You should consider these and how they may benefit your needs and lifestyle when searching for a system.

Medical alert systems use remote transmitters with call buttons to notify an emergency call center if you experience a medical emergency.

These transmitters may be placed in specific parts of your home or worn on your person.

The best type for you depends on your medical and mobility conditions. The idea is that you are always able to get to the emergency button on the transmitter.

Once you have an emergency, using the alert system involves four common steps.

The maker of the medical alert system you use provides its own emergency call centers. These are staffed 24 hours a day in the United States. They also provide translation services for non-English speakers.

The people who work in the call centers are trained to quickly access your medical information that they have on file. They can quickly determine your needs and provide the proper response — whether that’s calling a family member or neighbor to help you or calling your local emergency responders if you need immediate medical assistance.

Medical alert systems require a one-time cost for the equipment, plus a monthly subscription fee.

Costs for a basic emergency medical alert system can range from less than $20 per month to more than $60. This is in addition to the cost of the equipment, which can cost more than $100. But if you shop around, you can find some companies that charge less for equipment.

Additional features can add to the monthly cost. For instance, automatic fall detection can cost up to $20 a month with some systems. But other systems may include it in the regular monthly rate.

It’s best to compare prices and monthly fees for the features you want from several different medical alert system providers.

Original Medicare — Medicare Part A and Part B — is provided through the federal government and does not cover the costs of a medical alert system. Medigap will not cover a medical alert system either.

But some Medicare Advantage plans — sold through private insurers — may cover some or all the costs of a system.

Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover everything Medicare Part A and Part B covers, but Advantage plans are allowed to offer additional coverage.

This coverage differs from plan to plan, so you should talk with your Medicare Advantage plan provider to see if your plan covers a medical alert system. Your plan may refer to a medical alert system as a “personal emergency response system” — or PERS — so ask about that term and if it applies to your situation.

There is a wide range of choices available for people looking for a medical alert device. You should compare the features and cost from several companies before deciding which model is best for you.

These are some of the most common brands available.

Philips Lifeline is the only FDA-approved medical alert system — with the device designed by a physician. It is also the largest medical alert system service in the United States with more than 7.5 million subscribers.

There is no upfront cost for equipment — but activation fees range from $50 to $149 per device. Monthly fees in 2023 ranged from about $29.95 to $58.95.

Philips Lifeline offers a range of options, but the list varies based on the model.

Bay Alarm medical alert service starts at about $25 per month, with more expensive plans offering additional features or options.

There is no minimum contract commitment, no startup costs and no activation fee. You can cancel service at any time without a penalty.

The Bay Alarm battery has a four-day life expectancy before it must be recharged.

Life Alert is one of the longest-established medical alert systems — originating in 1987.

The Life Alert pendant uses a non-rechargeable battery with a 10-year life expectancy. So, you have less worry about the battery dying.

Service requires a three-year contract, and the system does not offer fall detection. One-time equipment fees are around $100 per device and the basic subscription fee is $49 with additional $19 fees for each additional device.

Life Alert reportedly handles more than two million calls per year, according to its website.

Lively Mobile + is a medical alert system that operates through smartphone service. The company is known for the Jitterbug line of cell phones, specifically designed for older users.

Lively does not offer in-home-only service since it routes through cellular service — but it works both in and out of the home.

The waterproof Lively medical alert device starts at $49.95 — though the company offers it for reduced prices sometimes. You’ll also have to pay for activation fees and monthly plans. Activation plans range from $24.99 to $34.99 a month. Fall detection services require an additional monthly fee of $9.99.

Battery life is up to 80 hours before recharging and it supports more than 100 languages.

Medical Guardian has more than 200,000 customers according to its website. The company features both in-home only and mobile cellular devices.

Monthly services range from $27.45 to $36.62 depending on the type of device. Fall detection can be added for an extra $10 per month and GPS tracking is available on the Medical Guardian Mini, which has a $75 equipment fee and starts at $39.95 a month.

There is no minimum contract and no activation fee.

The Medical Guardian batteries can go up to 168 hours between recharging — one of the longest time frames for rechargeable medical alert systems. The home-only version also has a range of up to 1,300 feet from the base unit.

Medical alert systems are one of the items you should consider if you decide to age in place. These systems can provide an extra level of safety as you age.

There are specific medical and age-related conditions that make a medical alert system particularly advantageous.

If you decide a medical alert system is right for you, be sure to consider which devices, options and features would tailor the system to your needs.

Features and options can cost extra. But depending on your condition, certain features that address your particular needs may be the best reason to consider a system in the first place. Keep that in mind when considering whether a medical alert system is right for you.