Life Alert Reviews
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About Life Alert
Life Alert was founded in 1987, making it one of the first personal emergency response companies in the United States. The company’s systems have a base hub and a help button that can be worn around the neck on a pendant or on the wristband, and the company advertises that its pendants have a 10-year battery life and do not require charging. Monitoring centers are UL-certified and have the Five Diamond designation from The Monitoring Association (TMA).
- 24/7 professional monitoring
- Pendants do not require regular charging
- Waterproof equipment
- Upfront fees range between $50 and $200
- Requires three-year contract
- Not ideal for online shoppers
Featured Reviews
Life Alert devices
Life Alert
Life Alert Base unit
Pricing varies as of publishing date
Includes 24/7 monitoring. Backup battery lasts 72 hours. Works on cellular or landline connections.
Life Alert
Life Alert Emergency pendant
Pricing varies as of publishing date
Pendants are fully waterproof and last for 10 years. Works within 1,000 feet of the base unit.
Life Alert
Life Alert Help button
Pricing varies as of publishing date
Waterproof wireless button that connects to the monitoring center. Batteries last up to 10 years.
How Life Alert works
Life Alert offers a medical alert system you can wear as a pendant or bracelet. It connects you to a monitoring center with trained professionals who can help in an emergency.
The pendant has a range of up to 1,000 feet from the base unit, and microphones can amplify up to 150 feet away.
Here's how it works: When you press the button on your Life Alert device, it's like sending up a flare to let the monitoring center know you need help. The button is designed to be easy to use, even if you have mobility challenges or difficulty with your hands.
When pressed, the pendant transmits a signal to the base unit, notifying the monitoring center. Once connected to the monitoring center, you can speak to an operator through the device. Tell the operator what you need, and they'll dispatch help. If there's no response, Life Alert automatically contacts the proper authorities.
Life Alert costs
Expect to pay around $200 upfront to get started. Life Alert’s cost typically ranges between $50 and $100 per month for service. Contact terms are for 36 months, making the total payment between around $2,000 and $3,600. For the most accurate Life Alert pricing information, it’s best to contact the company directly.
How does Life Alert compare?
Compare Life Alert costs and services with similarly rated medical alert companies.
| Company | Monitoring fees | Equipment cost | Activation fee | Fall detection | Trial period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $49.95 to $69 | $0 | $198 | No |  | Get Pricing |
 | $33.95-$48.95 | $0-$199.95 | $0 | Yes | No | Get Pricing |
 | $27.95 to $47.95 | $0 | $99.95 to $159 programming fee | Available | | Get Pricing |
 | $31.99-$41.99 | $0 (excludes add-ons) | $99 | Not available with Medical Alert Basic | No | Get Pricing |
 | $29.95 to $58.95 per month | $0 | $79 to $99 | Yes | No | Learn more |
Life Alert FAQ
Does Life Alert require a landline?
Life Alert can run on a landline or cellular connection.
Does Life Alert have GPS?
Yes, Life Alert offers systems with built-in GPS.
How much does Life Alert cost per year?
Depending on the services you choose, Life Alert costs around $600 to $1,200 per year.
Is Life Alert covered by Medicare?
Life Alert systems usually aren’t covered by Medicare. However, some Medicare Advantage plans might cover some of the cost of Life Alert for seniors — it depends on your provider. You might also qualify for medical alert coverage under your long-term care insurance plan.
What are the alternatives to Life Alert?
For some great Life Alert alternatives, check out our guide to finding the best medical alert companies:
- Our pick for fall detection: ADT Medical Alert
- Our pick for GPS capabilities: Medical Guardian
- Our pick for equipment options: LifeStation
- Our pick for low starting costs: MobileHelp
- Our pick for caregiver tools: Medical Alert
- Our pick for helpful tech support: Bay Alarm Medical
Is Life Alert worth it?
Life Alert offers a valuable service. Most Life Alert reviews on our site are generally positive, highlighting the company’s reliable service and quick response time, though some say it’s difficult to cancel.
While the price is higher than the average cost of a medical alert system, the company has a long reputation for quality service. You can find cheaper systems with more advanced features, like longer in-home ranges and fall detection, but many people might prefer Life Alert's streamlined feature set and easy-to-understand operation.
Life Alert Reviews
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- 4,593,988 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
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- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
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Reviewed March 4, 2024
My legs were injured in a T-bone car crash. The engine block of my car was shoved diagonally across my lap. As a result, if while using my cane, rollator, and fall I’m unable to get up because of my knees. Called Life Alert and the EMTs came to my home within 20 minutes. The 2 gentlemen hoisted me up by placing their arms under my armpits, grabbing their hands and lifting. Once I was up, they examined me for possible need to be taken for a ride to the ER. Once they were satisfied, they notified their dispatch and left it was a very kind and caring event!
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Reviewed Feb. 16, 2024
I fell in my bedroom late at night and I couldn’t get up so I pushed the button on the Life Alert that is around my neck. The man that answered the Life Alert stayed on the line with me and talked to me until the EMT people got into the bedroom. He made me feel safe during the whole experience. I am very glad I had Life Alert to rely on.
Reviewed Feb. 12, 2024
I pressed my Life Alert button. They responded immediately. She asked about the problem. I told her I fell in the bathroom and hit my head on the cabinet corner. She asked if I was bleeding and she said help is on the way. They were almost immediately there. She stayed on the line with me. I was taken to the emergency room. I received 4 stiches in my head and spent 4 days in the hospital.
Reviewed Jan. 26, 2024
I fell in my living room. I hit my head on the way to the floor and was unable to get up out of the floor. My best friend was here but she is 85 years old and could not help me. I pushed the Life Alert button on my necklace and asked for help. The Life Alert people stayed on the line and talked to me until the help they requested arrived. EMS took me to the ER and I was admitted.
Reviewed Jan. 23, 2024
My husband has fallen several times and I am unable to help him get up. I have had to push my Life Alert button each time to get help for him. Life Alert calls my daughter and my son to notify them and then once action has been taken Life Alert notifies them of what action was taken. This is the best money we have spent. My son and daughter have peace of mind.
Reviewed Jan. 10, 2025
Life Alert is the ABSOLUTE WORST company!!! First, the contract with this company was forged by someone and not us but lost the fight in trying to prove this. Secondly, each month when paying your bill, the representatives are the rudest and most incompetent people I have ever dealt with. If I spoke to a customer at my job, the way they speak to you, I would've lost my job a long time ago. No matter how many times you request a supervisor, they end up hanging up on you or fighting with you over the phone. Being "INCOMPETENT" is not a strong enough word to describe this company's ethics. They should be ashamed of themselves!!!! The only reason I gave it one star is because it wouldn't allow me to give it zero stars!!!! BEWARE.
Reviewed Jan. 8, 2025
I ordered a Life Alert package for my mother who is 99 years old. After we received the package and tried to set it up for her, it became obvious that is was not going to work in her situation. Her hearing is very bad even with a hearing aid, and the pendant and help button volume are so weak that she was unable to hear and answer when asked if she was having an emergency. I explained this to the people at Life Alert, and let them know that we were told that the volume could not be adjusted, and requested a refund. I finally received a partial refund after a considerable period of time, and yet the refund was not in full for the money paid out. I found out the hard way that the product is not as good as was represented.
Reviewed Dec. 20, 2024
I have never given a one star review in my entire life. I am beyond disappointed in my experience with Life Alert. At first I was hopeful since my husband's grandma uses it but when it came time to try and set my own grandma up with Life Alert it was the absolute worst experience. Since my in laws set their mother up with Life Alert, I never knew the prices. But my experience wasn't bad because of the prices, I understood the reasons the representative explained, my experience was terrible because of what happened after our first call.
At the end of our first call I explained to them my grandma was on a fixed income and living on her own. So unfortunately we would have to pass because it was still too expensive for her fixed budget even after they talked to their boss and got a lower price. So we would be looking elsewhere for a similar product that wasn't as expensive. The first representative actually was kind even if he was pushy. That was last week or so. Yesterday 12/19, they called me at 12:02, I actually didn't know who it was since it said toll free call and I was working anyway and unable to answer. But then the same number called me again at 12:03, I declined the call because again I was busy working. Then they called a third time, immediately after and I finally answer.
I'm greeted with Hello this is Life Alert, so I said hello but no thank you I'm working and hung up. But still, I get an immediate call back. At this point I'm thinking is this an emergency? No one, not even my family calls back to back that many times unless it's an emergency. So I answer to tell them to stop calling and this representative, starts off with an attitude of he's also working and within working hours when would be a better time to call, which I had actually told the first representative my off hours they could call me at.
Anyway, I go on to say I'm no longer interested (again) and before I even had the chance to ask to be put on the do not call list, he just starts berating me over the phone, yelling at me for wasting his and his employees time and resources, blaming me for them calling since I was interested in Life Alert, even though I had already told them it was too expensive and no twice. He continually berates and yells at me, I barely got any words in. As he yells at me he says you shouldn't argue with the customer... Like he was the customer??
At this point I start recording the phone call and he goes on to read some notes previous representatives had left for me to which he reads that I said for them to call me back each time if they could get a lower price-- which was a complete lie. I never told them to call me back. I told them no thank you. He goes on to say if I'm uninterested I should tell them on the first call??? Yet I did and for some reason still get call backs? Asking to be put on the no call back list after one phone call seems excessive but after 4 calls within a 5 minute span is ridiculous. If they didn't put me on the no call list, then they better now. He went on to say it was policy to call 4 times in a row which either was a lie, or other representatives also aren't doing their job.
All the other representatives that had called only called one time. Somewhere somehow, someone or multiple people on Life Alerts end are not doing their job right and writing down lies to call customers back and harass them till they finally give in after being bullied. The man yelled at me for 5 minutes straight till I hung up because nothing I said clearly mattered to him. I'm so disappointed in Life Alert which is so sad because I had such high hopes. Sadly, now we will be removing our other grandma from Life Alert services.
If Life Alert would like the recording for proof and to find the representative who did a terrible job at trying to sell us their product, I am open to sharing. I'm not one that typically posts negative reviews but if this is how Life Alert is treating people who are literally unable to afford their products despite wanting it so badly for the safety of their loved ones... Then the public needs to know the cruelty their customer service representatives are spewing. I can stand up for myself but I'd hate for the next person they yell at be an elderly woman or man that is interested but can't afford it and ends being bullied into purchase Life Alert products.
Reviewed Dec. 3, 2024
Life Alert. Do not purchase this product!!!! My 92 year old mother who has very severe hearing issues decided to order this product on her own over the phone. On 9/9/24 it arrived on the 12th and I was asked to come and get it set up for her. I knew nothing about this purchase. All she wanted was a pendant to where everywhere she goes. Joe Gianelli sold her the base unit, pendant to wear within 1000 feet of base station, a shower button and a pendant to wear when is outside of her unit. This came with a $248 non-refundable cost which was unknown to me. I spent over an hour setting up and testing the units which I was told need to be tested monthly after original set up. I left town for the weekend and 9/16 my mother was so mad she said pack this crap up and send it back.
After a conversation with Joe on the 16th and no return call that week I made more calls on 9/23 - 9/24 and 9/30 I was told they would send a UPS return label. That took a week and they received the return 10/7. They refuse to credit her the $248 and are also charging us for monitoring of devices $65.81. I strongly believe that this company took advantage of her and sold her products that did not do what she wanted. She wanted 1 pendant that worked everywhere. Life Alert does not sell that kind of service and should have never sold her this product. We have switched to Medical guardian at about a third of the upfront cost and less than half the monthly fees, Please make sure you don’t make this mistake.
Thank you for raising your concerns. We have immediately researched your matter as all of our calls are recorded for quality assurance. Life Alert doesn’t cold call or telemarket. Customers call us when they want to know more about our incomparable lifesaving services. When your mother contacted us, she did not say she only wanted a GPS device. Also, it is not a convenient device to keep on all day long, especially while sleeping. Our representative went over a few options that varied in prices. Your mother opted for the enhanced protection package, and she was also informed multiple times of our service agreement and non-refundable set up cost, before we shipped our equipment to her free of charge. The equipment was installed and tested, and after that you stopped the payments. We understand how enticing it is to go with a cheaper service, but Life Alert is the ONLY medical alert company that is PROVEN to save a life every 11 minutes. Moreover, our equipment works, has the fastest response, and never needs charging. Cheaper companies tend to cut corners, whereas we value the lives of our customers and we will never cut corners on them. The proof of our customers’ satisfaction can be seen with our wonderful star ratings and the over 46,000 lifesaving testimonials.
Reviewed Oct. 31, 2024
I had a fractured back and was in extreme pain. The lady with Life Alert stayed on the line with me until the ambulance arrived. That was so comforting and helpful to me.
Life Alert Company Information
- Company Name:
- Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc.
- Website:
- www.lifealert.com
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