Lifeline

Lifeline

 4.2/5 (193 reviews)
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Lifeline

About Lifeline

Lifeline, formerly known as Philips Lifeline, offers medical alert systems and monitoring services. Its equipment can use either a landline or cellular connection, depending on the model you choose. AutoAlert fall detection is also included with some models. However, there are upfront costs for activation and installation, even if you choose to install your system on your own.

Overall Satisfaction Rating

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Pros

  • Waterproof buttons
  • Multiple location technologies
  • Fall detection may be included

Cons

  • Upfront costs
  • Cancellation fees

Bottom Line

Lifeline helps people stay independent inside and outside their homes. There is no long-term commitment. However, there are one-time fees for activation and installation in addition to the monthly rate.

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Rated with 5 stars
Verified

There are other companies out there that say they're cheaper but their service is not as reliable as Philips. … Plus, a lot of them don’t have that extra feature where if you fall...

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Rated with 5 stars
Verified

... I like Philips Lifeline because if I have to have a service, I can use the life alert system. I've been on this device for a long time and I have had everything replaced, the ...

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Lifeline medical alert devices

What is Lifeline?

Lifeline is a medical alert company that offers home-based and mobile medical alert devices. In an emergency, these devices contact a 24-hour monitoring center that can send help to the user.

The company, originally called Lifeline Systems and then Philips Lifeline, was founded in 1972, but it has adopted new technologies and industry standards since then.

About Lifeline monitoring center

Lifeline’s response centers are located throughout the U.S. and Canada. These facilities include 200 emergency operators who answer up to 18,000 calls per day, day or night. Its operators are well-trained and receive hours of instruction and personal coaching.

The company hires operators that speak English and Spanish, but you can also access interpreters who speak 140 languages altogether. It has backup systems in place to keep emergency responders connected even during power outages, cellular disruptions and natural disasters.

Lifeline caregiver tools

Lifeline offers caregivers multiple resources, including advice for introducing an emergency medical alert system into a loved one’s life. It also gives practical tips for caregivers on managing stress and self-care.

The Cares app serves as a hub to help you share information with your family and friends. This app also lets users share notes and updates on their well-being, making it easier to keep in touch even when you can't physically be together.

Lifeline medical alert costs

Lifeline’s prices start at $29.95 per month, but keep in mind that additional upfront fees are usually required.

HomeSafe StandardHomeSafe with AutoAlertOn the Go
Monthly fee$29.95 or $43.95$44.95 or $58.95$49.95
Device fee$0$0$99.95
Activation fee$50$50$0
Installation fee$19.95 or $99$19.95 or $99$19.95 or $99
Cancellation fee$50$50$50

Lifeline FAQ

How does Lifeline work?

Lifeline medical alert systems can be used inside or away from home. In an emergency, simply press the help button to contact a response center. Its monitoring centers, based in the U.S. and Canada, have an average response time of 12 seconds.

Once alerted, a trained specialist will briefly discuss the situation with you and reach out to either emergency services or a personal contact.

Certain devices also feature unique technologies, including:

  • Fall detection: AutoAlert is an automatic fall detection technology created by Lifeline that detects if you’ve fallen and need help, even if you cannot reach your help button.
  • Location technologies: The GoSafe 2 has five different location technologies, including Wi-Fi, A-GPS, location breadcrumbs and an audio beacon to identify where you are.
Does Medicare cover Lifeline?

Original Medicare does not generally cover medical alert systems. However, some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans might.

What is Lifeline’s return policy?

You can return your purchased pendants within 30 days for a full refund if they are in good condition. However, if you have activated your product or you don’t have the original packaging, there will be a $50 restocking fee.

Do I have to sign a contract to get a Lifeline medical alert system?

No, a contract is not necessary to receive products and services from Lifeline.

Does Lifeline offer a warranty on medical alert devices?

Yes, the warranty for a Lifeline On the Go medical device is for one year. However, the company’s other devices don’t appear to have warranties.

Is Lifeline legit?

If you or your loved one could benefit from a medical alert system, consider Lifeline. Its devices provide the security of an immediate connection to trained professionals who can help coordinate medical aid or other assistance. The equipment is easy to install and customizable to your needs. Both landline and cellular systems are available, and you can personalize your response plan and emergency contacts with the U.S.- or Canada-based response centers.

Lifeline Reviews

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Page 1 Reviews 0 - 5
Rated with 5 stars
Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
Original review: Feb. 8, 2023

Lifeline's reps have been very nice. I've never had to use my button, but I call about once a month to check it and the rep I talk to is very nice. If I had a question, she would answer it, but I’ve never had one. I wear my device around my neck and I can't wear it next to my skin. I usually wear a T-shirt or a vest type of shirt underneath either a blouse or another long sleeve shirt, and I wear it between those. My skin is so sensitive and I'm allergic to everything. So, it makes me itch if I wear it on my skin. Also, I hate the black cord. But I like the silver cord and I would rather have it than the black or white ones because the white and the black both stick out, but the silver’s sort of muted. I also like its little round flat size better than the square. Other than that, my device is one of the most expensive ones and I don't like that too well. But I like the service.

Lifeline response

Pauline, thank you for taking the time and sharing your valuable feedback with us. I have sent you a private message as well with more information regarding your concerns. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: Jan. 19, 2023

    The Lifeline medical alert device rang a lot of times simply because I turned over wrong at night. I finally learned to put the thing on this table and I can just lay it here. It was about six inches from where I sleep and I let the thing hang down and I can just reach it with my hand if I need it. But I've had a lot of those experiences at first and it was so embarrassing. Every time I'd turn around, I'd bump it. I've even been woken up in the middle of the night before I learned to take the call. The reps are concerned and they’ll ask if I’m okay. I’ll say sorry and we'd go through this routine.

    The last time I talked to the reps from Lifeline, I was eating. And since I lived by myself, I don't go to the table but I have a bar in the kitchen and I just sit up there and eat. I leaned over to reach and get the salt and must have pressed the device against the edge of the bar and I jumped up, ran in here at the bedroom and apologized. I feel sorry for the people. But they have been so prompt. Occasionally, they’ll call me and say they hadn't heard from me for a while and ask if I’m okay. My son lives in town and he came over one day and said that he'd had a call from Lifeline. They hadn't heard from me for a while. I learned that if I took it off at night, I was ringing it all the time but they called him to ask him if I was okay. That's how concerned they are. My kids are very happy to know that I've got some help because it’s peace of mind and I wear it for that reason. I have a half-acre land and I don't want to get off out here somewhere and fall and lay there.

    Lifeline response

    Nedra, Thank you for sharing your valuable feedback. We are glad to hear that you are satisfied with our service. Please know we are always here for you. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 4 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: June 7, 2022

    I have received a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis just recently and there's a potential for me not being able to breathe well enough and at the same time, not being able to call for help. Philips Lifeline relieved the problem for me. I am married but my husband and I sleep in different bedrooms on different floors. He's a little deaf, and I couldn't even call for help. It is unlikely that I'm going to end up needing emergency help while I'm in bed in the middle of the night but that was terrifying me. So this is a very stress-relieving thing, even though I may never have to use it. I am keeping the button near the bedside.

    I went through a hospital here in the state that has an office for this kind of thing. A rep ordered it for me and he helped me tremendously. He was wonderful. I've only had one issue. I went ahead and filled out the paperwork and put all the information in but I needed to go back into my account to make a change. So, I filed a support ticket or sent an email. I had somebody work with me over the space of several days but he ended up never responding back to me. The tech support via email was abysmal. I couldn't find where to make that change and all I was asking was where is this. The rep went off on asking for all sorts of thing. I said that all I needed was a screenshot pointing to where the button is. I wasn’t nasty. But at that point, he never even responded to me again. So I don't know at all how most people access any of this stuff.

    I called a rep and she got the information. I still don't know how to alter that in the app though. I have to make this change again but I don't want to have to make a phone call. I'm used to being able to go into an app or into a website and making these changes myself. And this kind of thing may well be more reliant on a phone call to ask for help. But other than that, I'm fine with the whole thing.

    Lifeline response

    Delia, We are very happy to hear that you feel safer with our service Please know we are there when you anytime you need us. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: May 8, 2022

    My Lifeline device has been pretty good. It's just Lifeline is going away from hard telephone lines, and they're going into this computer thing where your phone line runs through the computer modem. Because of that, there's a 5 or 10-minute delay. I didn't realize this at first because we would press the button to do the monthly check, and at one time, it took over 10 minutes and we couldn't understand why. I talked to one of the people and they were like, “No, the call came in immediately. It did not wait or nothing." She contacted one of those technical guys, talked to him, and he said that it's probably on our end. There's something wrong with the connection. Then I realized and told him we don't have a regular hard line. That was when he said that I got to have a hard line to connect directly to that.

    Other than that, the thing’s great. If I could stop hitting it accidentally, I'll be all right. If it happens, they are very nice about it. I was in the shower one time and I hit it. I heard them at the door because they were gonna break in the door. It’s one of those $1,000 doors with the leaded glass. It’s beautiful. So, I'm glad that I heard something. I turned the shower off. I came out and there was the firefighter down the road from me. They came because they got the call, and I was in the shower so what I started doing is leaving the door open in case anything like that happens again. I love the peace of mind that my device gives. I'm with them because of the fall detection. If I fall and hit my head and I'm knocked unconscious, they will be coming to get me, and that’s what I need.

    Be the first one to find this review helpful
    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: April 26, 2022

    The responses that I've gotten from Lifeline whenever I've happened to activate the device by mistake have been excellent. The quality of the device is excellent, too. But I am very dissatisfied with the lanyard because it doesn't stay attached. There's a good chance that it'll just slip down inside my clothing when I'm out walking and be lost. This particular lanyard came with a new and improved device in December. The old lanyard was just fine. I wish that I detached it when I returned the initial device that I was sent because then I would not be having any problems. I had no idea that they were gonna be sending out such poor-quality equipment.

    I don't wanna lose the device. I have to jigger it so that it gets up that short. In order to take it off, I have to release it to take it over my head. Because when it's shortened, it won't go over my head. It's difficult to find to close it, although it's very easy to get it open. I've had three different occasions and been told that I would be sent a new lanyard. But that has never happened. They're not doing what they said they would.

    Not only that, I had an occasion when it came off while I was sleeping at night. I must have been lying on top of it because, somehow, they were alerted. But I did not hear any voice message coming over the device. While an ambulance was standing at the ready, the person who was in charge of doing all this did not just dispatch the ambulance but called my son who lives 30 miles away and also called the director of the retirement community where I live and tried to get me on the cell phone. Since sometimes I get prank calls on the cell phone in the middle of the night, I didn't bother to get up and answer them. But when the landline started to ring, I got up and answered the phone. The ambulance never came. But I didn’t want this thing to happen again.

    The other day, I went for a long walk, and I put the device in my jacket pocket. When I took my jacket off, when I stopped at the library, the pocket hit the chair that I was meaning to sit on and that alerted the device. I got a message. “Are you all right?” So it's been a real nuisance. I can't believe I'm paying more than $50 for this lack of service every month. But the device itself is what I need. My son wanted to have the comfort of knowing that I was equipped in this way.

    Lifeline response

    Sara, thank you for providing this valuable feedback. I'm very happy to hear that you have had nice interactions when reaching out to us. If you would like a replacement sent please call our customer service department at 1-800-635-6156 and they will be happy to assist you. Please be well, safe, and take care.

    3 people found this review helpful
    Rated with 3 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: March 19, 2023

    They have a highly reliable professional staff that is always there. However, if you buy just the cheap plan, which is what I have right now, you're gonna quickly find there are lots of situations where you have no coverage. It's only as good as I can shout. If I fall at the other end of my apartment, it may be hard to shout hard enough.

    Lifeline response

    John, thank you for taking the time and sharing your valuable feedback with us. We are happy to discuss your current service with you and go over any other options that may be a better fit for you. Please call our customer service department at 1-800-635-6156 and we will be happy to assist you. Please be well, safe, and take care.

    Be the first one to find this review helpful
    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: March 19, 2023

    My Lifeline is very good. I've fallen twice since I had it. But I didn't need it. I was able to get up by myself. But the response was beautiful. I was on the floor and I was able to get up at the time. By the time I got to my seat to relax, they were here. In a matter of minutes, response was there. I didn't push the button and I didn't call for help. But before I knew it, somebody was here to help me. They were also kind and responsive.

    Lifeline response

    Frances, we appreciate you taking the time and sharing your valuable feedback with us. We are glad to hear that you are happy with our service but sorry to hear that you have fallen. Although you didn't push your button, the button you have, does detect falls automatically. If you ever have any questions, please call our customer service team at 1-800-635-6156. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: March 17, 2023

    Absolutely terrific. It was so easy to set up. I like the fact that they can alert emergency responders if needed. Customer service is superb and they were very knowledgeable about the product. Thank you.

    Lifeline response

    Roger, we appreciate this valuable feedback, and we are happy to hear you feel more comfortable with our service when walking alone. Please know that we are always here to help you when and if you ever need us. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer
    Original review: March 16, 2023

    Easy to use. If it registers a fall accidentally it’s easy to cancel the call. Calls go through clearly and the voice on the other end is always pleasant. I’m a high fall risk so I feel tons safer with my device.

    Lifeline response

    Holly, thank you for your review and we are happy to hear that you feel safer with our service. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Rated with 5 stars
    Verified Reviewer Verified Buyer
    Original review: March 14, 2023

    With my Lifeline, I feel more comfortable going out by myself. I test it once in a while and it works very well. Their team gets back to me right away. But, I wear it around my neck and sometimes, when I'm sitting down to eat, I hit it against the table and set it off. Other than that, it doesn't bother me. When I accidentally set it off, they told me to just hold the button for two seconds.

    Lifeline response

    Robert, we are very happy to hear that you feel more comfortable with our service and glad that you are happy with the response time. I was able to verify your account and the button that you have is adjustable. If you ever have any questions regarding your account or the equipment, please reach out to our customer service department at 1-800-852-5433. We are always happy to answer any questions that you have. We want to be sure that you are 100% satisfied with our service. Please be well, safe, and take care.

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    Lifeline Company Information

    Social media:
    Company Name:
    Lifeline
    Company Type:
    Public
    Ticker Symbol:
    PHG
    Year Founded:
    1974
    Formerly Named:
    Lifeline Systems
    Address:
    111 Lawrence Street
    City:
    Framingham
    State/Province:
    MA
    Postal Code:
    01702
    Country:
    United States
    Website:
    www.lifeline.com

    Media

    VIDEOS & IMAGES 
    AWARDS & CREDENTIALS 
    iF Product Design Award for our HomeSafe Wireless and GoSafe products - 2014
     World’s Most Ethical Companies - Philips is included in the top 100 of the world’s most ethical companies for 2012, 2010, 2009