Medical Alert Reviews
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About Medical Alert
Medical Alert by Connect America is a professional emergency response monitoring company. Its systems come with a wearable lanyard or wristband that connects to a monitoring center. You can set up your monitoring system through a landline or cellular connection, depending on the device you choose.
- GPS Capabilities
- Optional fall detection
- No long term contracts
- Upfront activation fee
- Some devices are large
Featured Reviews
Medical Alert systems

Medical Alert
Home Landline System
$19.95 to $27.95 per month as of publishing date
Basic monitoring equipment with a waterproof emergency button. It has an 800-foot range and 30-hour backup battery.

Medical Alert
Home Cellular System
$29.95 to $37.95 per month as of publishing date
Cellular monitoring equipment with a waterproof emergency button. It has an 800-foot range and 30-hour backup battery.

Medical Alert
Wireless Mobile System
$39.95 to $47.95 per month as of publishing date
Portable access to monitoring centers with a wearable button and GPS technology. It has a battery life up to five days.

Medical Alert
Mini Mobile System
Starting at $39.95 per month as of publishing date
Medical Alert's smallest, most lightweight design with advanced GPS location technology.

Medical Alert
Smartwatch
Starting at $34.95 per month as of publishing date
Designed to support your healthy, active lifestyle while keeping you connected to assistance 24/7/365. It features GPS tracking, a heart rate monitor, step tracking and optional fall detection.

Medical Alert
Fall Detection Pendant
Extra $10 per month as of publishing date
Fall detection technology uses accelerators and barometric sensors to automatically sense a fall.

Medical Alert
Connect Mobile App
Included with service as of publishing date
Subscribers and caregivers can view call history, check battery status, contact customer service and more.
How Medical Alert emergency response systems work
Medical Alert’s systems consist of a wearable button or pendant and a base station. When the button is pressed, it sends a signal to the base station, which connects you to a professional monitoring center. A trained operator answers and establishes communication.
They then assess your situation and send the appropriate help, whether that’s contacting emergency services or notifying designated family members or caregivers.
The direct connection to a monitored call center is a plus for many of Medical Alert’s reviewers on our site. A reviewer in Louisiana had a different device before Medical Alert, “but it was not really monitored and the company would alert [her] sister.”
With Medical Alert, “the call goes straight to someone that's monitoring the device and they can call the fire department, which is about two blocks down from my house. So, when I get on the floor and I can't get up, I don't have to crawl to get the number for the fire department. They call for me and that's what I like about it.”
Other notable company features include:
- Waterproof help buttons: Wear the help button around your neck or wrist, including in the shower or tub where slips and falls are most common.
- Personalized response plans: When you press your button, Medical Alert will contact the right person to get you the help you need, whether family, a friend or a first responder.
- Mobile app: The Medical Alert Connect app allows you to manage your account easily from your phone. Your loved ones receive real-time notification of emergencies, updates and alerts.
- Fall detection: Fall detection is available for an additional $10/month to automatically sense when you fall and provide fast contact, even if you can't press your button.
- No long-term contracts: Medical Alert's service has no hidden fees or long-term contracts.
About Medical Alert’s monitoring centers
Medical Alert’s U.S.-based monitoring centers are staffed by trained operators 24/7, 365 days a year, including holidays.
Response centers are TMA Five Diamond-certified and UL-certified. SIA-certified multilingual operators are trained to use the International Language Line for real-time translations in 140 languages. The company is also a member of the Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA).
Medical Alert costs
Medical Alert systems start around $20 to $40 per month, but you can save money by enrolling in an annual or semiannual plan. Annual plans also include perks like free shipping and a lockbox.
There are no equipment costs, but there is a one-time $99.95 programming fee for home and mobile systems and a $159 equipment fee for the Smartwatch. Fall detection is available for an extra $10 per month. For an additional $1 per month, you can purchase a protection plan that covers up to $350 if your system is lost, damaged or stolen.
Keep in mind that your rates might go up over time.
“Everything has gone well when I’ve used them,” a reviewer in Arkansas told us last year. “But I'm 92 years old and I don't like something that goes up $10 a year so I am working on trying to get something that’s not expensive.”
Around the same time, a reviewer in Maine said: “It does the job and it's very useful. But I think they put the price up pretty well. It went up $15 a month.”
Home Landline System | Home Cellular System | Mobile System | Mini Mobile System | Smartwatch | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month-to-month | $27.95 per month | $37.95 per month | $47.95 per month | $47.95 per month | $39.95 per month |
Semi-annual plan | $24.95 per month | $34.95 per month | $44.95 per month | $44.95 per month | $37.95 per month |
Annual plan | $19.95 per month | $29.95 per month | $39.95 per month | $39.95 per month | $34.95 per month |
Optional fall detection | $10 per month | $10 per month | $10 per month | $10 per month | $10 per month |
One-time programming fee | $99.95 | $99.95 | $99.95 | $99.95 | $0 |
How does Medical Alert compare?
Compare Medical Alert to similarly rated PERS companies.
Company | Monitoring fees | Equipment cost | Activation fee | Fall detection | Trial period | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | $27.95 to $47.95 | $0 | $99.95 to $159 programming fee | Available | Get Pricing | |
![]() | $31.99-$41.99 | $0 (excludes add-ons) | $0 | Not available with Medical Alert Basic | No | Get Pricing |
![]() | $29.95 to $58.95 per month | $0 | $79 to $99.95 | Yes | No | Learn more |
![]() | $33.95-$48.95 | $0-$199.95 | $0 | Yes | No | Get Pricing |
![]() | $49.95 to $69 | $0 | $198 | No | Get Pricing |
Medical Alert FAQ
Do I have to sign a contract to get a Medical Alert system?
You need to sign a month-to-month monitoring agreement to comply with privacy laws, but no long-term commitment is required. Paying on a longer-term basis can save you money, though.
Are Medical Alert devices waterproof?
Medical Alert’s help buttons are waterproof, so you can continue wearing your pendant or wristband in the shower or the bath. However, your base unit may not be waterproof.
What happens if I accidentally press the emergency button?
The monitoring center confirms whether it was a genuine emergency or a mistake. They ask if you're OK and if there is a real need for assistance. If you confirm it was accidental, they update your account records and take no further action.
However, if they can't reach you or receive an unclear response, they may contact emergency contacts or send help to ensure your safety.
Is Medical Alert’s fall detection reliable?
Medical Alert’s sensors use high acceleration sensors to measure force, barometric sensors to detect changes in pressure and an algorithm to distinguish between a real fall and a false alarm. However, no fall detection is 100% accurate.
“I used my Medical Alert two or three times when I fell down and I couldn't get up. And I was here by myself,” a reviewer in Michigan said. “They came right away, took me in the ambulance, and they started working on me to check me out.”
» COMPARE: Best medical alert with fall detection
Will the cellular system work in my area?
As long as you have adequate AT&T cell coverage in your area, the system should work.
Is Medical Alert a good company?
Medical Alert offers top-rated emergency equipment with three package options: Home System, Mobile System and Smartwatch. Packages include 24/7 professional monitoring, a two-way speaker, a waterproof button and access to the Medical Alert Connect app.
It's important to note that the upfront costs for Medical Alert are higher compared to our other recommended choices. To get started, there is a $99.95 programming fee.
But other companies charge additional fees for similar mobile features — caregivers can easily monitor the status of their medical alert device, update contact lists, conduct system tests and more — so the costs could even out over time.
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- 4,609,174 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.
- We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.
- We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.
- Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.
Medical Alert Company Information
- Company Name:
- Medical Alert
- Address:
- 1 Belmont Ave, 12th Floor
- City:
- Bala Cynwyd
- State/Province:
- PA
- Postal Code:
- 19004
- Website:
- www.medicalalert.com
