AARP Hearing Center
Medical Alert Review 2026: Our In-Depth Testing Experience
This company’s devices are easy to set up and connect quickly to the monitoring center — but they lack a few advanced features
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AARP Smart Picks
Medical alert systems — which include wearable devices with a help button that connect users to 24/7 monitoring centers — can help older adults access support as they age. This connection capability can be especially meaningful for older adults who have already experienced an emergency situation. For example, in our April 2026 survey of 300 people who purchased a medical alert system for themselves or a loved one in the last three years, 79 percent of respondents said they did so after they or someone they cared for experienced a fall or medical emergency.
Because people often rely on medical alert systems to help them during a crisis, we put these offerings to the test to identify the best medical alert systems for older adults. Our AARP Smart Picks team worked with adult testers ages 60 to 65 to assess more than 20 devices, testing measures such as their call center response time, operator professionalism and speaker audio quality. Medical Alert, a company owned by Connect America, earned high scores for its easy setup, accurate fall detection and quick response times.
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Medical Alert offers three devices:
- Home System: An at-home device with a wearable help button
- Smartwatch: A watch with a touchscreen that connects to a monitoring center
- Mobile System: A portable device that can be worn as a pendant or bracelet
For this review, we tested two of Medical Alert’s devices (Home System and Smartwatch). We are currently assessing the company’s Mobile System and will update this review when we have results. Testers gave the Home System high scores for its strong two-way speaker, easy setup and comfortable wearable help button (even if it isn’t particularly stylish). Meanwhile, our testers praised the Smartwatch for being discreet, comfortable and quick to connect to the monitoring center.
Read on to learn about our experience testing these two devices — and what to consider before making a purchase.
Comparing Medical Alert models
What to know about Medical Alert
The two Medical Alert devices we tested earned above-average scores or higher on key testing metrics such as audio clarity and operator professionalism. Our testers said they appreciated the Home System’s simple setup, lightweight wearable help button and helpful app. And they said the Smartwatch was easy to use right out of the box, with a slick design that made it look like a typical smartwatch — not a medical alert device.
During our assessments, testers said they felt confident setting the Home System up on their own, especially because the device didn’t require any extra tools. One of our testers said the Medical Alert Home System is among the easiest devices they had ever tried to set up and use.
The Home System includes a wearable help button that connects to the system’s base unit. You can wear this button as a bracelet or a pendant. In an emergency, the button and base unit work together to communicate with the monitoring center. This help button operates within an 800-foot radius of the base unit, which is about the length of two football fields. While that may seem far, other medical alert companies we’ve tested offer longer at-home signal ranges. Medical Guardian, for example, has a 1,400-foot range for its home device.
The Smartwatch is a digital watch with a touchscreen that uses GPS tracking to connect to the monitoring center. This watch detected all 12 test falls in our fall detection testing, aced our GPS tracking test and nabbed perfect scores for monitoring center operator professionalism. While the Smartwatch earned high overall scores in our testing, it’s a fairly basic model with fewer extra features than comparable medical alert smartwatches.
Both the Smartwatch and Home System connect to the company’s companion app, Medical Alert Connect, which may be useful for caregivers. If the user presses the help button, it can notify designated caregivers or other contacts. In addition, the app also shows battery life. And with the Smartwatch or Mobile System, the app also provides the users’ GPS location.
- Pros and cons
- Features
Pros
Simple setup
Pendant or bracelet options for the wearable device
Mobile app available
Cons
Not the most discreet
Higher monthly monitoring cost
Device type: At-home
GPS tracking: No
Waterproof: Yes for the wearable device; base unit is not waterproof
Key takeaways from our testing
Setting up the Medical Alert Home System was straightforward for Donna, a 60-year-old tester. "Everything was clearly laid out and easy to follow in the instruction manual,” she said, noting most of the setup involved plugging in the base unit and “making sure it was on.” She also said she liked the system's simplicity. “Since I wouldn’t need to charge the help button, it’d be easy to use every day,” she said. According to the setup guide, the help button requires no charging and should last for years.
Our lab testers said they appreciated having the flexibility to wear the Home System’s help button around their neck (as shown here) or on their wrist.
AARP Smart Picks
Our lab testers said they appreciated having the flexibility to wear the Home System’s help button around their neck (as shown here) or on their wrist.
While Donna said she wished the wearable help button would blend better with her outfits, she noted that it was comfortable to wear around her neck throughout the day. "I like how the pendant is adjustable," she said. It can also be worn as a bracelet. This ability to adjust and convert the pendant may be especially helpful for older adults who’d like to vary how they wear this device at home.
Tester Donna reported that the wearable help button isn’t discreet. “This is obviously a medical alert device, and it isn’t very stylish,” she said. “But since you’re wearing it just at home, that’s not too much of an issue for me.” Lab testers said the device was lightweight but easily tangled. Another knock? For an at-home system, the monthly subscription cost of $37.95 is more expensive than other devices we’ve assessed. Companies usually charge between $26 and $31 per month for monitoring of at-home medical alert devices. There is also a one-time equipment fee of $99.95.
- Pros and cons
- Features
Pros
Sleek look and longer battery life
Professional monitoring center staff
Exceptional fall detection
Cons
Lower volume
Fewer bells and whistles than comparable smartwatches
Device type: Smartwatch
GPS tracking: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Key takeaways from our testing
The Medical Alert Smartwatch is a GPS-enabled device that resembles an Apple Watch. The device also tracks your heart rate, steps and has an automated voice assistant that tells you information, such as when an emergency call is placed, the battery status and whether the device is charging. Tester Donna said this device would be easy to incorporate into her daily routine, and she liked how discreet the watch was, giving it very good scores for looks.
During our testing, calls connected to a live operator in under 50 seconds (we consider any call connecting in less than 60 seconds to be a passing score), and the operators were professional and spoke clearly. This device also did well in our GPS tracking assessment, nabbing a perfect score for location accuracy. We tested this by pressing the help button to initiate at least three calls per device in three different locations: a suburban grocery store, a hardware store and the cell phone lot of a major international airport. Each test call, we asked the agent at the monitoring center to verify our address. Agents correctly identified our address at all three locations. Another plus? The Smartwatch’s battery lasts up to two days on a single charge, which is about double the average battery life of the models in our review of the best medical alert watches.
Testers said the Medical Alert Smartwatch (shown here) looks similar to an Apple Watch because of its square watch face.
AARP Smart Picks
Testers said the Medical Alert Smartwatch (shown here) looks similar to an Apple Watch because of its square watch face.
Automatic fall detection is an optional feature that registers a fall and contacts the monitoring center on your behalf. The Medical Alert Smartwatch performed superbly on this front, detecting all 12 test falls.There is no guarantee that automatic fall detection will be perfect, but a strong performance on this test is noteworthy. Like most companies in the industry, Medical Alert charges an additional fee for fall detection — it runs $10 monthly, in addition to the $39.95 monthly monitoring fee. For more information on fall detection, see our review of the best medical alert systems with fall detection.
Donna said the speaker volume of this device “could have been a bit louder.” Even though she gave its sound quality a solid rating, some older adults who live with hearing loss may have trouble hearing the operator at the current volume, especially if the watch is down by their side. Users can increase the volume in the device’s settings.
This smartwatch is also a bit basic compared to similar models from other companies. While it can track your steps and heart rate, other medical watches we’ve tested offer more features. For example, the MGMove from Medical Guardian tracks your steps and heart rate, shows the weather, lets you send voice-to-text messages to selected contacts (for an extra fee) and lets you set reminders for important tasks like taking medication.
How we test medical alert systems
To test medical alert systems, we work with testers ages 60 and 65 and ask them to provide unbiased feedback. They test call response times and GPS tracking accuracy, as well as comfort, design, ease of setup and operator professionalism.
Testers also answer questions like: Was this device easy to set up and use? How comfortable is it to wear daily? Could you see yourself using this device every day?
In addition, we perform a series of lab-controlled tests assessing the following criteria, which survey respondents, focus group participants and experts told us were most important:
- Fall detection
- Call connection speed
- Audio clarity
- Operator professionalism
- GPS location tracking
For more details on our process, see our medical alert testing methodology page.
Does Medicare cover Medical Alert devices?
In general, original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not usually cover medical alert devices. However, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans may offer partial coverage. If you have an Advantage plan, you can contact your insurance provider to ask whether it covers medical alert devices or other devices to help you age in place.
Does insurance cover these devices?
Private insurance doesn’t typically cover Medical Alert devices, but it’s worth checking your individual policy. TRICARE, government-sponsored health insurance for active-duty military members, does not cover medical alert devices.
How much do the systems from Medical Alert cost?
The Medical Alert systems we tested for this article range in starting price from $37.95 to $39.95 per month. You also pay one-time equipment fees, which cost $99.95 for Home System and $159 for Smartwatch. Optional automatic fall detection is available for both systems for an additional $10 per month.
In our survey of people who had purchased a medical alert system in the last three years, 45 percent of respondents said they paid between $25 and $50 a month. At $37.95 a month, the Medical Alert Home System is among the more expensive home systems we’ve tested. Among survey respondents who purchased a Medical Alert device, 85 percent were satisfied with the cost. If you prefer a more affordable system, MobileHelp is a medical alert company that doesn’t charge an equipment fee, which brings the overall cost down.
How to save money on medical alert devices
Both devices we tested from this company carry a one-time equipment fee, in addition to the monthly monitoring cost. But you may be able to save money on Smartwatch or Home device with these strategies:
- Consider an annual monitoring plan. Paying for a year of the at-home system in advance effectively lowers the monitoring cost from $37.95 to $29.95 per month. If you pay for a year of the smartwatch’s monitoring in advance, you will reduce your monthly cost from $39.95 to $34.95 per month.
- Stay alert for sales. Medical Alert may offer discounts around holidays or other events, so watch for promotions. To stay up on promotions, check the company’s website or social media accounts.
- Use an FSA or HSA. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) may cover medical alert systems as eligible medical expenses.
Is Medical Alert right for you?
If you’re looking into buying a medical alert system for you or a loved one and aren’t sure if this company’s devices suit your needs, ask yourself the following questions:.
Do you want a system only for home use?
At-home systems are designed for use only inside the home, so they aren’t a good choice for older adults who want monitoring coverage on the go. The Medical Alert Home system also has a relatively short at-home coverage range (800 feet) compared with some other companies’ systems. Medical Guardian’s at-home device, for example, offers a coverage range of over 1,400 feet. You’ll want to factor in your home and property size when choosing an at-home system.
If you want a GPS-enabled device that connects you to the monitoring center wherever you go, you may like the Medical Alert Smartwatch instead.
Do you value simplicity?
If so, the Medical Alert Home System or Smartwatch could be a good match for you. Our lab team found both systems were straightforward to set up. And tester Donna reported that she could use the Smartwatch right away after unboxing it.
We liked that the base unit and wearable device have only a few buttons and a streamlined design focused on their primary purpose: contacting the monitoring center for help.
This simplicity is one of Medical Alert’s advantages. And straightforward devices are increasingly hard to find, says Cherie Macri, an occupational therapist and director at Masonicare, a not-for-profit provider of health care and retirement living for older adults in Connecticut. "In a market driven by advanced technology, there is a tendency to equate more features with better outcomes. In reality, simplicity often delivers the greatest value," she says. Being able to activate help quickly and intuitively is far more important to many older adults than having high-tech bells and whistles.
Do you want a discreet at-home device?
If you or your loved one is looking for an inconspicuous at-home device, this system may not be the best fit. Tester Donna said the wearable button “obviously” looked like a medical alert device. Since it's designed for home use, though, you or your family member may not mind its appearance. But if you’d prefer a device that’s less obtrusive, you may want to consider the Medical Alert Smartwatch, which earned high scores for its discreet design.
FAQs
Is there a monthly cost for Medical Alert?
Yes, like other companies that offer these systems, Medical Alert charges a monthly monitoring fee. For example, in addition to the $99.95 equipment fee for the Medical Alert Home System in this review, the company charges $37.95 per month for at-home monitoring. The company also offers annual monitoring plans that reduce the monthly cost if you pay one year upfront. One caveat to note: if you decide to return your system within the 14-day trial window, Medical Alert will refund only the one-time equipment fee — not any monitoring fees, including these prepaid costs.
Does Medical Alert have fall detection?
Medical Alert offers automatic fall detection, a feature that detects falls and contacts a central monitoring center without needing to push a help button. This feature is an add-on and costs $10 a month. If you decide to buy from this company, you can add this optional service to any of its systems at checkout.
Does Medical Alert offer a free trial period?
This company does provide a 14-day free trial period. The trial period begins the day you receive your Medical Alert device. If you return your device within that 14-day window, Medical Alert will refund one-time equipment fees, but they will not refund any other fees, including monthly monitoring charges.
Where can you buy Medical Alert devices?
You can purchase devices from the company through its website, as well as on Amazon. Medical Alert is primarily a direct-to-consumer medical alert company, meaning it does not have stand-alone brick-and-mortar stores.
Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.
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