Medical Care Alert Medical Alert System Review

How Medical Care Alert Compares to Other Top Medical Alert Systems

Medical Care Alert ranks fifth out of 23 medical alert companies we reviewed with an overall star rating of 3.9/5. Its place in the top five medical alert companies can largely be attributed to its low prices, especially when it comes to extra costs. The “Extra Costs” portion of our ranking focused on costs consumers face outside of their monthly monitoring fees, such as activation fees, equipment purchase costs, and cancellation fees. 

Medical Care Alert scored highly in this category because it does not charge any activation, device, or installation fees, saving customers money and simplifying the purchasing process. The company does not charge cancellation fees and offers prorated refunds, so prospective customers can feel comfortable selecting one of the less expensive, longer-term payment options without worrying about losing money. 

The company also stands out from the competition for its strict hiring practices for monitoring center operators. All Medical Care Alert emergency response operators must have an EMT/EMD certification and at least two years of college education or experience serving in the military. Users and their loved ones can rest assured that the operator responding to emergency calls is well-trained and prepared to assist. 

Pros and Cons of Medical Care Alert Medical Alert Systems

Medical Care Alert’s Plans

HOME

Pricing

HOME is Medical Care Alert’s least expensive device at $29.95 a month when paid for monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. The annual subscription plan is slightly less expensive, at $27.45 a month. Fall detection is available for an additional $10 a month.

Device Information

HOME is a landline-based in-home system. The system includes a base station with a range of 1,000 feet and a 72-hour backup battery, and two wearable help buttons. The help button is waterproof and shower-proof, and may be worn as a pendant or wristband. There is no cellular option for this system, so it is only available for those with a landline connection in their home.

HOME-3G

Pricing

This system costs $34.95 a month with a monthly or quarterly plan. The annual subscription plan saves customers about $3 per month. Fall detection is not included but can be added to one’s service plan for $10 a month.

Device Information

The HOME-3G is a cellular in-home system. The system includes an in-home base station with a cellular connection (no landline required), and one waterproof wearable help button. The base station has a range of 1,000 feet and a 72-hour backup battery.

HOME & YARD

Pricing

HOME & YARD costs $34.95 a month when paid for monthly or quarterly. The annual plan costs $32.04 a month. Fall detection is not available with this system.

Device Information

HOME & YARD is an in-home system that includes a base station and a portable device. The portable device has a built-in two-way speaker and personal help button, which allows users to maintain coverage when they are outside of their home, whether that be gardening in the yard or walking to the mailbox.

It is not a mobile system – users still need to be within 600 feet of the in-home base station for the device to function properly. However, the two-way speaker in the device means that seniors can talk to monitoring center operators directly through the pendant and allows them to spend time outdoors worry-free, rather than only being able to speak to the monitoring center through the in-home base station.

HOME & AWAY ULTRA

Pricing

HOME & AWAY ULTRA costs $39.95 a month, or $36.62 a month with an annual subscription plan. Other than shipping for quarterly subscribers, there are no one-time fees. Users may choose to add fall detection to their service for $10 a month.

Device Information

HOME & AWAY ULTRA is an all-in-one mobile device that uses AT&T 4G LTE cellular service, so it works anywhere with a cellular connection. The device also has GPS location services that use a combination of GPS, WiFi, and Cellular to find callers faster, a built-in two-way speaker, and a personal help button. HOME & AWAY ULTRA has a battery life of 3 days, and is waterproof and can be worn in the shower.

All HOME & AWAY ULTRA users receive access to the Remote Care 24/7 app. The app can be used by customers’ caregivers for on-demand location tracking and device status notifications. 

Starting Costs and Contracts

Medical Care Alert does not charge any activation, device, or installation fees. The only one-time cost customers must pay is shipping, which usually costs about $12. Those who choose semi-annual or annual payment options receive free USPS priority shipping.

Customers are not required to sign long-term contracts, and may cancel their service at any time without paying a penalty. Once users return their equipment, they receive a prorated refund for any prepaid months of service. There is also a 14-day free trial period during which users can return their equipment for a full refund.

Monitoring

Medical Care Alert monitoring services are entirely U.S.-based. There are call centers located in New York and California, both of which are fully redundant and can maintain their own power. Medical Care Alert only hires operators who are EMT/EMD certified, and have completed either two years of college or military service. Spanish speaking operators are available at all times.

All Medical Care Alert users set up a Personal Profile with contact information for family, friends, caregivers, or neighbors. Upon dispatch, the operator automatically sends an SMS text message to the user’s Personal Profile contacts, so that users’ loved ones know right away if there is an emergency. 

Caregiver Tools and Extra Features

Remote Care 24/7 App

A HOME & AWAY ULTRA subscription comes with access to the Remote Care 24/7 mobile app, which allows caregivers and family members of users to check the location of their loved one’s device. The portal shows a map with the device’s current location as well as any recent movements. Not only does this provide peace of mind for caregivers, but it can be life-saving for seniors who wander.

Other features of the app include weather forecasts for the device’s location, a “ping” service to help users find their misplaced device, and the ability to check the device’s battery level. 

Optional Devices

Medical Care Alert customers may choose to add the following devices to their service plan:

• Lockboxes: Lockboxes ensure that EMS will be able to enter users’ home easily during an emergency. Medical Care Alert customers who choose the annual payment option receive a free lockbox. Other customers may purchase a lockbox for $29.95.
• Wall-Mounted Buttons: These buttons can be placed anywhere in the home where users want extra protection, and provide an extra option for contacting the emergency monitoring center. The buttons can be purchased for $29.95. HOME users may choose to have one of their two included wearable help buttons replaced with a wall-mounted button.
• Extra Help Buttons/Pendants: Customers who use a HOME, HOME-3G, or HOME & YARD system may choose to purchase a second wearable help button or voice pendant for themselves, or a spouse or family member (there is no extra fee for monitoring for a second person). Extra in-home wearable help buttons may be purchased for $29.95 (extra pendants with fall detection are $60). The voice pendant used for the HOME & YARD system costs $60. 

Who Should Consider Medical Care Alert

Seniors Who Enjoy Gardening

HOME & YARD is a unique system specifically designed for seniors who spend time outdoors gardening, relaxing on their porch, or getting the mail. It is different from a mobile system, which uses a cellular connection and is designed for more active seniors. HOME & YARD allows seniors who may not spend much time traveling or running errands outside the home, but who do enjoy spending time outdoors, to get the coverage they need from an in-home system. The wearable help button with a two-way speaker means that users can communicate with the monitoring center directly through that device rather than the base station, so users are protected while outdoors when their voices may not carry to the base station.

Seniors Who Travel

HOME and HOME & YARD systems feature easy installation – users simply need to plug the base station in. That means that seniors can bring them on vacation and easily install them in their hotel or vacation home, so long as the room has a landline phone jack. Medical Care Alert simply asks that users inform the monitoring center that they are traveling and provide their updated address.

Additionally, the mobile HOME & AWAY device uses cellular signals to connect to the monitoring center and works anywhere with a cellular connection, so users are covered when they travel.

Seniors with a Medical Condition

Medical Care Alert devices are monitored completely by operators with EMT/EMD certification. For seniors with a medical condition that may require them to regularly use their device, having someone with this experience on the other line can provide peace of mind for the user and their loved ones. Since users’ preferred contacts receive an SMS alert whenever emergency services are dispatched following a call to the monitoring center, they can stay informed about their loved one’s health without frequently worrying or feeling like they need to constantly check-in.

Comparisons of the Top Medical Alert Systems

• Medical Care Alert vs Medical Guardian
• Medical Care Alert vs RescueTouch