How QMedic Compares to Other Top Medical Alert Systems

QMedic ranks among the top seven of the 23 medical alert companies we reviewed. The company received its highest rating in the “In-Home Systems” category, which takes into account the cost of a company’s in-home systems as well as its features. Though QMedic’s in-home system is pricier than some of its competitors, its annual payment structure lowers the monthly cost and it does not charge any extra fee for its in-home cellular device compared to the landline version. These factors together can save customers well over $100 a year, making QMedic more affordable. 

The company also received a high ranking in the “Reliability and Reputation” category, which evaluates factors that can affect customer experience and safety. QMedic performed well in this category thanks to its extremely useful and clear website, its free trial period, and its A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. 

QMedic stands out as the only company that offers compliance monitoring. Compliance monitoring detects whether users are actually wearing their device, which is crucial information, since the device is only effective if the user regularly wears it. With compliance monitoring, caregivers and family members of QMedic users can have peace of mind knowing their loved one is wearing their device and is protected- or take action if they find that their loved one is not wearing their device. Compliance tracking can make all the difference in keeping seniors safe and protected during an emergency.

Caring.com’s Medical Alert Provider Rankings
Caring.com’s team of experts and researchers ranked the top 23 medical alert providers based on different features, price points, and qualities of the company. Those data points were split into 5 core metrics and 28 sub metrics that were weighted based on importance in determining the overall quality of the companies. Each company, including QMedic, was scored and ranked based on those metrics and weights. 

Pros and Cons of QMedic Medical Alert Systems

ProsCons
Only company to offer compliance monitoringDoes not offer fall detection for any devices
Simple product catalogue Does not offer prorated refunds
No shipping costs for any customers
No extra cost to access the caregiver dashboard

QMedic’s Plans

In-HomeMobile GPS
Monthly Cost$25.00$33.00
One-time FeesN/AN/A
Type of DeviceIn-homeMobile
ConnectionCellularCellular
Battery Life24-hour backup14 days
Water ResistantYesYes
Shower-proofYesYes
Range800-1,000 feetN/A
Fall DetectionNot availableNot available

In-Home

Pricing

This system costs $300 per year, which comes out to $25 per month. The device must be paid for in one lump payment for the year; shorter payment periods are not available. a month with a monthly payment plan. Fall detection is not available with this system, or any QMedic devices.

Device Information

The in-home cellular system includes two components: an in-home base station that must connect to a landline, and a waterproof, shower-safe wearable help button. The base station has a range of 800-1,000 feet, and a 24-hour backup battery. Customers have the choice of wearing the personal help button as a pendant or wristband.

Mobile GPS

Pricing

Mobile GPS costs $400 per year, or about $33 per month. Like all QMedic devices, there are no one-time fees and the device must be paid for on an annual basis (month-to-month payment options are not available).

Device Information

Mobile GPS is intended for active seniors who frequently leave the home alone or enjoy traveling. The all-in-one device has an impressive battery life of 14 days between charges, and is water-resistant so it can get wet in the rain (however, it is not shower-proof). Mobile GPS may only be worn as a pendant; there is no wristband option.

Starting Costs and Contracts

QMedic does not charge any one-time fees, including shipping. The only thing that customers are billed for is monitoring services- they will never be charged for anything else.

There are no long-term contracts required, so users may cancel their service at any time without paying a penalty. However, customers will not receive a refund for any prepaid months if they decide to cancel their service before the year is complete. There is also a 30-day free trial period for all devices, during which users may return their equipment for a full refund.

Monitoring

QMedic’s monitoring services are entirely U.S.-based. There are call centers located in Utah and Idaho, both of which are UL-listed. According to the QMedic website, it takes an average of 30 seconds for operators to come on the line during an emergency call.

QMedic users can designate a caregiver or preferred contact whom they would like the monitoring center to call if the operator is unable to communicate with the caller. It is up to users whether they designate this person as the emergency contact, or if the monitoring center should call emergency services if they cannot hear the caller.

Caregiver Tools and Extra Features

Compliance and Activity Monitoring

QMedic offers compliance monitoring, a unique feature that tracks whether or not users are wearing their device. For many caregivers, getting their loved one to wear their medical alert device is a challenge. Compliance monitoring can relieve some anxiety caregivers may feel about their loved one’s safety, since they know that their loved one is wearing their device and will be able to get help during an emergency. In the event that the user is not wearing their device regularly, caregivers can take action.

Activity monitoring measures data like users’ movement and their sleep patterns. Caregivers may check activity stats to ensure that their loved one is safe and going about their day as usual. If there ever is something abnormal about a user’s activity levels, caregivers can be proactive and check in on their loved one to ensure that everything is okay. Both activity and compliance monitoring are included free with all QMedic devices.

Caregiver Dashboard

All QMedic devices include access to the online Caregiver Dashboard. Caregivers or family members of QMedic users can use the Caregiver Dashboard to check their loved one’s wear compliance, activity, and sleep patterns. Device history is also available on the dashboard, so caregivers can see if and when their loved one contacted the emergency monitoring center.

Who Should Consider QMedic

Seniors Without a Landline

QMedic does not charge an extra fee for cellular in-home systems. Many other companies charge a fee of $10 or more per month for cellular connection in the home, amounting to more than $100 a year. With QMedic, seniors without a landline will not have to pay any extra fees for emergency monitoring in their homes.

Caregivers of Elderly Adults

Many caregivers worry about their loved one actually wearing their medical alert device, and may fear that their loved one will not be protected during an emergency despite possessing a medical alert system. QMedic’s compliance monitoring feature gives caregivers peace of mind, as they can check and see if their loved one is wearing their device. The fact that caregivers have access to compliance data may also make seniors more likely to wear their devices.

Budget-Conscious Seniors

QMedic’s annual payment structure brings the monthly monitoring costs for all of their devices to the lower end of the industry price range. Additionally, QMedic does not charge any one-time fees. Some company’s startup fees bring initial costs to over $100, or even several hundred dollars, so a company with zero one-time fees can save customers a substantial amount of money. Budget-conscious seniors can take comfort in knowing that the only cost they will ever face with QMedic is for emergency monitoring service.

Comparisons of the Top Medical Alert Systems