Thursday, April 22, 2021

ADT Medical Alert System

ADT Medical Alert System

ADT has three medical alert systems to help your loved ones in an emergency.
ADT Medical Alert System
ADT Shield
3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5
  • Discounts for current ADT customers
  • Multiple monitoring centers
  • Monthly monitoring starts at $29.99/mo.

Info current as of 04/21/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Bottom line: ADT Med Alert protects Mom and Dad 

You’re probably familiar with ADT’s home security systems, but did you know there's an ADT medical alert too? And if you already have an ADT system, you can get discounts on a medical alert device for loved ones.

ADT medical alert comes in three flavors: On-The-Go, Medical Alert Plus, and Medical Alert Basic.

Each package comes equipped with an emergency button to reach any of ADT’s six monitoring centers. But only the Medical Alert Plus and On-The-Go have fall detection.

When you or an older loved one uses the system is in a scary situation, they can call on ADT’s monitoring professionals for help. Whether it’s chest pains or a slip in the shower, the company’s emergency operators stay on the line until help arrives.

Pro Heading
Pros
Pro Bullet Discounts for ADT customers
Pro Bullet Locked-in monthly rate
Pro Bullet Reliable professional monitoring
Pro Bullet Landline and cellular options available
Con Heading
Cons
Con Bullet Low range for in-home systems
Con Bullet Limited availability for fall detection
Con Bullet No companion app for caregivers
Con Bullet Fall detection not available in every system

How we reviewed the ADT medical alert system 

This isn’t the first time SafeWise has put ADT under the microscope. So we used what we already know about the company. We also sifted through fine print to get details on the payment process, activation fees, and more.

To top it off, we compared the ADT system to other popular medical alert devices, looking at prices, equipment, and monitoring perks. Learn more about how we conduct our reviews from our methodology page.

ADT medical alert pricing

ADT medical alert has three packages to choose, each with its own pros and cons and different medical alert device. We’ve compared them side by side to make the choice a little easier.

Medical Alert Basic Medical Alert Plus On-The-Go
ADT Medical Alert Basic system ADT Medical Alert System Plus ADT on-the-go medical alert system
Monthly cost
Equipment cost None None None
Activation fee $28.99 $28.99 $28.99
Contract required
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
ADT customer discount

$2.00 off per month

Free shipping

$2.00 off per month

50% off fall detection

Free shipping

$2.00 off per month

50% off fall detection

Free shipping

Learn more

Info current as of 04/21/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

ADT Medical Alert Basic starts at just under $30 per month with On-The-Go medical alert topping off around $40 per month. When you start your service, expect taxes along with activation and shipping fees. Thankfully those are one-time fees.

If you’re an existing ADT customer, good news: There are a few perks to pairing your home security system with a new medical alert device. ADT customers get a small discount per month and half off fall detection for Medical Alert Plus and On-The-Go plans.

ADT customers also get the freedom to choose between annual or quarterly billing. Yearly payments end up saving you about $4 for each plan.

  • Medical Alert Basic: $335.88/year 
  • Medical Alert Plus: $419.88/year
  • On-The-Go: $431.88/year

Tech and equipment 

ADT’s Medical Alert Basic and Medical Alert Plus are at-home systems with a short range. On-the-Go is a GPS unit that can go anywhere with your loved one. We dive into each system more in depth below.

ADT medical alert package comparison

Medical Alert Basic Medical Alert Plus On-The-Go
ADT Medical Alert Basic system ADT Medical Alert System Plus ADT on-the-go medical alert system
Included equipment

Base station

Wrist or lanyard button

Base station

Wrist or lanyard button

GPS unit

Wrist or lanyard button

Range from base station 300 ft. 600 ft. Unlimited
Connection type Landline Cellular Cellular
GPS location tech
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
Icon Yes LightYes
Fall detection
Icon No LightNo
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Waterproof pendant or lanyard
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes

Info current as of 04/21/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

ADT Medical Alert Basic: Home-based landline system

ADT Medical Alert Basic

ADT Medical Alert Basic is the most budget-friendly option of ADT’s products. At just under $30 per month, you get a landline-connected base station and your choice of waterproof pendant or wristband. The wristband help button option comes in black or white. 

Your loved one will need an existing landline to use the system. But installation is as easy as plugging in a cable. Landlines may be slowly phasing out, but they’re a good choice for rural areas or places with poor reception.

In all home-based medical alert systems, the wearable emergency button needs to stay close to the base station. ADT’s Basic system gives Mom or Dad a 300-foot radius before the connection fades.

Compared to other medical alert systems, 300 feet is pretty limited. But it’s enough if your loved ones live in a small home or apartment.

Unfortunately, automatic fall detection isn’t available with this system. But you can upgrade to the Plus package to get that feature with an at-home system.

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Best for: Apartments/small homes with landlines

The ADT Medical Alert Basic package is best for older adults who stay home and have a landline. With its limited range, it fits best in smaller homes or apartments.

ADT Medical Alert Basic comes with: 

  • Landline-connected base station
  • Wearable emergency button (waterproof pendant or wristband)

ADT Medical Alert Plus: Home-based cellular system

ADT Medical Alert Plus

ADT Medical Alert Plus is an at-home medical alert system like the Basic package. But instead of a landline, it uses a cellular signal to connect with the nearest monitoring center.

Cellular systems are easier to set up and even take with you. If you and your loved one need to travel, you can set it up wherever you visit.

And like the Basic package, the wearable needs to stay within range of the base station. Thankfully, the Plus package doubles the range to 600 feet.

The base station looks like Medical Guardian and MobileHelp systems and comes with similar features like automatic fall detection.

But ADT adds a temperature display, something we don’t see often in medical alert systems. This feature shows the ambient temperature of the home, allowing your loved one to stay comfortably in the Goldilocks zone (not too hot, not too cold).

The Medical Alert Plus system also comes with an additional discount for existing ADT customers. If you or your loved one already use ADT security, the company gives you half off automatic fall detection.

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Best for: Home-bound adults

This medical alert system works best for less-active older adults who live in small- to medium-sized homes. Its cellular connection makes it a good choice for those in urban or suburban areas too.

The ADT Medical Alert Plus comes with: 

  • Cellular base station
  • Waterproof pendant or wristband with built-in emergency button

Automatic fall detection with ADT medical alert

The ADT Medical Alert Plus comes with automatic fall detection for an additional $10 per month. This raises your monthly monitoring fee to $45.99, but also includes a specialized fall detection waterproof pendant that can sense changes in height and speed. 

If you do take a spill and are unable to call for help, this pendant will call an ADT security specialist the monitoring center and send help for you. 

ADT On-The-Go: Mobile system

On-The-Go

ADT On-The-Go is a GPS medical alert system your loved ones can take with them. From the golf course to the garden, they can call for help and connect with an ADT monitoring operator whenever they need assistance.

The system is made of a two-way speaker button and medical alert pendant (or wristband, their choice). The two devices sync up and work together to form a mobile medical alert system. The GPS and lanyard must stay together at all times. But both pieces are small enough to fit in pockets and purses.

The On-The-Go system also has fall detection which calls the monitoring center when after a fall (especially helpful if the fall leaves the wearer unconscious). 

But like the ADT Medical Alert Plus package, fall detection adds $10 to your monthly monitoring costs, bringing this plan up to $49.99.

And while this mobile system costs more than the other two ADT medical alert options, it’s still more affordable than other GPS units that often cost over $45 per month.

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Best for: Active older adults

Active older adults who travel or run errands alone will enjoy this system most. Even if Mom or Dad doesn’t leave the house often, its mobile range makes it a good fit for older adults in larger homes.

Customer service 

If you have questions or comments, calling is by far the fastest way to reach ADT. You may encounter some upselling tactics, though. So brace yourself and take a look through the site so you know what you’re looking for before you call.

We tested ADT’s customer service via the live chat service on the company’s website. A bot greets you when you start the chat, requiring you to jump through some hoops before reaching a real customer service rep.

And the process can be tricky since the bot’s navigational questions are mainly focused on ADT’s home security.

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ADT's redundant monitoring centers

ADT has six US-based monitoring centers throughout the country. So no matter what time or day your loved one needs assistance, there’s always someone standing by.

These redundant monitoring centers work as backup for each other in case of power outages, storms, or other natural disasters. So if the center nearest to your loved one loses power, there’s sure to be another online.

How ADT stacks up

ADT Medical Alert System Bay Alarm Medical GetSafe Medical Guardian Philips Lifeline
ADT Bay Alarm Get Safe Medical Guardian Philips Lifeline
Monthly monitoring $29.99–$39.99 $19.99–$59.95 $24.95 $34.95–$79.95 $29.99–$54.95
Max range from base station 600 ft. 1,000 ft. 1,300 ft. 1,300 ft. 400 ft.
Fall detection
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Home temperature monitor
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
Icon No LightNo
Landline option
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon No LightNo
Icon Yes LightYes
Icon Yes LightYes

Info current as of 04/21/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Pricing and discounts

ADT medical alert's Basic package lands just under $30, costing more than starting rates from Bay Alarm and GetSafe but less than Medical Guardian.

As you move through ADT’s packages, the story stays the same. Much like these other medical alert systems, ADT’s GPS device is the priciest of the bunch. But it’s a good deal compared to premium products like Philips LifeLine, which can cost up to $60 per month.

ADT falls safely within the range of affordable medical alert systems but with the potential of paying up to $50 per month, it's not the cheapest of the bunch.

Thankfully, ADT is transparent about its discounts. Some medical alert systems offer discounts for AARP members and veterans, but you have to ask first. If you’re an existing ADT customer, you can get perks like free shipping, no activation fee, and monthly discounts.

Features and equipment

ADT’s medical alert devices are reliable and easy to use, but they don’t have all the bells and whistles other medical alert services have.

For example, you won’t find a companion app that lets you track your loved one’s location with ADT. The company also lacks a smartwatch or other slick wearables.

That said, if you need a simple, no-fuss system, all you really need is waterproof wearable equipment and automatic fall detection.

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Learn more

Learn all about our favorite medical alert systems in our full reviews:

Things to consider before you buy 

A medical alert system is one of many ways you can take care of your older loved ones. Home security systems can also protect them from break-ins, fires, and carbon monoxide. ADT offers discounts to customers with a medical alert and home security system, keeping prices sustainable and your loved ones safe.

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About ADT home security

ADT has been in the home security business for over 100 years. This experienced company has several packages for keeping your home safe from fires, intruders, and even carbon monoxide. We also have a complete review of ADT home security.

Final word 

Of ADT’s medical alert systems, our favorite is the On-The-Go GPS package. It’s more affordable than similar units and gives your loved one more freedom to move about their house, neighborhood, and community.

To sum it all up, ADT offers an affordable medical alert system, even without the existing customer discounts. The equipment is simple and easy to learn without too many distracting features. You can also feel confident that help is never far away, thanks to all the professional monitoring centers under the company’s umbrella.

ADT medical alert FAQ 

While none of ADT’s medical alert systems require a contract, the company’s security system does come with a 36-month agreement. 

No. Some of our other favorite home security providers like Link InteractiveVivint, and Frontpoint offer standalone pendants and medical alert systems. 

Similar to ADT, you can bundle these products with your main home system if you have an older family member living with you or want to give them a medical alert system linked to your home security devices. 

Everyone ages differently, so there’s no set time or list of symptoms. If your loved one lives alone and has showed signs of lost balance, confusion, or other medical problems, it may be time to look into buying them a system. Learn how to talk to your parents about medical alert systems so they can speak with medical professionals about whether it’s right for them.

Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire
As a renter, pet-owner, and woman living alone, Katie McEntire takes safety seriously. She’s tested devices like pet cameras, home security systems, and GPS trackers in her own home and devices in the name of safety. In addition to testing, writing, and reviewing for SafeWise, she also makes videos for the site’s YouTube channel. She’s been featured on publications like TechGuySmartBuy, Forbes, Healthy Moms, and Digital Care. Katie has a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Writing from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She’s held previous writing positions at Overstock.com and Top Ten Reviews.

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