What’s the Real Cost of Life Alert?
If you’ve visited the company’s website in search of pricing information, you’ve probably already realized the frustrating truth: Life Alert doesn’t publicize its prices and fees online. Unless you’ve braved a call to its sales department, you may be asking, “What’s the cost of Life Alert?” We contacted the company to get the facts about its equipment, policies, and pricing to bring you some solid answers.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.
About Life Alert
The Life Alert system is branded as the original “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” company. It was the first medical alert company on the scene, providing specialized technology to safeguard aging adults against medical emergencies at home, and it continues to do things the old-fashioned way. You can’t order a Life Alert system online—you have to call in to request a brochure and talk to a salesperson if you want to place an order. Salespeople work on commission, so don’t expect simple, straightforward answers to questions either (our call lasted a full thirty minutes).
Life Alert features and equipment: How it works and what it costs
A basic Life Alert system has a base station and a pendant with a button. When you press the button on the pendant, the base unit acts as an extra-loud, highly sensitive speakerphone and connects you to a Life Alert-owned and operated monitoring center. If you need assistance, the dispatcher can either contact a friend or family member, or if it’s more serious (or if you don’t respond), they can dispatch emergency responders. Additional Life Alert equipment includes a waterproof “help” button and a GPS unit.
You’ll pay $49.95 a month for the base unit and a pendant, with a one-time activation fee of $95. Adding on one additional device—either the help button or the GPS unit—raises the price to $69.90 per month, with an activation fee of $198. For the full package, you can expect to pay $89.85 a month along with the $198 activation fee.
What you get for the price
Life Alert is pricey, but is there a good reason for the higher cost? Life Alert certainly has some perks to justify the high price and set it apart from competitors, but it has its fair share of negatives as well.
Fast shipping Worry-free installation Unlimited use Insured equipment No need to change batteries Industry experience
Pressured sales Leased equipment Three-year contract No fall detection No trial period No GPS tracking for loved onesWhat to look forward to
Fast Shipping
As soon as you order your system, Life Alert pulls a system from stock, tests it, and sends it out to you via two-day air—at no extra cost.
Worry-free installation
On the day you receive your system, you’ll get a call from Life Alert to schedule your professional installation appointment. You may even get same-day installation.
Unlimited use
No matter how many times you push the button, your monthly fee stays the same for as long as you own the system. There are no fees or penalties for false alarms.
Insured equipment
If your equipment stops working or is faulty for any reason, Life Alert will send out a professional technician to replace it.
No need to charge batteries
Pendants and buttons all have ten-year battery life, which means you never have to worry about charging them.
Industry experience
Life Alert has had decades of experience fine-tuning its products and its monitoring service.
What to watch out for
Pressured sales
You can’t get a Life Alert system without talking to a salesperson, so be prepared to listen to a lengthy sales pitch and feel some pressure to buy.
Leased equipment
You won’t actually own the equipment, so you’ll have to return it when your contract is up.
Three-year contract
Life Alert requires a minimum three-year contract, and you can only cancel it if the user dies or goes into a nursing home.
No fall detection
None of Life Alert’s devices offer fall detection, and company representatives say that it’s because the technology is not yet reliable enough to work properly.
No trial period
If you try out Life Alert and you don’t like it, you’re still locked into a three-year contract.
No GPS tracking for loved ones
While some systems allow family members to use a loved one’s GPS device to track their location, Life Alert’s GPS devices do not offer this feature.
How does the price of Life Alert compare to other medical alert systems?
When it comes to medical alert systems, Life Alert is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum. You can expect to pay $20–$30 a month for monitoring service with most other medical alert companies, with one-time activation fees between $0–$150. At $50–$90 a month and activation fees between $90–$200, Life Alert costs nearly twice as much as its competitors across the board, without many notable differences in equipment or service.
Life Alert alternatives
If you’re looking for more affordable alternatives to Life Alert, here are a few of SafeWise’s top choices from our guide to the Best Medical Alert Systems.
Bay Alarm Medical
With in-home and on-the-go options, Bay Alarm Medical offers something for everyone. Best of all, its monthly fees (starting at around $22/month) won't break the bank. We especially like Bay Alarm's Bella Charms for dressing up the in-home button, and its car device is unique too.
Read our full Bay Alarm Medical review.
Medical Guardian
Medical Guardian’s rates start at around $30 a month, with no contracts or startup fees. The company offers a variety of plans, all of which can be upgraded with fall detection technology. We especially like Medical Guardian's mobile devices, which combine GPS and fall detection technology.
Read our full Medical Guardian review.
Aloe Care Health
Aloe Care Health merges smart tech with a traditional medical alert system. Features include voice-activated help and one of the best caregiver apps we've seen. Its wall-mounted fall detection hub is one-of-a-kind and provides an extra layer of protection in the bathroom.
Read our full Aloe Care Health review.
Final word
If you’re looking for a tried-and-true company with a longtime history of quality products and reliable medical monitoring, then Life Alert may be right for you. It does cost more than competitors, but its equipment and customer service are among the best in the industry.
But if the high cost outweighs the benefits and you’re on a budget, or if you don’t want to be locked into a three-year contract, then there are a variety of other reputable alternatives in the marketplace. Check out our list of Best Medical Alert Systems to explore more options.
Life Alert price FAQ
Yes, the one-time activation fee covers sales tax and shipping costs.
No, the activation fee isn’t charged to your card until the day after your system has been installed to your satisfaction.
Yes. In order to cancel your contract, Life Alert requires you to provide a signed letter from a doctor or nursing home verifying your loved one’s admittance to a nursing home, hospital, or other care facility.
Possibly. We think sales reps may have some leeway with pricing, because our sales rep did indicate that he had some authority to lower the activation fee. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.
Compare the best medical alert systems
|
Brand
|
Lowest monthly price
|
In-home range
|
Backup battery
|
Landline option available
|
Multiple wearable options
|
Learn more
|
Read review
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |
 |
$21.95/mo. | 1000 ft. | 32 hours |
 Yes |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
| Best value |
 |
$24.95/mo. | 1300 ft. | 32 hours |
 No |
No |
View Packages | Read review |
| Best for fall detection |
 |
$29.95/mo. | 400 ft. | Not available |
Yes |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
| Best for customization |
 |
$29.95/mo. | 1300 ft. | 32 hours |
Yes |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
| Best for active lifestyles |
 |
$19.95/mo. | 1400 ft. | 24 hours |
No |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
| Best smart features |
 |
$24.99/mo. | 200 ft. | 6 hours |
No |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
Data effective as of post date. Offers and availability subject to change.
Recent Articles
The post What’s the Real Cost of Life Alert? appeared first on SafeWise.
Article source here: What’s the Real Cost of Life Alert?
