Medical Guardian System Review
We compared Medical Guardian to other industry leaders. It excels at customization.
Medical Guardian occupies a good middle ground with price, features, and customer support, making it one of the best medical alert systems in our book.
Medical Guardian products include long-range devices for the home, a voice-activated option, and solutions for more active older adults.
And best of all: this medical alert company's monthly prices start at just under $30.
Medical Guardian pros and cons
Landline and cellular options 32+ hour backup battery in base unit Industry-leading 1,400-foot range No activation fee Five Diamond Certified monitoring center
No free warrantyMedical Guardian costs, systems, and policies for 2022
Medical Guardian’s monthly prices range from around $30 to $45 per month depending on which medical alert device you choose. This lands Medical Guardian in the middle of the pack for the most affordable medical alert systems.
Most packages come with a wearable alert button and a base station or GPS unit. You can keep each of the wearables (a wristband or pendant) on 24/7, whether you're in the shower, running errands, or relaxing at home.
How much does Medical Guardian cost?
Medical Guardian's costs are split into three categories:
- Equipment fees
- Monthly monitoring fees
- Optional accessory fees
If you stick to a very simple in-home system, you can pay $0 in equipment and accessory fees and just $29.95 per month.
(But if simple is what you want, there are more affordable options than Medical Guardian, including its close competitor Bay Alarm Medical.)
1. Medical Guardian equipment fees
Medical Guardian leases some of its medical alert systems for free and charges a flat rate of $124.95 for other devices. We've listed them in the table below for easy comparison.
Compare Medical Guardian pricing and systems
|
Best for
|
Equipment
|
Per month
|
Equipment fee
|
Equipment
|
Range from base
|
Backup battery
|
Learn more
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Homes with landlines |
 Classic Guardian |
$29.95 | Free lease |
Base unit, wearable alert button |
1,400 ft. |
32 hr. |
View Packages |
|
Homes without landlines |
 Home 2.0 |
$34.95 | $124.95 |
Base unit, wearable alert button |
1,400 ft. |
32 hr. |
View Packages |
|
Errand runners |
 Mobile 2.0 |
$39.95 | $124.95 |
GPS unit, charging cradle, wearable alert button, belt clip |
500 ft. |
72+ hr. |
View Packages |
| Location tracking |
 |
$39.95 | $124.95 | Mini Guardian, charging cradle, lanyard, belt clip | Unlimited | 120 hr | View Packages |
|
Frequent travelers |
 Active Guardian |
$44.95 | Free lease |
Charger, wearable GPS unit |
Unlimited |
72 hr. |
View Packages |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
If you cancel your Medical Guardian service, you must return the leased equipment. Failing to do so—or returning damaged equipment—may result in a fine up to $350.
Anything purchased upfront—including the Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0, and Mini Guardian—is yours to keep.
Medical Guardian's popular Freedom Guardian smartwatch has been discontinued to make way for the new 2.0 version, which will include a heart rate monitor, appointment reminders, text messaging, weather forecasts, and—of course—a help button with emergency monitoring.
We'll let you know how much it costs and how well it works once it's officially released.
2. Monthly monitoring fees
Medical Guardian charges between about $30 and $45 per month for its professional monitoring service.
The exact amount you pay depends on your choice of equipment.
You'll get one month of free service if you pay upfront for a year's worth of monitoring. Plus, Medical Guardian throws in a few freebies—like a free lockbox (otherwise $2.99/mo.) and free ground shipping ($12.50 value)—when you make an annual payment.
3. Optional accessory fees
If you're on a budget, this is where you need to be careful. Medical Guardian charges per month for accessories and extra services, which adds up quickly.
Here's what you can expect at check-out:
|
Add-on
|
Price
|
Compatibility
|
|---|---|---|
 |
$2.99/mo. | Classic Guardian, Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0 |
 |
$2.99/mo. | Classic Guardian, Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0 |
 |
$2.99/mo. | Classic Guardian, Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0 |
 |
$10.00/mo. | Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0, Mini Guardian |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
You'll also see these two options at checkout:
- Protection Plan: $6.99/mo.
- OnGuard Alerts: $2.99/mo.
The Protection Plan is essentially a paid warranty. With OnGuard Alerts, your loved ones receive real-time texts and emails when you press the emergency button.
Access to the MyGuardian caregiver app and web portal is included with your monthly plan.
Medical Guardian's refund and return policies
Medical Guardian doesn't advertise a free trial or money-back guarantee, but the customer service representative we spoke to said customers get a full refund if cancelling within 14 days.
After that, Medical Guardian offers prorated refunds for its emergency monitoring services, so you get some money back for unused days if you cancel in the middle of the month.
If you leased your equipment, you have to return it when cancelling. You're responsible for paying the return shipping fee. You may also get fined up to $350 if the equipment is damaged or you don't return it within 30 days.
You can keep any equipment you purchased. If you send it back, you'll be charged a $50 restocking fee.
A closer look at Medical Guardian products
Medical Guardian has some impressive equipment for active older adults and those who prefer to stay home. It's also one of just three medical alert companies with a voice-activated option.
If you or your loved one have limited mobility, look into the Classic Guardian or Home 2.0. These systems come with a base unit and a wearable help button that allow you to move freely around your house. You can call for help with the lanyard or wrist button or use the base station.
GPS medical alerts are better for busy, more mobile users. Like their home-based counterparts, the Mini Guardian, Active Guardian, and Mobile 2.0 are equipped with a simple help button, two-way talk, and GPS tracking for emergency responders to find you quickly whether you're at home or not.
The Mobile 2.0 system comes with a wearable alert button and a separate GPS unit you’ll need to take with you at all times. The Active Guardian, on the other hand, rolls all of it into one wearable device.
1. Classic Guardian: Best for homes with a landline
Starting at $29.95 per month with no up-front equipment fees, the Classic Guardian is Medical Guardian’s most affordable option. The price is tempting, but the package requires a landline to function and the equipment is basic.
The Classic Guardian kit comes with a base unit and your choice of a lanyard or wristband help button. The base station has a giant emergency call button and a clear two-way talk system with a powerful speaker so you can call for help on the other side.
The wearable alert button has an impressive range of 1,400 feet, so you can move about your house away from the base station. You can move throughout your garden, go upstairs, or even visit the neighbors as long as it's within range of the base station.
2. Home 2.0: Best for homes without a landline
The Home 2.0 is a cellular version of the Classic Guardian, so you won’t need a landline to install it. The new 2.0 version of the Home Guardian features an improved backup battery and system range, bringing it up to par with its landline-based cousin.
You can check system status on this Medical Guardian alert system. Instead of conveying information through colored lights like the Classic Guardian, the Home 2.0 talks to you. It's also easy to self-test the system to make sure it's working correctly.
The Home 2.0 also differs from the Classic Guardian in its payment structure. You purchase the Home 2.0 equipment outright for $124.95, whereas the Classic Guardian equipment is leased from Medical Guardian for free. It also costs a little more per month (about $5 extra) to monitor the Home 2.0 vs. the Classic Guardian.
3. Mobile 2.0: Best for running errands
The Mobile 2.0 is a two-piece system that you can take with you anywhere. It consists of a GPS module and an optional wearable button, all of which costs $124.95 and is yours to keep.
Of the GPS units we’ve seen from other medical alert systems, the Mobile Guardian is one of the few we’ve seen with two buttons. You can use the GPS module by itself or wear the smaller button on a lanyard or wristband. If you choose to wear the smaller buttons, you'll need to stay within 500 feet of the GPS module so that you can use its speaker and location tracking technology.
Both devices are waterproof too, so you can get help in the shower, when you’re swimming, or if you get caught in the rain on the way home. The Mobile 2.0 is also compatible with the Icons Collection fashion pendants if you want to add a little safety to your style.
4. Mini Guardian: Best for location tracking
The Mini Guardianit's Medical Guardian's best medical alert system for location tracking and one of the best mobile medical alert devices we've reviewed. With built-in GPS, Wi-Fi, and 4G triangulation signals, the Mini Guardian makes it easier for help to find you from anywhere.
Plus, it's sleek and discreet—about the size of a domino—and has a battery that lasts up to five days. All this makes the Mini Guardian a great option for someone who wants a way to call for help quickly without using a heavy lanyard or wristwatch.
This Medical Guardian device costs $124.95 up front. For an extra $10 per month, you can get a unit with automatic fall detection.
5. Active Guardian: Best for frequent travel
The Active Guardian is a wearable lanyard button with an unlimited call range. With the help of GPS and Wi-Fi location technology, you can get help from anywhere. This device is waterproof and has a battery life of five days so that it can go with you everywhere.
The unit itself is leased for free, but monitoring costs $44.95 per month.
MyGuardian app and online portal
Medical Guardian offers a caregiver portal called MyGuardian. Access is included with each equipment package. Caregivers can log on via the smartphone app or online portal to update their loved one's information, chat with other caregivers, organize tasks, view location history, pay Medical Guardian bills, and view system status.
Medical Guardian customer service
The customer service options through Medical Guardian are pretty standard. Paying customers will get access to an online portal where they can view things like account details and payments. If you have a question, check the page’s FAQ section first. From here, you can find answers on anything from Medical Guardian’s Freedom Guardian watch to how to get fall alerts.
While researching Medical Guardian, we came across mixed customer reviews. Most reviews reported friendly representatives, reliable products, and even competitive price matching. But we also saw feedback from upset customers who claimed issues like deceptive pricing. The majority of customers seemed satisfied with the quality of Medical Guardian’s customer service and equipment.
Compare Medical Guardian to other medical alert systems
|
Brand
|
Best for
|
Lowest monthly price
|
In-home range
|
Backup battery
|
Landline option available
|
Learn more
|
Read review
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Best overall | $19.95/mo. | 1000 ft. | 32 hrs. |
 Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
 |
Best for fall detection | $29.95/mo. | 400 ft. | Not available |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
 |
Best value | $24.95/mo. | 1300 ft. | 32 hrs. |
 No |
View Packages | Read review |
|
|
Best GPS tracking options | $29.95/mo. | 1300 ft. | 32 hrs. |
Yes |
View Packages | Read review |
 |
Best smart features | $24.99/mo. | 200 ft. | 6 hrs. |
No |
View Packages | Read review |
 |
Best basic system | $19.95/mo. | 1400 ft. | 24 hrs. |
No |
View Packages | Read review |
Info current as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Final word
While Medical Guardian's price range doesn’t fit everyone’s needs, you get what you pay for with high-quality equipment. The signal range and battery life for most of its equipment leads the medical alert industry. We also think it's the best medical alert provider for system customization.
Medical Guardian FAQ
From what we found, no. The rep from Life Alert we spoke with quoted us double what Medical Guardian costs.
Unfortunately not. Some Medicare Advantage Plans might cover it or get you reimbursement for your costs, but standard Medicare does not. Learn more about Medicare and medical alert systems.
Medical Guardian no longer carries Family Guardian. This unique medical alert system was designed for caregivers who lived in a different home than their loved ones and doubled as a security system.
No, Medical Guardian monitors the in-home pendant batteries and sends replacements for free. The batteries usually last five years.
Medical Guardian's Home 2.0 system and mobile medical alerts use the AT&T 4G cellular network.
Spouse coverage through Medical Guardian costs an extra $2.99/month. Just buy an extra button for that price and call Medical Guardian to register your family member.
How we prepped for our Medical Guardian review
For our Medical Guardian review, we compared prices, policies, and equipment from seven popular services to see where Medical Guardian fell among them. We called sales reps and read customer reviews across the web to get the right answers.
Read our full methodology to learn more about how we rank this and other products we review on SafeWise.
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