I have heard great things recently about a Michigan-based emergency-response system called Medical Care Alert. Out of professional and personal curiosity, I decided to test it out. I chose to review the company’s basic in-home system and mobile unit, which is perfect for active users.
I’ll recount my experience with Medical Care Alert below. I hope it will help you decide whether it’s the right fit for you or your loved ones.
Pro Tip: To learn more about medical alert systems, including types of products, how they work, and how much they cost, check out my complete guide to medical alert systems.
Pros and Cons of Medical Care Alert
After testing the Medical Care Alert system, I see why the caregiving experts in my circle are praising it. It checks almost all the boxes for product quality and service.
Medical Care Alert Pros
Easy-to-use devices: After extensive testing, I found Medical Care Alert devices to be as intuitive as they come. The mobile speaker was loud and clear, with a battery life of about 26 hours. All I needed to do was press a button to be connected to the response team in a jiffy.
Friendly customer service: From purchase to setup to testing, there wasn’t a moment I felt alone or forsaken by the team at Medical Care Alert. They were always there to help, showcasing the values of this family-owned business. I can imagine how much of a relief it would be to older adults as they learn how to use the device.
U.S.-based monitoring: Medical Care Alert’s monitoring center did not disappoint. Its EMT/EMD-certified response team is based in the United States, not outsourced to another country, and it also has Spanish-speaking staff on hand at all times.
Value-based pricing: Medical Care Alert systems cost between $27.45 and $39.95 per month. They also offer lock-in pricing, which will never change during your subscription.
Caregiver app: My loved ones were able to keep track of my mobile device’s location using Medical Care Alert’s mobile app, and they were notified whenever I made an emergency call.
Medical Care Alert Cons
Short trial period: I had no deal-breaking issues with my Medical Care Alert systems, but the trial period is only 14 days instead of the standard 30. That may not be long enough to figure out whether it’s right for you.
Limited warranty: Every Medical Care Alert subscription comes with a lifetime warranty that covers the service and repair of base units and wearable transmitter buttons for regular wear and tear. But users need to purchase an extended protection plan at $5 a month to cover lost or damaged units.
Medical Care Alert Systems Overview
Medical Care Alert currently offers three systems:
Home Medical Alert System: Perfect for those who tend to stay home, this system works with either a landline connection or the AT&T cellular service included in the service fee. It comes with two emergency-response buttons that have a 1,000-foot connectivity range and can be worn as either pendants or bracelets.
Home and Yard: This option is for older adults who are a little more mobile. It’s great for people who take their dog for walks or work in their yard. The Home and Yard system covers a five-acre area around the home, and it works equally well with landline and cellular service.
Home and Away: This system is ideal for people who live an active lifestyle. It offers an unlimited range, and it can even be taken on trips. As long as there’s a cellular signal, this system can connect you to help immediately.
Medical Care Alert Features
Two-way talk
Yes
Connectivity
Cellular or landline
Average Response Time
30 seconds
In-Home Range
600 to 1,000 feet
Fall Detection
$10 per month
Caregiver Portal
Yes
Using the Medical Care Alert Medical Alert System
Medical Care Alert systems can be purchased either over the phone or on the company’s website. I used the website to purchase both my Home and Home and Away systems. I simply selected the additional devices I wanted, such as fall-detection pendants, entered my credit-card information, and waited for my systems to arrive.
My Home system included:
1 base unit with a built-in speakerphone
1 fall-detection pendant
1 wristband help button
1 instruction manual
1 lockbox
My Home and Away system included:
1 mobile unit with speakerphone
1 lanyard for the mobile unit
1 carrying case for the mobile unit
1 charging cradle
1 instruction manual
1 lockbox
FYI: If you pay for a Medical Care Alert system on an annual basis, then you’ll receive both free shipping and a free lockbox, which can help first responders enter your home in the event of an emergency.
Installation
Setting up my Home system was quick and easy. I plugged the base unit into an outlet, then plugged the unit into a phone jack and waited for a connection to be established. Once the system beeped, I knew it was ready to begin testing.
The Home and Away system was just as easy to set up. I placed the mobile unit on the charging cradle, plugged the cradle into the wall, and waited for the battery to fully charge. Once the charging light stopped flashing, the mobile system was ready for use.
Testing the Medical Care Alert System
To test my Home system, I walked around my house wearing the pendant and placing calls in different rooms. Each of my calls was answered promptly, and I could communicate clearly with response agents through the base unit’s loud speakerphone. With the system’s 1,000-foot range, I was able to make emergency calls from my porch. Since the system’s buttons are waterproof, I could even make calls from the shower without breaking the equipment. Fall detection also worked well. During a series of simulated falls (which are about as fun as they sound), my device automatically contacted Medical Care Alert’s response center. To cut down on false alarms, I could press my fall-detection pendant after a call was triggered to let them know it was erroneous.
Once the mobile unit was charged, I began testing the device. This involved dialing a phone number and following the prompts. Once the 15-minute test mode was on, I pressed the device’s help button. It beeped, so I knew it was in testing mode. I made test calls around the house, and each was answered quickly by an agent at the monitoring center.
To test the pendant’s waterproofing, I brought it onto my lawn and turned on the sprinklers. My calls still went off without a hitch. To check the efficiency of the pendant’s range, I took it with me to the local theater. Whenever the cellular range was good, the device delivered crisp, clear audio.
Something else to note is that Medical Care Alert’s mobile device is an all-in-one unit, which means I didn’t need to wear an extra pendant to make calls or have automatic fall detection.
RemoteCare 24/7 App
This app came free with my Home and Away system, and it was very handy for keeping track of the device’s location via GPS. People listed as emergency contacts can download the app on Android and iOS devices. The app lets caregivers check the weather in the device’s location, as well as battery and signal strength. My husband received notifications each time I made a test call and when my system’s battery got low.
Medical Care Alert Medical Alert Systems Pricing
Medical Care Alert’s systems go for as low as $27.45 per month for the in-home landline system. This price, however, reflects the cost with an annual contract. A month-to-month contract costs $29.95 per month.
The Home and Away system costs $36.62 per month on an annual plan, and the month-to-month pricing is $39.95 per month. Fall detection costs an additional $10 per month, regardless of the system type.
I appreciate that Medical Care Alert’s systems come with a price-lock guarantee. Many other companies reserve the right to increase your subscription price, but Medical Care Alert promises not to.
Look no further than Medical Care Alert if you want a simple emergency system with a team of well-trained emergency-response operators. One huge advantage of Medical Care Alert is that it has an in-house monitoring center based in the United States with both English- and Spanish-speaking operators. It doesn’t offer many advanced features, but Medical Care Alert delivers a solid performance you can trust will protect you or your loved ones.
An all-in-one mobile system: Medical Care Alert’s mobile system features GPS technology, a speakerphone, fall detection, and a help button — all in one device. The lack of a need for extra buttons makes it one of my favorite mobile medical alerts.
Highly trained monitoring agents: All of Medical Care Alert’s monitoring agents are EMT/EMD-certified, which means they have the experience necessary to protect your loved ones in the event of an emergency.
Caregiver tracking: Medical Care Alert’s free caregiver app allowed my loved ones to track my location and my device’s status, so they could maintain a greater level of care.
I wouldn’t recommend Medical Care Alert if you want:
Affordable in-home protection: Medical Care Alert’s in-home system costs around $30 per month (more if you don’t have a landline), so there are certainly more affordable options available. Bay Alarm Medical and LifeStation offer in-home options for about $20 per month.
Lengthy trial periods: Offering only a 14-day trial, Medical Care Alert doesn’t give you much time to figure out whether the system is right for you.
Medical Care Alert Medical Alert System Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Care Alert has a range of products that cost between $27.45 and $39.95 per month. If you go with an annual subscription, you will get one month free.
You may cancel your Medical Care Alert subscription any time you like, with a call or email. The customer care team will share a Return Merchandise Authorization number and reverse shipping instructions. Once the system (along with power cords, lockbox, etc.) is returned in its original packaging without any damage, your refund will be available on a prorated basis. If the return is initiated during the 14-day trial period, you are eligible for a full refund, minus shipping costs.
It may be worth the investment to pay for the fall-detection add-on. In case of a fall, the system will automatically inform emergency contacts and dispatch help within 30 seconds.
Absolutely! Since the pendants are waterproof, you can wear them all the time. Whether in the shower or out for a day at the beach, the Medical Care Alert system will continue to function as usual.
Written By
Amie Clark
Amie has been writing about senior care products and services for the last decade. She is particularly passionate about new technologies that help improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Seeing her parents and grandparents age made Amie ask herself, “Would this be good enough for my loved ones?” In her spare time, Amie enjoys outdoor adventures and spontaneous road trips. Learn more about Amie here
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