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Medical Guardian is an industry leader whose personal emergency response systems place it on the higher end of the medical alert industry.
The company delivers some of the best devices on the market — including in-home, on-the-go and smartwatch systems — featuring impressive design and a rich set of features. That, paired with around-the-clock, industry-leading support and state-of-the-art technology, makes Medical Guardian a strong contender for our “Best Medical Alert Systems” award.
The company’s medical alerts continually receives outstanding online reviews, and our in-depth, hands-on tests likewise gave strong ratings to their systems.
Medical Guardian Pros
- Our 2024 ratings give the company an overall ReliaScore™ of 9.5 out of 10, making it one of the best medical alert companies on the market. Read our reviews below to find out why.
- Medical Guardian has a fantastic reputation for service and gets excellent reviews online.
- The company’s emergency operators are 911-trained and certified and are 100% U.S.-based. Plus, Medical Guardian provides response flexibility, sending emergency services when needed or contacting a caregiver for non-emergencies.
- We especially like the MyGuardian online portal, where you can pay your bill, manage caregiver contacts, and more.
Medical Guardian Cons
- In general, Medical Guardian’s prices are on the higher end of the spectrum. With upfront device fees, 24/7 monitoring subscriptions, and other add ons, the long-term cost of use is relatively expensive, compared to other brands. That said, research suggests that every one dollar spent on medical alert systems results in $7.19 in healthcare savings.
- While the company’s customer service is top-notch, its sales reps can be a bit aggressive. After speaking with a representative to ask initial questions, Medical Guardian followed up with six calls in 12 days to try to close the sale.
- The online checkout process isn’t intuitive and can be a little confusing.
Read on for more information and reviews of Medical Guardian’s Classic Guardian, Mobile 2.0, and MGMove. If, after reading our reviews, you’re still not sure which device is right for you (or your loved one), take Medical Guardian’s online quiz. You can also read our guide for choosing the right medical alert system for your (or your loved one’s) situation. Feel free to also compare across different providers by browsing our recommended best medical alert companies.
Disclosure: In order to provide this free service to our visitors, Medicalalertbuyersguide.org may receive compensation if a purchase is made through this website.
| Classic Guardian | |
|---|---|
| Device Cost: | $0.00 |
| Shipping: | $12.50 |
| Monitoring Service: | $29.95/month |
| Fall Detection: | $10.00/month |
| Total First Year Cost: | $491.90 |
Classic Guardian Overview
Medical Guardian is a premium medical alert system provider based in Philadelphia, PA that offers a full-suite of medical alert systems. Options include landline systems, cellular systems, GPS-enabled mobile systems, and medical smartwatches.
The company’s options are generally more expensive than comparable systems, but we found Classic Guardian to be a good choice for anyone who needs a landline-based medical alert system that is easy to customize to individual needs.
The Classic Guardian system is the lowest-priced system available from Medical Guardian. With a 30-hour back-up battery and 1400 ft range, it’s a solid choice for someone in a rural area with limited cell service or spotty internet connectivity.
Medical Guardian’s website offers information about the different systems as well as a “Product Quiz” to help you select the best option. However, to retrieve the results users must enter personal information and give Medical Guardian permission to contact them later via email, phone and/or “pre-recorded messages and texts.”
That’s not the case when you directly call the company and speak with a sales agent. During our test, Medical Guardian representatives provided clear information and assistance with no high-pressure sales tactics.
Unboxing and system set-up was quick and easy: everything was charged and ready to use. During unit testing, the average time from button press to operator response was about 40 seconds. Meanwhile, fall detection response times were a bit slower – often over a minute. That said,the system reliably distinguished actual falls from regular exercise, bumping the device against furniture, and other everyday activities.
Access to Medical Guardian’s Caregiver Portal is a real benefit, although the registration process isn’t user-friendly. Nevertheless, it’s worth the trouble and we highly recommend registering for this feature. Use the Caregiver Portal to manage your account (billing, contact information, etc.), connect and collaborate with caregivers, and enter important health information that first responders would need during an emergency.
In addition to fall detection coverage, Medical Guardian customers can tailor their service with other options, including:
- Additional pendant for a spouse/family member – $2.99/month
- Voice-activated wall button – $5.00/month
- Protection plan – $6.99/month
- Lockbox – $2.99/month
Medical Guardian also offers several perks for annual plan subscribers, including free shipping, free lockbox, and a free month of service. We recommend talking with a sales representative first if you think you might want to design a custom system with several optional services.
What we like about MGClassic
Unboxing and setting up MGClassic was a breeze. The instructions were written in a large font on a large piece of paper, with all necessary information on a single sheet. Simply plug in the base unit, turn it on, and plug the phone line into the back. Be warned: Once you turn the device on, you may encounter a red blinking light or the “Unit Malfunction” light. After about a minute, the lights should stop blinking, and the device is ready to go.
What we don’t like about MGClassic
You might need some help when setting up your MyGuardian portal. We weren’t able to create an account because it said we already had an active profile, and requesting a new password didn’t work either. But a quick call to the 24/7 customer service fixed the problem.
MGClassic offers flexibility for users to customize the system to fit their needs, yet it comes at a higher cost. There might be better options for someone on a tight budget.
Bottom line: The system is exceptional. The Medical Guardian Classic Guardian is an excellent option for users who aren’t price-conscious and need extended range from the base station or the flexibility of a custom-built package.
| MGMini Lite | |
|---|---|
| Device Cost: | $149.95 |
| Shipping: | $12.50 |
| Monitoring Service: | $44.95/month |
| Fall Detection: | $10.00/month |
| Total 1-Year Cost: | $821.85 |
Medical Guardian Mobile 2.0
Medical Guardian’s MGMini Lite is one of the best mobile medical alert systems on the market, with a rich feature set backed by excellent service. High up-front equipment cost and relatively expensive monthly monitoring fee are the main reasons we didn’t rank the MGMini Lite first on our list.
With a $149.95 hardware charge at purchase, $12.50 shipping cost, plus the $44.95 monthly monitoring fee and another $10.00 per month for automatic fall detection, the first-year cost of the system totals a high $821.85.
Fall detection is an optional add-on for the MG Mobile 2.0, and one we highly recommend. Unlike some of the other medical alerts reviewed here, Medical Guardian’s automatic fall detection isn’t built into the system and requires users to wear a separate pendant.
While Medical Guardian has a good reputation, we didn’t like its aggressive follow-up. After contacting the company with a pre-purchase question, we received no less than six sales calls in the 12 days after our first inquiry.
However, the company’s monitoring center was one of the fastest we tested, responding within 30 seconds after we pushed the emergency button. In addition, the MG Mobile 2.0 Caregiver Tracking portal may be the best we’ve seen, allowing you to track your loved one’s location for additional peace of mind. We also like that the portal can accommodate multiple caregivers.
What we like about MGMini Lite
Setup is easy; just plug the charging cradle and base device in, then follow the prompts to activate. One caveat: our base device came with less than 20% battery (a full charge takes about 4 hours).
Medical Guardian pings the base unit every hour to test connectivity.
The device’s current location updates in real-time and is shown on Google Maps in the MyGuardian online portal.
What we don’t like about MGMini Lite
The wearable alarm button doesn’t have 2-way voice communication, so you’ll need to have the base unit nearby to communicate with Medical Guardian’s operators.
You can purchase a second wearable alarm button to pair with the base device. However, both users should be within 500 feet of the device for the buttons to work properly, according to a customer service representative, compared to a maximum range of 1,400 feet for one user.
While you can wear MGMini Lite on your wrist, this system is not a smartwatch. If you’re looking for a device with smartwatch capabilities, consider the MGMove.
Lastly, among the mobile medical alerts we tested, the MGMini Lite was one of the most expensive. Only Lifeline On To Go had a higher first year cost of ownership.
Bottom line: Though MGMini Lite is on the higher end of the price spectrum, it’s a great option for individuals who are more independent and on the go.
| MG Move | |
|---|---|
| Device Cost: | $199.95 |
| Shipping: | $12.50 |
| Emergency Monitoring: | $39.95/month |
| Automatic Fall Detection: | $10.00/month |
| Total First Year Cost: | $811.85 |
Medical Guardian MG Move Overview
Medical Guardian’s MG Move finished a close second to Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch – and with good reason: both companies use the same hardware. The smartwatch’s slick black design looks like a nice watch, not a medical device.
With the same basic equipment, the difference between Bay Alarm Medical and Medical Guardian lies in details like functionality, service, and cost.
The MG Move is more than a medical alert device. It’s a full-featured smartwatch that includes pre-installed step counter and weather apps. For an additional $5 a month, you have access to the Support Circle apps that include appointment and medication reminders and texting. We think they are worth the extra monthly fee.
The user interface is intuitive, with a bright, high-contrast display. We think it would be easy for anyone (including those who aren’t digitally savvy) to quickly learn how to navigate the display and use all the watch’s functions.
The watch comes with an AT&T SIM card already installed, and the service is included in the monthly monitoring fee. There’s no need for an AT&T service contract.
Unfortunately, we had some hiccups with Medical Guardian’s service during our testing.
- Purchase experience: We received some confusing information from the sales representative about cost and options for monitoring. We recommend contacting the company by phone to discuss your needs and options but encourage you to go online to make your purchase.
- Equipment failure: Our charging cradle failed one week after our purchase. Medical Guardian responded immediately, and we had a replacement within two days.
- Service outage: The Chat app experienced a major service outage lasting at least 72 hours. We reported the issue to Customer Support, who promised to escalate the issue, but we didn’t receive any further contact from Medical Guardian about the issue.
We know that mistakes and accidents happen, and it was good to see that the company responded quickly to the charging cradle issue. However, we were disappointed by the Support Circle’s Chat app service outage and lack of communication from Medical Guardian.
Medical Guardian’s pricing structure for the MG Move is straightforward.
The MG Move smartwatch costs $199.95 + shipping, optional Support Circle apps are $5/month, monthly monitoring costs $39.95, and options automatic fall detection costs another $10.00 per month . You can save by purchasing an annual plan, which includes a free month, free shipping, and free lockbox. Cancel anytime and receive a refund for unused monthly monitoring.
Even with the discounts, equipment costs and monthly monitoring for the MG Move is more expensive than comparable service from Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Smartwatch. The Support Circle apps are an excellent add-on. At just $5/month, they’re worth the price for the extra protection offered.
We think the MG Move is an exceptional option for people who want a smartwatch that includes medical alert monitoring and robust caregiver tracking and communication functions. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends tracking devices for families who want to be proactive in keeping loved ones safe. Unlike the other medical alert watches on our list, the MG Move does not let users call loved ones from the watch. Also, it does not include fall detection.
What we like about MGMove
After the watch was fully charged, setup was complete in just a few minutes.
The MGMove is a well-designed watch with a high-contrast user interface that’s easy for seniors to learn and use. Plus, it has the best apps of any medical alert smartwatch we’ve tried. We especially like the ability to send texts to the watch from the MyGuardian portal and to set reminders for medications or doctor appointments.
Unlike the popular Apple Watch medical alert, the MGMove doesn’t require an iPhone or other cell phone to work.
What we don’t like about MGMove
While we love this watch, our test experience was marred by a few glitches. The charging cradle stopped working within a week of purchase, but when we contacted Medical Guardian, we received a new one in 2 days. There was also a major service outage with the Messaging app that lasted for several days. When we contacted Medical Guardian about it, Tech Support failed to provide any follow-up communication.
Fall detection is not available with the MGMove—since the watch lives on the wrist and moving around could trigger false alarms. If fall detection is a critical feature for you, consider one of Medical Guardian’s other devices.
The battery life is supposed to last for 24 hours, however we found it lasted for less than a day.
Finally, the MG Move was the most expensive medical alert watch we tested, with a first year cost of owners that’s even higher than the Apple Watch.
Bottom line: If your loved one is adamant about not wearing an unsightly medical alert device, this is a terrific option. It looks, feels, and works like a traditional smartwatch, which one in five adults already wear.
Read our full review of Medical Guardian’s MGMove medical alert watch.