MedicalAlert.com

MedicalAlert.com’s landline-based Home System delivers exactly what it promises: basic monitoring equipment. Optional fall detection is available for an added monthly fee. Customers who choose semi-annual or annual billing plans benefit from lower monthly rates and free shipping.

However, initial setup costs are higher than average. The $99.95 programming fee is particularly steep—especially when many competitors waive this cost entirely. The $24.95 shipping fee also exceeds typical industry rates.

For more specific details about the Home System, contacting Medical Alert directly is recommended. While the website is user-friendly, it lacks in-depth product specifications. On the plus side, the company offers accessible phone support with short wait times and knowledgeable representatives.

In terms of performance, the Home System was reliable during testing. Emergency response times ranged from 45 seconds to one minute. Fall detection performed exceptionally well, demonstrating strong accuracy and minimal false alarms—even in challenging scenarios. Among landline systems tested, Medical Alert’s fall detection was the most reliable. This is particularly important given that real-world fall detection remains a challenge, as noted in studies published by the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Despite solid performance, the system’s companion app for managing accounts was not user-friendly, and the return process proved difficult. Customers must notify the billing department when returning equipment, and refunds can take more than a month to process. Overall, customer support did not meet the standard set by other providers we reviewed.

If you’re looking for a basic, dependable landline medical alert system with limited features, Medical Alert could be a reasonable choice – just be sure to review the return policy carefully. For customer service details and more insights from our testing experience, check out our full review. We also explain how MedicalAlert.com connects directly to a professionally monitored call center.

Read our full review of  the MedicalAlert.com Home System.

MedicalAlert.com’s Mobile System, once known for its affordability, now ranks among the more expensive options available in 2025.

The Mobile System with Fall Detection costs $47.95 per month on a monthly plan or $39.95 per month with annual billing. Fall detection adds another $10 per month. There’s also a $99.95 programming fee and $24.95 shipping charge, bringing the total first-year cost to $820.30. This is roughly 20% more than the average of the six mobile systems we evaluated this year. While there are no long-term contracts, discounts apply to longer billing cycles.

Key features include two-way communication, a mobile app for account management, and reliable fall detection. Users can wear the device as a pendant or wristband, but fall detection requires the pendant.

However, our tests revealed concerns with GPS accuracy. In one case, the system took nearly eight minutes to pinpoint our location. When GPS worked, it was precise, but it only locked in about 50% of the time. This is a significant issue for a mobile alert device designed to protect users away from home – accurate location tracking is critical during emergencies.

The return and refund process also leaves much to be desired. Customers are responsible for ensuring the return is received and must actively follow up to receive a refund, which may take weeks. We recommend closely monitoring your credit card statements if you return the system.

In summary, while MedicalAlert.com’s Mobile System offers useful features and strong fall detection, its high cost, inconsistent GPS performance, and complex return process may be drawbacks for some users.