Life Alert Medical Alert System

Without a doubt, Life Alert is one of the most trusted names in the medical alert industry. Remember the phrase, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up?” That was Life Alert! The company has been serving seniors for the past 30 years. We’ve personally tested their products over the years, and we certainly appreciate their high quality monitoring.

However, Life Alert’s pricing isn’t the most transparent we’ve seen, and their packages are expensive compared to many other alert systems we’ve tested. That said, some people don’t mind paying extra for a premium product. So the question remains: does Life Alert have plans that make sense for your budget? We’re going to dive into Life Alert’s packages and plans to see if they have a system that works for you or your loved one.

Life Alert Features

Packages & Pricing

Life Alert’s monthly monitoring fees range from $69.90 to $89.85 or more depending on which options you choose. They also charge a one-time membership fee of $198 — which we rarely see in the industry. Thankfully, the upfront costs include installation (DIY or professional), as well as programming and activation charges.

Life Alert Base Station

When compared to Medical Guardian and other great brands, we found that Life Alert is sometimes twice as expensive. But again, you’re not just paying for a medical alert system — you’re paying to receive around-the-clock emergency coverage from a pioneer in the medical alert industry. And in our eyes, there’s value in that.

Note that whichever Life Alert plan you choose, the company requires you to sign up for a three-year contract, which we don’t normally recommend.2 However, this can easily be canceled if the user goes into a nursing home, requires 24-hour care, or passes on. We like the flexibility here.

One thing to keep in mind is that Life Alert doesn’t offer fall detection, which is a bit disappointing. We’re used to seeing companies offer fall detection as an add-on service for $5 or $10 extra per month. But, you do have the option of sharing an account with a spouse for an additional $10 per month. So Life Alert might be a safe bet for senior couples.

*Providing accurate information is our top priority and we make significant efforts to do so on our site. However, the companies covered on our site may occasionally change their packages, offerings, and pricing and there may be a delay in us making those changes. If you notice any outdated or inaccurate information, please do let us know.

Package Pricing Snapshot for Life Alert

Equipment Upgrade Costs & Freebies

Life Alert offers some pretty nice upgrades and add-ons so that you can customize your coverage to meet your needs. These costs can easily add up, so we recommend going easy on the extras if you’re on a budget. Fortunately, you’ll also have access to some freebies as well if you sign up with this provider.

Life Alert Help Button

When you add it all up, we think Life Alert is a reputable option when it comes to reliability, but if you’re looking to save money, we’d recommend a brand like Bay Alarm Medical for more budget-friendly peace of mind.

Alert Systems & Packages

You can choose from three different Life Alert systems according to your needs. All of their plans offer 24/7 professional monitoring and don’t require a landline or Wi-Fi connection. We’re going to cover each unit in detail, starting with the at-home systems for seniors who prefer the comfort of home. And then we’ll dig into the combo at-home and mobile plan, which we think is ideal for seniors who enjoy a more active lifestyle and are always on-the-go.

At-Home Alert Systems

Complete In-Home Plan

Life Alert’s at-home system comes with a base station that runs on your choice of a landline or cellular connection and offers a decent coverage range of 800 feet. The Complete Plan also includes two waterproof wall buttons that you can place in your bathroom or kitchen where falls are more prone to happen,4 and one wearable neck or wrist pendant. One nice thing about the wall buttons is that, like the base station, they offer two-way communication in order to talk directly with a monitoring center agent.

We have to say, at $89.85 per month, this plan is quite a bit more expensive than other brands that offer better coverage at more affordable prices. One Call Alert, for example, provides a 1,300-foot range at the low price of $24.95 per month.

Who It’s Best For: Seniors who mostly stay at home and would like the flexibility (or range) to safely water their plants or talk with their neighbors outside.

Modified In-Home Plan

This is Life Alert’s most affordable plan at $69.90 per month (which still costs a pretty penny compared to the competition). The plan includes your standard base station, wearable pendant, and one waterproof wall button. We recommend this option for seniors who don’t need the additional device.

Who It’s Best For: The Modified plan is best suited for home-bound seniors who want to keep things simple with a more basic system.

Combo In-Home and Mobile Alert System

Life Alert Pendants

Home & GPS Plan

This system combines both in-home and mobile coverage for more peace of mind in and outside of your home. You pay $89.85 per month and receive a mobile GPS button, your standard in-home base unit, one wearable pendant, and one waterproof wall button. We like that Life Alert’s mobile device comes with a 10-year battery life so you won’t have to worry about charging it. And keep in mind that when your battery runs low on juice, Life Alert replaces it for free.

Who It’s Best For: Seniors who live an active lifestyle and who desire the added protection of at-home and mobile coverage.

Current Deal

Currently, Life Alert is offering a free month of service if you opt for paying annually. As mentioned, they aren’t fully transparent with their pricing on their website, so we had to rely on the information different sales reps gave us and what little information we found on their site. So if you’re interested in Life Alert, you might want to call them to learn more about their latest deals and discounts.

Is Life Alert Worth It?

Life Alert’s monthly fees are pricey, ranging from $69.90 to $89.85 per month. On the other hand, most medical alert costs range between $24.95 and $49.95 monthly. We were also disappointed that Life Alert doesn’t provide fall detection, which we consider a standard service in the industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older.5 So, even though the technology isn’t 100% accurate, we still recommend it as a lifesaving investment.

While we think Life Alert may be a little too expensive for what you get, we do like that the monitoring center has demonstrated reliability with a TMA Five Diamond Certification. We also like that the battery on the on-the-go device has an extended life and doesn’t need charging. Most mobile devices require daily charging. This is a definite plus.

In addition, you don’t need to buy Life Alert’s equipment or hem and haw over whether to invest in a warranty. It is covered under your membership, as is a lifetime price lock and the Life Alert app. Keep in mind that the one-time membership fee is $198.

Overall, we found that Life Alert offers several notable features. But we would have liked to see greater transparency in their pricing and better at-home coverage (800-ft range isn’t great compared to other brands like Medical Guardian, which offers 1,300 ft. in-home range for only $29.95 per month).

Life Alert Company History

Life Alert is a household name and has been providing reliable products and services for more than 30 years.

Today, the brand has over 600 employees in their Encino, California headquarters.6 You can learn more about Life Alert’s background and really get to know their systems — including a detailed rundown of our experience using their products/services — in our full review of Life Alert here.

*Providing accurate information is our top priority and we make significant efforts to do so on our site. However, the companies covered on our site may occasionally change their packages, offerings, and pricing and there may be a delay in us making those changes. If you notice any outdated or inaccurate information, please do let us know.

Life Alert FAQs