Medical Guardian Alert Systems: Cost, Features, and More

Setting Up Medical Guardian

Buying Experience

You can’t just buy a medical alert system off the shelf of your local Costco. Well, you can, but if you’re serious about protecting your loved ones, you can do better. And anyway, who wants to battle the Costco crowds? You can purchase a Medical Guardian system through the company’s website and never have to leave your couch. In fact, the site makes it simple and easy to pick a system and pick a plan. All the options are laid out across the homepage. One click brings up a list of features and pricing data, all the information you need to make the right choice for the senior adult in your life.

There’s no complicated paperwork to fill out at this point. You don’t even have to describe your medical history – though, you’ll do that a little later. That means you’re free to focus on one thing and one thing only – making sure you choose the right equipment. Every family’s situation is different, and it’s important you select the system that’s going to work best for you.

In fact, Medical Guardian goes one step further to ensure you get the right equipment by offering a “Buying Advice” page right on the website. A lot of that information echoes our own advice in our medical alert system buying guide, but it’s specifically tailored to choosing the right Medical Guardian system. Once you’ve chosen a system and a plan, making the actual purchase is as easy as buying from Amazon. A couple of clicks, and your system’s on its way to your doorstep.

Medical Guardian homepage product options

Installation Process

Installing our Medical Guardian systems was just as simple and straightforward. Just to cover all of our bases, we ordered three separate systems: the MGHome 2.0, the MGMini, and the MGMove. After all, we want to provide you with the most comprehensive review we can. You should probably just order the one, though.

Each came in sleek packaging that made us feel like we had ordered Apple products and not medical alert systems. That’s more important than you might think. Plenty of seniors can be put off by medical alert equipment that seems dated or clunky. We all want to feel like companies take us seriously.

My Guardian product boxes

Every Medical Guardian product box comes with very clear and simple instructions. The company offers two ways to set up its products – you can do it online, or you can call and talk to a customer service representative. We, of course, had to try both.

When we did it ourselves online, the setup took just a few minutes. To get to the setup portal online, we scanned the QR code included on the box, but you can also enter the Medical Guardian setup URL into your browser. From there, we entered our information, our product UDI number, and payment information (for our subscription).

Then we tried calling. We got someone on the phone almost immediately, which is good since we’re not great at waiting on hold. The setup process was similar, but it was nice to have someone on the other end of the line walking us through each step.

Maybe the best part of all was that once we had one device set up, all of our other equipment paired with it automatically and populated our online account. From there, we could operate it all through the MyGuardian app (more on that later). As for actually installing the equipment, it all sits nicely on a bedside table, a living room end table, or a kitchen counter. No tools to worry with, and no need for a ladder.

Packages and Pricing

Medical Guardian’s cheapest monthly subscription starts at $32.95. That plan is only available with the MGClassic, though. If you’re interested in the company’s flashier equipment you should expect to pay slightly higher subscription rates. The MGMove, for instance, costs $39.95 a month. In general, these prices are fair for round-the-clock emergency monitoring, and they’re certainly in line with industry averages.

MGMove and MGHome Cellular order summary

We should also point out that these are full-price rates. You can save a bit with Medical Guardian if you’re willing to sign up for an annual plan. A year’s worth of MGClassic, for example, costs $362.45 upfront for a year. We’ll do the math for you – that works out to $30.20 per month, and if you follow the numbers, you’ll find that works out to one free month of service. Not bad.

MGMini, MGMini Lite, and MGClassic order summary

Medical Guardian charges no setup fees or activation fees, so you’ll save money there as well. There is a one-time equipment fee if you choose an on-the-go system or the MGHome Cellular package, but that’s buying the device itself. Choose the MGClassic, and the equipment is free. Standard shipping starts at $12.50, which will get you your device in seven to 10 business days. You can get it the next day for $25, overnight on a weekday for $35, or overnight on a weekend for $45. Here’s a complete breakdown of what you’ll pay for a system.

Mobile Alert System Features

No matter which system you choose, you can be sure you’re fully protected. All Medical Guardian devices include the same basic safety features. That means 24/7 customer support and incredible range. The MGHome Cellular, for instance, operates up to 1,400 feet from the base unit. Of course, there are some key differences between different devices. Below we highlight those features that make each system different.

MGMini and MGMini Lite

• Extended battery life, lasting up to five days
• Step tracking with updates on activity
• Hourly GPS location updates
• Wi-Fi positioning to identify location

MGMove

MGMove

• Step tracking
• Weather reports
• Messaging ability using voice
• Reminders

MGClassic

Classic Guardian from Medical Guardian

• 1,300 feet of coverage
• Option to sync with necklace or wristband (included)
• 32 hours of battery power

MGHome Cellular (Home 2.0)

• 1,400 feet of protection
• Option to sync with necklace or wristband (included)

Beyond these basic features, you have the option to add a number of additional features and equipment to your system. We’ll get into that below.

Expert Examined

From Christopher Norman, a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging (NCOA)

“One especially memorable patient told me that she learned more patience by wearing her medical alert system. She said that after she built up trust in the system over time, she developed more empathy for healthcare workers. I remember her son saying once that this “new” empathy for others was not something she demonstrated for decades previously. Was it the medical alert system? Trust? Consistency? Who can say for sure, but in my opinion the medical alert system certainly played a role in changing this woman’s outlook as she aged.”

MyGuardian App

Medical Guardian makes it simple to summon help whenever you need it. All you need to do is push a single button, perfect if you should find yourself in an emergency. If you’re looking for control over your system, you’ll find that through the MyGuardian app. Don’t worry – the app is designed with not-so-tech-savvy users in mind. While you can fine-tune virtually all aspects of your system and your plan, you can do it without getting lost. The layout is intuitive, with easy-to-read text and straightforward wording.

Even if you order multiple systems, as we did, it’s easy to keep them organized. When you open the app, you’re presented with a list of your enrolled devices. Of course, different systems come with different features, and when you switch between them, you’ll see modified dashboards. The MGMove, for example, lets us see our system status, our location, a list of our reminders, and our health statistics. Our MGMove dashboard gave us access to our system status, location, and reminders, but didn’t include stats.

MyGuardian app

As you might expect if you’ve been following along to this point, Medical Guardian makes customer service easy, whether you’re looking for help with your system or need to review your bill. Here again, the app is useful. It lets you make payments, change payment methods, set up autopay options, and add new features to your plan. There’s also a way to save emergency medical information so first responders can access it during an emergency.

The bottom line is that this app provides everything you need to keep yourself safe and secure, but it’s simple enough that anyone can use it.

Current Medical Guardian Deals

Medical Guardian usually offers deals themed around holidays or seasons. At the time of this writing, Medical Guardian is offering 50 percent off its MGMini and MGMini Lite systems for summer. Simply enter the code SPLASH50 at checkout or call the company to redeem the offer.

The deal also comes with one free month of service, free standard shipping, and a lockbox (see details below). By the time you read this, the deal may be altered or over, but we still recommend checking the Medical Guardian website for new deals.

Which Medical Guardian System Is Best for You?

Still having trouble deciding which device is best for you? Let’s break it down even further.

Who needs on-the-go medical alert systems?

We recommend on-the-go medical alert systems for people who are constantly on the move. If you’re mobile, active, and are always out and about, these devices are best for you. Additionally, those who have a medical condition or are prone to falling can also benefit greatly from a mobile device, since it’s always on their person.

Who needs home medical alert systems?

At-home medical alert systems are best for homebodies. If you enjoy hobbies and activities at home, this type of system may be best for you. A stationary device is probably more than enough if you’re not prone to falls or have any debilitating medical concerns. For non-seniors living alone who may want some peace of mind, a basic at-home alert system could be worth the investment.

Bottom Line

Medical alert systems are essential devices that help people in emergency situations. The market leans heavily toward seniors — and for good reason — but emergency response systems can be beneficial for people of all ages. The devices provide assistance when no one else is around or when you can’t make it to the phone in time. We see the systems as valuable pieces of equipment that provide peace of mind for people who live alone, have medical conditions, are prone to falls, or just want to feel safe running errands.

Medical Guardian offers five systems, including both on-the-go and at-home devices. Medical alert systems not only help you when you need them most, but they also greatly reduce the risk of hospitalization. We recommend Medical Guardian to anyone looking for top-of-the-line safety features, easy installation, 24/7 support, an intuitive app and online portal, and affordable plans.

Medical Guardian FAQs