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Of all the medical alert systems we researched, Medical Guardian offers some of the best premium features, such as fitness tracking and the ability to set up social circles.
According to a 2021 survey by AARP, 77% of people ages 50 and older would prefer to continue living in their own homes as they age. It’s known as aging in place.
A medical alert system empowers them to do so.
These systems can help older adults be and feel more independent, regardless of their age or health concerns. They can provide a sense of ease for loved ones as well, knowing there’s an extra layer of help in case of an emergency.
Medical Guardian is a medical alert company founded in 2006. They make both on-the-go wearable devices and in-home systems.
The devices can send emergency services to your location following a medical emergency or fall. The company claims to have the widest signal range in the medical alert space (up to 1,400 feet for their in-home devices).
While the company has been acknowledged for their customer service, receiving a silver Stevie Award (a business awards organization) for customer service department of the year, you’ll still find reviews that note poor customer service.
How it works
You can choose between two at-home options and three on-the-go systems. All systems come with access to the MyGuardian Portal app that stores your important health information for caregivers and first responders. All devices also in include OnGuard alerts, which send messages to those specified in your care chain when an event occurs.
Medical Guardian’s products work by tracking your location via GPS. A press of the button on the device connects the wearer to a representative at any time of the day, who will confirm that help is needed and will deploy it right away. If the representative doesn’t you on the line when the button is pressed, they’ll send help immediately.
All customer service representatives are based in the United States. The emergency monitoring center is on standby 24 hours a day to immediately assist in an emergency or nonemergency situation. The service can also connect you with a loved one or a neighbor when nonemergency help is needed.
They also offer optional add-on fall detection — available for all products, except for the MGMove watch — which automatically calls the monitoring center when it detects a fall, even if you’re unable to press the button.
Pros
- You can pay month to month. Long-term contracts are not required.
- There are no activation fees.
- Both on-the-go wearable products and in-home products are available.
- It has a wide service range.
- There are devices available for both cellular networks (AT&T or Verizon service included in your purchase) and landlines.
Cons
- There are additional fees for fall detection.
- With the exception of the Classic Guardian, equipment isn’t included in your service plan, while some other companies, like ADT, don’t charge equipment fees.
- There’s no discount for paying quarterly versus monthly. The price only goes down for the annual plan.
When researching Medical Guardian, we considered costs, customer reviews from third-party websites, warranty information, and ease of service. We looked at the company’s website along with other trusted websites that aren’t affiliated with Medical Guardian, including the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot.
The brand and the product line also went through our vetting process. When vetting brands, we also look for:
- good business practices
- medical credibility
- company reputation
Medical Guardian’s website showed five different packages that customers can choose from at the time this article was written. The products are separated into two main categories:
- On-the-go systems: These allow you to get coverage wherever you are, not just at home. The company offers three on-the-go products: MGMove, Mini Guardian, and Mobile 2.0. All are water resistant. Unlike the in-home options, you can’t add additional wall buttons.
- Home systems: Though this is the more affordable option, coverage is limited to your home. The company offers two home system options: the Home 2.0 and the Classic Guardian.
MGMove
- Type of alert system: on the go, works outside of the home
- Pros: modern watch design, tracks other health and movement metrics
- Cons: must remember to charge often, app requires an additional purchase to unlock all features, fall detection not available, most expensive of the on-the-go options
This wearable, on-the-go device mimics a smartwatch. It includes a stay-active feature that allows you to plan your day, count your steps, and track movement goals. Meanwhile, loved ones can track your current location and location history.
The downside is that some extra features, such as chatting with loved ones and day planning, require the Social Circle Apps package for an additional cost.
The watch is water resistant, and the battery lasts up to 24 hours.
For baseline costs, like all Medical Guardian products, you can choose between monthly, quarterly, or annual plans. The quarterly and monthly plans are $39.95 per month, while the annual plan comes out to $36.62 per month. This is in addition to the equipment cost, which is $199.
You can purchase a standard warranty and protection plan that covers defects for an additional $6.99 per month.
Mobile 2.0
- Type of alert system: on the go, works outside of the home
- Pros: fall detection available, greater service range for the help button compared with the brand’s other on-the-go devices, multiple wear options
- Cons: no step counting
The Mobile 2.0 is lightweight and can sync with a wristband or neck pendant. It can be clipped to clothing and bags or worn around the neck in a pendant. Interchangeable wear options make this a convenient and versatile device.
It comes with advanced location monitoring that leans on a 4G cellular network, Wi-Fi, and GPS. The device is water resistant.
The equipment costs $124.95, plus the cost of a quarterly or monthly plan at $39.95 per month or an annual plan at about $36.62 per month. The same standard warranty is available for $6.99 per month.
When it comes to mobile devices, this is the only one available that also offers protection while charging (though the battery is meant to last 3 days).
Mini Guardian
- Type of alert system: on the go, works outside of the home
- Pros: fall detection available, multiple color options
- Cons: no step counting, only wearable as a pendant
This is Medical Guardian’s classic pendant-style button. It uses 4G, Wi-Fi, and GPS.
It comes with a 5-day battery, and it’s water resistant.
The equipment costs $149.95, with the option to add a warranty for $6.99 a month. Quarterly and monthly plans are available at $39.95 per month, or you can pay annually at $36.62 per month.
You can choose between black, white, and silver.
Home 2.0
- Type of alert system: in-home only (uses cell network)
- Pros: fall detection available, syncs with a wristband or pendant for multiple wear options, contains a backup battery, cheaper than on-the-go options
- Cons: no step counting, can’t be used on the go outside of the home
Getting into Medical Guardian’s in-home systems, Home 2.0 is the most advanced of the two options. The home unit has a wristband and necklace, and it has a range of 1,400 feet. The system is plugged in for power but also contains a 32-hour backup battery.
Like other Medical Guardian devices, this product gives you access to the MyGuardian app, which allows the system to contact caregivers and store important health information.
This isn’t an on-the-go device and only works in the home. There’s an option to add additional wall buttons and the ability to send text messages and emails (known as OnGuard alerts) to those in your care network when an emergency occurs. This is in addition to emergency responders who will be contacted once the button is pressed.
Quarterly and monthly plans are $34.95 per month, while the annual plan is $32.04 per month. The equipment is $124.95. It comes with a backup battery that lasts for 32 hours.
Classic Guardian
- Type of alert system: in-home only (uses landline)
- Pros: free equipment, fall detection is available, contains a backup battery, ideal for people in areas with poor cell service, multiple wear options, cheaper than on-the-go options
- Cons: no step counting, can’t be used on the go outside of the home
Unlike other Medical Guardian products, Classic Guardian equipment is free, but you still have to select a service plan. Quarterly and monthly plans are $29.95 per month, while the annual plan is $27.45 per month.
It comes with a base unit, a necklace, and a wristband. The backup battery lasts up to 32 hours. This device includes the option for additional wall buttons.
This unit has the option to wire into a landline — the key difference compared with the Home 2.0 — so you don’t have to rely on a cell network in you live in an area with spotty service.
It has a range of 1,300 feet. This device only works in the home. It includes access to the MyGuardian app.
Medical Guardian can be purchased directly from the company. We also found their products available for purchase on Walmart and Amazon.
Equipment ranges from $125 to $200. The only plan that comes with free equipment is the Classic Guardian.
Service plans range from about $27 to $40 per month, depending on whether you select a monthly, quarterly, or annual plan. Which product you select will also determine where you fall in that range.
Insurance may cover costs, but coverage for medical alert devices will be different depending on the type of insurance you have.
On Trustpilot, Medical Guardian has several negative reviews that say the service was difficult to cancel. The company has 3.9 stars out of 5 stars on Consumer Affairs, with a total of 73 verified reviews.
Medical Guardian is accredited with the BBB and has an A+ rating. However, it only has an average of 1.15 stars out of 5 with 55 reviews. Trouble canceling the service and issues with continued billing after cancellation were common complaints.
The company website states that the system and accessories have a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase. However, as noted above, there’s an additional protection plan available for $6.99 per month with each plan.
You have to call the company to initiate returns and cancel. The refund process can take up to 30 days.
If you’re an older adult or a person living with a disability, Medical Guardian may be a good fit for your lifestyle.
Medical Guardian has some of the best premium features compared with other medical alert systems. However, the system does come with a higher cost for equipment and several options for add-ons that can drive up the monthly cost quickly.
If you’re looking for something cheaper, other medical safety alert products on the market may be a better option for you, such as MobileHelp and Bay Alarm Medical.
Additionally, if you or your loved one require full-time care due to a health condition, a medical alert system service such as Medical Guardian isn’t a replacement for medical care.
There are many other medical alert systems on the market. Life Alert is another popular choice. As one of the original medical alert products, it’s still a reputable choice.
Medical Guardian has a more technologically advanced smartwatch option. The cost of Life Alert is also higher than some of the options provided by Medical Guardian, so it’s not a great option if you have a smaller budget.
| Specifications | Medical Guardian | ADT | Life Alert | Get Safe | Bay Alarm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly cost | $29 | $30 | $50 | $28 | $25 |
| Fall detection | additional cost ($10) | additional cost ($10) | — | additional cost ($10) | additional cost ($10) |
| Connection | landline, cellular, or GPS | landline or cellular | landline, cellular, or GPS | cellular or landline | cellular |
Is Medical Guardian reliable?
Medical Guardian is a trusted company with over 300,000 customers in the United States. We found the company listed as a top medical alert company on various websites. However, Medical Guardian does have consistent complaints about difficulty with canceling the service.
Does Medical Guardian take insurance?
According to the Medical Guardian website, they accept some types of insurance. However, standard Medicare or some health insurance plans may not cover the full cost of a medical alert device.
Check with your Medicare, Medicaid, or other health insurance provider to determine if and how they may cover or reimburse the cost of medical alert systems.
Can I accidentally set it off?
The Medical Guardian device can be accidentally set off. The company advises to let the call go through and you can then speak with the Medical Guardian emergency operator and let them know that it was accidental.
Is Medical Guardian private and secure?
Medical Guardian’s monitoring centers are Five Diamond certified, Electronic Security Association certified, and UL listed. This means that they take steps to be private and secure. The system operates on a nationwide cellular network.
Medical Guardian devices range from a smartwatch to lightweight pendants. The company offers in-home and on-the-go options. Although the cost may seem high, the ease of knowing help can be accessed at your fingertips may make a world of difference.