Affordable Options For Every Budget: Finding A MAS That Fits Your Finances

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 36 million falls are reported among seniors every year. Many of these result in severe injuries and sometimes death. For people with disabilities, the statistics are more or less the same. Consequently, medical alert systems have become popular among the elderly and individuals with medical conditions. These devices send an immediate medical alert to healthcare professionals in case of emergencies, such as falls. 

Here, we will discuss how you can find affordable medical alert systems. We have also included a list of the 4 best affordable medical alert systems that fit your budget. 

The Importance of Affordability in Medical Alert Systems

Like any other purchase you’ve probably made, your budget and cost are a major factor to consider. A medical alert system can sometimes be super affordable, and sometimes it can break the bank. 

While the monthly charges may only range from $20-$60, there are other long-term costs associated with almost every medical alert system. These costs may include recurrent fees for the monitoring service, installation fees, activation fees, cancellation fees, advanced upgrades, etc. You can save a lot of money by comparing pricing plans, checking for required features, and purchasing through special offers. 

Alongside affordability, considering reliability is also equally important. Otherwise, the well-being of your loved one may be at risk. To ensure their safety and your peace of mind, you must make a well-informed decision based on their needs.

Features of An Affordable Medical Alert System

So, what do you consider when purchasing an affordable medical alert system? Here’s a quick round-up of the essentials:

Battery

At-home medical alert systems are plugged into an outlet. But, in the case of a power outage, they must have backup batteries. Usually, the backup battery’s life should be 30-32 hours. You should check for how often the backup system needs replacement or recharging. For on-the-go systems, the battery life should be 1-5 days after a single charge.

GPS Tracking

For a user who stays outside the house mostly, a cellular or wearable device is better. Make sure the device has a GPS tracking feature, as it helps locate the user in a medical emergency scenario. The GPS must be accurate and should work in all areas that the user visits most often.

Emergency Services Accessibility 

In an emergency, the device should send an instant medical alert to emergency services and/or loved ones who can arrange immediate help. Some devices also offer a two-way voice feature that allows the user to speak hands-free with healthcare professionals from the emergency unit.

Range

Some systems have a range of up to a mile or more away from the base unit. Others offer coverage from 300 to 1000 feet. The device you choose should meet your coverage distance requirements.

Fall Detection

As mentioned earlier, falls among seniors and disabled individuals are very common. That’s why many medical alert systems have an automatic fall detection feature. So, if the person falls and does not press the button, the device will still send an alert for extra measure. Check if the system you’re purchasing offers fall detection in the basic package or if you must pay extra for it.

Water Proof

Falls are most common in wet areas like the shower. If the wearable button of the device is water resistant and not waterproof, it may stop working as soon as the user enters the bath. Look for a waterproof system. 

Activity Monitoring

Activity monitoring, or inactivity monitoring, helps the loved ones of the user check in on them regularly. You’ll be able to see if they’re active and moving around throughout the day. If there’s a long time without any activity, you might want to check in and see if they’re alright.

Caregiver App

Lastly, look for systems that offer easy-to-use caregiver apps, through which the caregivers can track the location of the device, set medical reminders, check battery status, etc. 

The presence and absence of these features greatly affect the pricing of a medical alert system. Again, you must consider your options based on the user’s lifestyle and medical needs. For example, if they stay at home all the time, a GPS tracking feature is not required.

To compare the pricing structures of different medical alert systems, look at the features they offer and the hidden or long-term costs. For example, if you have two options with the same features, go for the one that takes the least amount of installation fee, or cuts some slack on other fees like monthly or yearly service charges.

4 Best Affordable Medical Alert Systems By Budget

The following is a list of the four best affordable medical systems (per their features), categorized by budget.

MobileHelp (Budget: $17/month)

MobileHelp is by far the cheapest and most pocket-friendly medical system out there. For only $16.99 per month, MobileHelp offers

• Cellular and landline protection
• Activity tracking
• Automatic Fall detection
• 24/7 fast customer service
• Free activation and equipment

They are also offering 50% off on their fall detection charges. Other than that, they have six different pricing plans to suit the needs of different people. 

The only con of MobileHelp is that the device does not offer carbon monoxide or smoke detection.

Medical Alert (Budget: $20/month)

Starting at only $19.95 per month, Medical Alert offers some of the best features and pricing plans. They have lightweight and wearable systems and also offer a 30-day free trial period. 

Another thing that stands out about Medical Alert is that they stay on the line with the user until help arrives. They offer:

• GPS Tracking
• Two-way voice feature
• Optional fall detection
• Broader range
• Waterproof wearables
• 24/7 customer service.

Medical Alert does not offer fitness tracking. If you’re interested in comparing their pricing plans and other features, you can read our review here. 

One Call Alert (Budget: $20/month)

Last on the list, we have One Call Alert. Starting at $19.95 a month, One Call Alert guarantees free shipping and a lockbox. They also offer customized emergency action plans. Moreover, if you opt for an in-home wireless device, the costs can go up to $30. The range for this device is 600 feet from the base.

One Call Alert gives the option to add fall detection for an added $10. Moreover, their wearable devices are waterproof, and their medical alert devices have a two-way voice feature. Note that their basic plan does not have too many advanced features.

For a more detailed review, head over to this link.

A Quick Comparison Chart

If you would like to have a detailed comparison, head over to this link.

Financial Assistance and Insurance

When you’re purchasing a medical care system, we suggest calling your insurance carrier and confirming if your insurance will cover some of the expenses of the system. In most cases, Medicaid or Medicare cover at least a portion of the costs. Other times, they may even cover the complete costs. 

You can also check in with your local government and/or local hospitals as there are usually financial assistance programs that help cover costs.

Testimonials and Reviews

According to a survey, 86% of users credit medical alert systems with saving their lives. But there are also some negative experiences. Some users mention instances where pressing the button didn’t trigger the alert for medics as expected.

That’s why, we always recommend going over testimonials and reviews by past users before investing in something as crucial as this. For MobileHelp, a user says, “I was extremely pleased with how easy it was to set up. I finally feel safer.” It also has a rating of 4.8/5 on TrustPilot. You can read more reviews here.

Conclusion

Medical Alert Systems save lives every day. But if you’re staying on a budget, you don’t need to compromise on the features! You trust a loved one’s life to this device; it’s crucial to consider all aspects before making a decision. If needed, get recommendations from a professional healthcare provider. Also, to ensure that you stay on budget, always check for hidden or extra costs.