ADT Medical Alert Systems, Pricing and Getting the Best Deal

The Fast Facts: ADT Medical Alert Equipment and Pricing

A Closer Look at ADT Medical Alert Systems and Value

Medical Alert Basic

Medical Alert Basic is ADT Medical Alert’s most affordable system, starting at $31.99 per month. Although there are some cheaper options for at-home systems on the market, ADT’s prices aren’t outrageous. For comparison, Medical Alert’s prices start at $27.95 per month, while Alert1’s monthly costs start at around $29 per month. This system is best for aging adults who spend more time at home and seek a simple and reliable system.

ADT Medical Alert’s Medical Alert Basic system

This package includes an in-home base unit and a waterproof pendant or wristband. The system has a 300-foot range and runs on a landline connection. As long as you’re in range of the base station, you only need to press the wearable help button to connect to ADT’s 24/7 monitoring center. An operator will be there to send help in under a minute.

We wish this system had a larger coverage range, as 300 feet might not be large enough for bigger, multi-story homes. For comparison, companies like LifeFone have coverage ranges up to 1,300 feet with comparable in-home systems. However, when testing out the system, we didn’t have any issues connecting to the monitoring center.

While fall detection is not available with the Basic plan, home temperature monitoring and two-way talk are included. Since over 1,100 older adults die each year from fire-related incidents — the temperature monitoring is a plus that adds value.1

Medical Alert Plus

The Medical Alert Plus system is a step up from the Basic plan. For $39.99 per month, you’ll receive a 600-foot coverage range and cellular connection, which means you won’t need a landline. This gives you more flexibility to place the system in the spot that works best in your home, as you won’t need to plug the base unit into a phone jack.

While the 600-foot range is still relatively small, it doubles the range of the Medical Alert Basic and allows for outside activities, such as gardening. If you’re looking for an in-home system, we recommend upgrading from the Medical Alert Basic to this model, as the system offers more value for just $8 extra per month. We also noticed that this system is a bit more sleek than the Medical Alert Basic model, which is great if aesthetics matter to you. This system is best for those who want a little more advanced features but spend most of their time at home.

Setting up my Medical Alert Plus ADT Medical Alert

The most useful element of this system, in our opinion, is the ability to add an automatic fall-detection pendant for $11 per month. With this feature, you can instantly connect with emergency personnel after a fall, even if you cannot press the help button. This plan also offers temperature monitoring. With its added features and versatility, we think the Plus plan offers the better deal of the two in-home packages.

On-The-Go

At $41.99 per month, the price for the On-The-Go system sits just $2 above the Plus plan. While it’s not the least expensive mobile system on the market, it’s comparable to Medical Guardian's prices for similar options. With this wearable mobile system, you can use it anywhere in the U.S. that has AT&T cellular coverage.2 This system also has built-in GPS technology to track your location in case of an emergency. ADT Medical Alert’s On-The-Go is the most practical plan for older adults who travel regularly, whether around town or for vacation.

This system is best for active aging adults that want the features of a medical alert to protect them wherever they go. Like MobileHelp, ADT Health uses AT&T coverage. When we tested the system, it had a good signal while driving around, on walks, and at home, but if you live in areas with spotty AT&T service, your system won’t be as reliable.

Charging my On-The-Go Emergency Response ADT Medical Alert system

In addition to the unlimited range (because the unit travels with you) and GPS technology, the main benefit of this plan is the portable unit’s built-in help button and two-way speaker. These allow you to easily call for help in an emergency. ADT also offers fall detection for $11 per month with this package, but it’s not programmed right into the mobile device. Instead, it is included with a separate neck pendant, so you’ll need to remember to wear the pendant and carry the mobile device with you.

Add-On Accessories: Pricing and Features

ADT Medical Alert offers a few basic add-ons to customize your medical alert system. Aside from fall detection, which we think is well worth the extra money spent, an extra wristband or neck pendant is a valuable add-on to consider for couples or roommates. Add-ons are best for seniors seeking more from their medical alert systems, such as additional health monitoring.

ADT Medical Alert vs. The Competition

So, how does ADT Medical Alert compare to other popular companies for price and value? We’ll take a closer look below.

ADT Medical Alert vs. Medical Guardian

ADT Medical Alert’s systems range from $31.99 to $41.99 per month, making them pretty comparable to Medical Guardian’s prices, which range from $29.95 to $44.95 per month. However, ADT Medical Alert’s fall detection costs $11 per month and Medical Guardian charges $10 per month.

You won’t get charged activation fees at either company. However, there are no device fees with ADT Medical Alert, while Medical Guardian has device fees up to $199.95. ADT Medical Alert also has a lifetime warranty at no extra cost, while Medical Guardian’s warranty is optional and costs an additional $6.99 per month.

» Compare Your Options: Medical Guardian review

Medical Guardian offers a wide variety of high-tech systems and extra features that ADT Medical Alert does not. For example, Medical Guardian has a smartwatch system, caregiver mobile app, and sleek equipment. If you want a more advanced system, you’ll get more bang for your buck with Medical Guardian. On the other hand, if you want to keep things simple, ADT Medical Alert is a great choice.

ADT Medical Alert vs. LifeFone

LifeFone’s at-home system pricing starts at $29.95 per month, and you can get a $2 monthly discount when paying quarterly or a $5 discount when paying annually. This makes Lifefone slightly cheaper than ADT Medical Alert, but only by a few dollars.

LifeFone’s plans come with features that ADT Medical Alert doesn’t offer, including optional wellness checks, activity tracking, and medication reminders for an additional monthly fee. LifeFone’s at-home plans come with spouse monitoring, and there’s a companion app that comes with the VIPx device. They also have inexpensive fall detection at just $5 per month, which is $6 cheaper than ADT Medical Alert.

» Compare Your Options: 2024 LifeFone review

The choice will come down to what you’re looking for. If you want a top-notch monitoring center and you don’t care about extra frills, ADT Medical Alert is our top pick. But if you want certain add-ons or to save on fall detection, LifeFone is a solid option.

ADT Medical Alert vs. Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical’s prices are affordable, starting at $19.95 per month. That’s around $11 cheaper than ADT Medical Alert’s in-home system. Plus, new customers receive a 30-day free trial, and ADT Medical does not offer a free trial period. Bay Alarm Medical also offers several systems to choose from, including sleek on-the-go units and a smartwatch, while ADT Medical Alert keeps their offerings pretty basic.

» Learn More: Bay Alarm Medical review

While ADT Medical Alert is more expensive than Bay Alarm Medical’s options, ADT Medical Alert does lock in prices at purchase, which means you will never experience a surprise price hike.

How To Get the Best Deal With ADT Medical Alert

Here are a few of our tips to get the best bargain with ADT Medical Alert:

• Buy online: You’ll save a few bucks each month if you order your system online. We always recommend calling customer service to ask questions and ensure that you understand what you’re buying, but place your order online. (Or ask customer service if they will give you the same price over the phone.) ADT typically offers deals and discounts for new online customers. We reached out to ADT Health customer service by phone and had all of our questions answered. However, when asked if they could provide help in different languages, the agent replied that it wasn’t guaranteed, so that’s something to know ahead of time.
• Ask questions: As we’ve mentioned, ask lots of questions, and be sure that you understand the fine print before purchasing. Unfortunately, ADT Medical Alert doesn’t offer a free trial period like many other providers. However, they will reimburse any unused days in the monthly billing cycle upon the return of the equipment. They also send a prepaid mailing label to return the devices.
• Add a spouse: By spending an extra $5 per month on an additional help button, spouses can both use one ADT Medical Alert at-home system. When you do the math for two users, the monthly fee for an ADT system breaks down to between about $18.50 and $23.50 per person. That’s cheaper than buying two separate systems!

Is ADT Medical Alert Right for Me?

With so many medical alert systems out there, it can be hard to know which company is the right fit for your needs. Considering the following statistic may help you decide.

Testing out Medical Alert Basic

In 2019, falls were the leading cause of injury death in adults 65 or older3. Many older adults could benefit from medical alert systems, particularly devices that include fall detection. ADT Medical Alert doesn’t have many bells and whistles with their packages, but they offer basic systems along with essential add-on features, like fall detection. With simple, easy-to-use systems and a long history of protecting households across America, ADT is a good option for keeping you or your aging family members protected.

Final Thoughts on Pricing and Value for ADT Medical Alert

For those who like simplicity, ADT has a system for you. Keep in mind that ADT Medical Alert offers limited add-ons. For example, it doesn’t have a mobile app with services for caregivers, as some other providers do. But the few extras it does offer are the essentials, like fall detection.

Of the three systems, we think On-The-Go provides the greatest value; it’s in the same price range as other top cellular GPS systems and includes two-way talk, GPS location detection, and optional fall detection. On the other hand, Medical Alert Basic and Medical Alert Plus are barebones systems with a shorter range at a higher price point than many other at-home systems. But with online ordering incentives and inexpensive monitoring for spouses, ADT is a solid option.

You can learn more about our experience trying out ADT by watching our video review below!

Our Methodology: How We Tested ADT Medical Alert Systems

Our senior tech experts spent over 50 hours testing ADT Medical Alert’s systems to determine their reliability and usability for seniors. We tested out the systems, contacted customer support, and evaluated the company’s products, add-ons, and offerings. Below is a closer look at our testing process.

1. While our team researched ADT Medical Alert’s systems, we spoke with the customer support team on several occasions to get our questions answered and determine the quality of service.
2. Then, we purchased ADT Medical Alert’s systems online, evaluating the shopping experience, price, and value.
3. We set up and tested each system in a 1,400 square-foot, two-story home, evaluating the time and simplicity of setup. We used on-the-go systems while running errands, taking walks, and traveling.
4. To evaluate the company’s response times, we tested each system’s help button 10 times and recorded average response times. We conducted the same tests using the company’s fall detection pendants by simulating falls.

After testing, we evaluated the systems for the following criteria:

• Price and value: Affordability and value are key, particularly since many seniors live on fixed incomes. We compared medical alert systems, add-ons, and any extra fees or discounts to weigh whether its price point matches the product's value.
• Customer service: We measured the accessibility, friendliness, and helpfulness of customer service agents. This includes modes of communication such as text, chat, email, and phone.
• Ease of use: We evaluated how easy each system was to use and what support is offered when help is needed.
• Response times: It’s essential that response times are fast, so you can receive quick help during an emergency.