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Lifeline Review

Wednesday, February 19th

2025 Medical Alert System Reviews

Lifeline Review 2.5 Star Rating

Lifeline

2.5 Star Rating
  • Monthly and yearly plans
  • Free shipping and lockbox with annual plans
  • 24/7 U.S.-based response center
  • Calls answered in 30 seconds or less
  • "A+” Better Business Bureau rating

Lifeline boasts that they were the first to provide a personal alert service in North America and has the largest subscriber base of any medical alert system company. The company originated from a question posed by gerontologist Andrew Dibner in 1972, wondering what an elderly person would do if they were alone and needed help. Dr. Dibner envisioned a personal emergency response system and turned the concept into reality two years later. The company was officially founded in 1974 and became public in 1983 as they continued to make advancements like waterproof alert buttons and fall detection systems.

Round the clock assistance

Lifeline fields an average of 18,000 calls per day with the help of their 200-person team of trained care specialists. They offer support in 140 languages and have 24/7 emergency help when you or your loved one needs it. Lifeline's average time to answer a call is 30 seconds, so you'll quickly be connected to a live agent.

Product selection quiz

You can easily browse the different products offered by Lifeline or save yourself a bit of time and take their product selection quiz. It will ask if you plan to use your system away from home, if you want it to track your heart rate and steps, if you're worried about falls, if you have a landline, and so on. In the end you'll be matched with the best product to fit your lifestyle and needs. Or, if you're someone who prefers some personalized help, you could call Lifeline or fill out their online form to have someone contact you and walk you through each system.

For around the house

For those who just need a system to give them peace of mind while they're at home, there are two options for this. The HomeSafe landline comes with an in-home safe communicator and help button (lanyard or wristband) and requires a landline. It has 800 feet of range and a 30-hour backup battery. There is a one-time setup fee of $99.95 and costs $29.95/month. You could also pay $335.40 annually which makes the monthly cost ever so slightly cheaper. Additionally, if you want fall detection, that's another $15/month (more than what most places charge). The cellular version essentially has all the same features, but is $39.95/month or $419.40 yearly. The product page advertises free shipping on yearly contracts, but we noticed that we were still being charged $29.95 at checkout for shipping.

Best Medical Alert Systems

For an active lifestyle

For customers who live an active lifestyle, coming and going all throughout the day, the "On the Go” system is worth looking into. This 2-way talk pendant device comes in a standard or mini size with GPS location technology, a battery that lasts up to 4 days on a single charge, and a charging cradle. The standard button is $44.95 monthly or $479.40/year. Fall detection can be added to this device for an extra $15/month. The mini size is slightly more expensive at $49.95/month or $539.40/year. Both incur a one-time fee of $99.95 for setup.

For the smartwatch wearers

If you're a fan of the smartwatch that we've seen some medical alert system companies introduce, then you'll be intrigued by what Lifeline's is like. It has a built-in button to quickly connect you to a care specialist with integrated GPS tracking. The watch also has a heart rate monitor, step tracking, and can display basic information like the date and time. It has nearly identical features to other medical alert watches we've seen, so the main difference is the style, which resembles other smart watches from popular brands. The monthly plan for the watch is $39.95 or you can pay $419.40 annually. You'll also be charged the one-time device fee of $159.

Perks with annual plans

Whenever you sign up for an annual payment plan through Lifeline, you'll get free shipping and a free lockbox.

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Not our favorite product pages

We started to get a headache trying to differentiate among the different products here and even get straightforward pricing. You're shown the monthly cost if you pay month-to-month, semi-annually, or yearly, but you have to go to checkout to see what the yearly or semi-annual total would actually be. We also wish there was information about device warranties or refund policies here. They don't list this information on their website, so it is definitely something worth asking about if you give the company a call for more information.

Decent reviews

Lifeline has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau with mostly good customer reviews. Some people say that Lifeline is well worth the cost while others feel the company is a bit disorganized, especially when it comes to product returns and refunds. Overall, people are pleased with their service and don't have major issues to complain about, but their reviews didn't blow us away like the highest-rated companies we've rated have.

Ups and down

We'd say Lifeline is a decent company for medical alert systems. They're reputable and would provide a reliable service, but choosing your device and getting all the information you need straight from their website could be easier in our opinion. They charge shipping on monthly subscriptions to their service and there is a device/setup fee for any device you choose. This isn't our favorite choice, so they've not earned a high rating.

Where is the Best Place to Purchase a Medical Alert System?

Medical alert systems bring an added sense of safety to the wearer and give peace of mind to their loved ones. For elderly or disabled individuals who live independently, it's important to have a quick means of communication to alert someone in case of an emergency. This could be a fall, the onset of a heart attack, or some other medical crisis. Medical alert systems contact emergency services to provide urgent care to the wearer.

You might think, "Why not just use a cell phone to call for help”? Well, sometimes the time it takes to dial a phone number or look up a phone contact will take too long. Also, it's likely that if someone fell out of their car or even around the house, they may not have their phone in hand. Plus, some patients who show signs of dementia may get confused and not know who to call when it comes down to it - or not have the dexterity to dial.

The Best Medical Alert Systems Compare Medical Alert Systems Compare Medical Alert System Reviews What are the best Medical Alert Systems Best Medical Alert System Reviews

Medical Alert System FAQ

A medical alert system is often used by seniors who want to "age in place" rather than move to an independent/assisted living facility. Using a button on a pendant or wrist strap, they can let loved ones and/or emergency responders know that they need help due to a fall or medical situation.
Most systems on the market include a wearable panic button and round-the-clock remote monitoring. You can choose a plan that covers in-home use only or one that includes coverage when the wearer is out and about.
That depends on the person using the system and what kind of help they might need. Some medical alert systems include automatic fall detection, GPS tracking, and even smartwatch features like heart rate monitoring and tracking health goals.
Pricing varies, but you can anticipate monthly service fees ranging from $19.95 to $56.95 - the higher your coverage, the more you'll pay per month. You'll also need to factor in equipment costs: some service providers let you choose between buying it outright (lower monthly fees) and renting it (higher monthly fees).
Unfortunately, you won't get coverage for a medical alert system through Original Medicare or Medicaid. But, if you have a supplemental insurance plan, you might be able to get a discount. Check with your carrier if this applies to you.
The majority of medical alert systems come with a 30-day trial or money-back guarantee. However, with respect to the equipment, you'll want to read the fine print to understand your provider's terms if something goes wrong with your panic button or with any other devices down the line.
Yes. Very few medical alert providers lock you into a long-term contract. Most often, you'll get a prorated refund for any prepaid months of coverage once you return rented equipment. Plus, you have that initial trial period of 15-30 days that's offered by most medical alert services.
Your best bet is to see what other customers have to say. Look for reviews, preferably on third-party sites not affiliated with the provider. Another great resource is the Better Business Bureau: an "A+" rating and accreditation are good signs that you or your loved one will be well-protected by a particular medical alert service.
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Continued from above...

Medical alert systems can be worn as a bracelet or necklace, so they stay out of the way, but are conveniently accessible at all times. Some companies have shower-mounted devices that can withstand heat and moisture. No matter how you wear your device or where it is, the point is that they're as easy as clicking a single button to connect to an operator and ask for help. A neat feature available with some medical alert systems is the ability for the device to detect a fall before the person even calls for help. This could be life-saving if someone was unable to speak or move due to their fall.

There are quite a few companies that offer medical alert services. Some have a long-established history and tons of feedback from customers. Others are newly entering the industry, so it's important to do a lot of research about each one to find a company that will be responsive to the wearer, keep up-to-date with latest technologies, and be around for a long time. Look for a company that's really transparent with their pricing so you won't be overpaying or confused about what the price will be month-to-month.

We've thoroughly explored many of the companies that sell medical alert systems. They each offer a slightly different variety of features and pricing plans, so you'll need to go with the one that will be the best solution for yourself or your loved one. We've highlighted a few things that we recommend you look for specifically as you shop around:

  • Cost. There's usually a one-time cost to buy the medical device equipment and then an ongoing fee for the service to be available 24/7. Does the company have all their pricing clearly posted on their website or do you have to talk with a sales agent to figure it out? Transparent is best, so go with a company that makes it easy to see what you'll be paying.
  • Contracts. How does the company structure their contracts? Are you able to pay month-to-month or will you need to commit to something longer than that? What is the process for canceling if you no longer need the service at some point?
  • Features. Do you get automatic fall detection with your device? Does the company provide more than one device to keep around the house or does this cost a lot extra? How strong is the connection on the device around the house or in the yard?
  • Reputation. You get a pretty good idea of how reliable and trustworthy a company is based on how they've treated their customers in the past. People will speak up about this, so pay attention to customer reviews as well as the company's rating from the Better Business Bureau.

To give you the best, most reliable experience with a medical safety device, the experts at Top Consumer Reviews have vetted multiple companies and done plenty of research on the pros and cons of each. We hope this information proves valuable guidance to help you find a medical device company that gives you an added sense of safety!

Compare Medical Alert Systems

Select any 2 Medical Alert Systems to compare them head to head

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  • Bay Alarm Medical
  • Medical Care Alert
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Bay Alarm Medical vs Medical Care Alert Bay Alarm Medical vs LifeFone Bay Alarm Medical vs Life Alert Bay Alarm Medical vs MobileHelp Bay Alarm Medical vs ADT Bay Alarm Medical vs LifeStation Bay Alarm Medical vs Medical Guardian Bay Alarm Medical vs Medihill Bay Alarm Medical vs Alert 1 Bay Alarm Medical vs Lifeline Medical Care Alert vs LifeFone Medical Care Alert vs Life Alert Medical Care Alert vs MobileHelp Medical Care Alert vs ADT Medical Care Alert vs LifeStation Medical Care Alert vs Medical Guardian Medical Care Alert vs Medihill Medical Care Alert vs Alert 1 Medical Care Alert vs Lifeline LifeFone vs Life Alert LifeFone vs MobileHelp LifeFone vs ADT LifeFone vs LifeStation LifeFone vs Medical Guardian LifeFone vs Medihill LifeFone vs Alert 1 LifeFone vs Lifeline Life Alert vs MobileHelp Life Alert vs ADT Life Alert vs LifeStation Life Alert vs Medical Guardian Life Alert vs Medihill Life Alert vs Alert 1 Life Alert vs Lifeline MobileHelp vs ADT MobileHelp vs LifeStation MobileHelp vs Medical Guardian MobileHelp vs Medihill MobileHelp vs Alert 1 MobileHelp vs Lifeline ADT vs LifeStation ADT vs Medical Guardian ADT vs Medihill ADT vs Alert 1 ADT vs Lifeline LifeStation vs Medical Guardian LifeStation vs Medihill LifeStation vs Alert 1 LifeStation vs Lifeline Medical Guardian vs Medihill Medical Guardian vs Alert 1 Medical Guardian vs Lifeline Medihill vs Alert 1 Medihill vs Lifeline Alert 1 vs Lifeline
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