How Much Does a Medical Alert System Cost?
$20 to $50
per month, monitoring, per month
You pay a monthly fee for the monitoring center; some companies also charge for the device, and fall detection usually costs extra each month.
The range is the middle of the published ranges from NCOA, The Senior List, SeniorLiving.org. How we work it out.
Price by type
| Type | Typical price | What it includes | Published ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monitoring, per month | $20 to $50 per month | round-the-clock monitoring service | $20 to $60 (NCOA) $20 to $50 (The Senior List) $20 to $50 (SeniorLiving.org) |
| Equipment fee, one time | $30 to $200 one time | device, if the company charges for it | $0 to $200 (NCOA) $50 to $200 (The Senior List) |
What changes the price
- Home unit or a mobile one with GPS
- Fall detection
- Landline or cellular
- Equipment or activation fee
- Paying monthly or for a year ahead
Who pays
Original Medicare does not pay for medical alert systems. Its equipment list turns down telephone alert systems because they are emergency communication, not treatment.
Does Medicare pay for medical alert systems? · Other ways to pay
Questions to ask the installer
- Is there a contract, and what does it cost to cancel?
- Is there an equipment or activation fee?
- What does fall detection add each month?
- How fast does the center answer?
- Does it work outside the home?
Last checked .
Sources
- NCOA: Medical Alert Systems: Costs and Considerations (consumer org), checked
- The Senior List: The Most Affordable Medical Alert Systems (consumer guide), checked
- SeniorLiving.org: Best Medical Alert Systems (consumer guide), checked
Not medical or insurance advice. Prices change; get written quotes, and check coverage with Medicare or your plan.