Bay Alarm Medical Review Overall Grade: A

The number of medical alert systems that are available in the market now is abundant. Choosing the best one means considering a lot of factors like features and price. And we want nothing more but for you to get the worth of your every buck.

Bay Alarm Medical ranked 4th on our list of the best medical alert system providers. For over 70 years in the industry, this company has provided peace of mind and protection to countless customers. They offer both home-based systems for safety at the very comfort of your home and on-the-go systems for protection while away from home.

Here’s a glimpse of what Bay Alarm Medical systems look like:

Listed below are the metrics we considered most important when ranking the best medical alert systems. Let's go over them in more detail.

Bay Alarm medical got the highest rating in our on-the-go category as they offer impressive features for users who are constantly on the go or live an active lifestyle. We have assessed this metric based on the following features:

Water Resistance

Bay Alarm's on-the-go devices are water resistant, making them ideal for users who want to be protected in any environment. Whether you're out in the rain or taking a shower, you can rest assured that your medical alert system will continue to work.

Battery Life

On-the-go systems require charging, unlike home-based systems that are directly plugged into the outlet. Bay Alarm's devices can last up to 32 hours after a full charge, giving users the freedom to go about their day without having to worry about losing power. This is the average battery life of on-the-go systems among the different providers we evaluated.

GPS Location Tracking

Bay Alarm's on-the-go devices are equipped with GPS tracking that allows their monitoring center to locate users in the event of an emergency. This is an important feature especially if you or your loved ones tend to wander off.

Fall Detection

This feature can be added with an additional $10 a month on their SOS Mobile plan. This can detect if a user has fallen and send an alert to their monitoring center even if they are unable to push the button themselves.

Their SOS Smartwatch does not have this because according to their research and testing, having the feature placed on the wrist will not detect falls as accurately, triggering a number of false alarms. Which we think is a valid point after all.

Caregiver App

Last on the list is the caregiver app. Some providers don’t have this feature and that gives Bay Alarm Medical the leverage. This is available on their SOS Mobile plans.

We rated Bay Alarm's home-based system features highly for its comprehensive offerings. These are the factors we considered to come up with a rating of A:

Water Resistance

Bay Alarm's home-based systems are water-proof which means they can be placed in different areas of the house such as in the bathroom or near the pool without having to worry about them getting damaged.

Range of Protection

Every home-based system has a specific range of protection and Bay Alarm has a range of 1000ft. This is above the average range of all the other providers we reviewed which means that their home-based system can cover more area compared to others.

Fall Detection

The fall detection feature is available with Bay Alarm's home-based system plans for an additional $10 a month. Other providers we reviewed charge their customers $5 to $10 for this feature. Although automatic fall detection can be inaccurate at times, their buttons are designed to reduce false alarms and to only be triggered on high-impact falls.

Cellular Fee

Their home-based system has two connectivity options – through a landline or wirelessly through 4G-LTE AT&T or Verizon network. Just like most of the medical alert providers in the market, Bay Alarm does not charge its customers cellular fees. We advise that you contact them first and inquire about the network coverage in your area to ensure that you will be able to get a signal.

The monitoring center is the key to a reliable medical alert system. Without a reliable monitoring center, your system is basically just a bunch of buttons and sensors. Bay Alarm rated an A on this metric after reviewing the following:

Response Rate

Response rate is the most crucial part of this category as it determines how quickly a monitoring agent responds when you press your medical alert button. Bay Alarm's response rate is 20 seconds which is a few seconds faster than the ideal response time of monitoring centers.

Location

This provider’s monitoring centers are located in Utah and Idaho. When the monitoring center is based in the US, emergency response is considerably more dependable. No provider under our evaluation has a monitoring center from another place aside from the US.

Third-Party Certification

Both of Bay Alarm's monitoring centers are CSAA Five Diamond Certified which means that their operators undergo rigorous training and are well-equipped to handle any type of emergency. Their monitoring centers also undergo random inspections by UL to ensure that they are always up to par.

Multi-lingual

Bay Alarm's monitoring agents can support up to 170 languages which is great because it means they can communicate even with non-English speaking users.

Last on the metrics we reviewed is the overall cost. We have given Bay Alarm an A rating in this category for its amazingly affordable prices. We listed the costs we have taken into consideration when rating this provider:

Monitoring Fees

Bay Alarm's In-Home Basic plan has the lowest monitoring fee that can be purchased for only $19.95. While their On-the-go plans start at $29.95. This pricing is incredibly lower than what other providers charge which makes them the most affordable in our evaluation.

Device Cost

Bay Alarm charges a one-time device cost for its On-the-go systems which is not the most expensive in the market.

Cancellation Fee

They also do not charge a cancellation fee which is a great thing because it means that you can leave anytime you want. You simply need to give them a call to let them know that you're canceling and to start the process of returning their devices back to their office.

Spouse Monitoring

Bay Alarm charges $39 for each extra button you opt to add on top of your plan. This is a little higher than what other providers charge but it's still an affordable price.

Shipping Fee

Bay Alarm charges $12 for the shipping fee which is the average amount that providers under our evaluation charge.

What does Bay Alarm Medical’s System include?

Base Unit

The base console unit is the brain of the system and can be connected to a home’s landline phone or through the 4G-LTE cellular network. It has a speaker and a microphone so that two-way communication is possible.

In case of a power outage, the base unit will automatically switch to battery backup that can last up to 32 hours. The battery will automatically recharge itself once the power comes back. To install, just plug the unit into any standard power outlet and it's ready to use.

Help Button

Bay Alarm's customers can choose between two home-based help buttons: necklace or wristband. Their help button is lightweight, waterproof, and comfortable to wear so you can wear it all the time – even in the shower. The button also has a wide range of coverage up to 1000 ft. This help button is available with fall detection monitoring for an additional $10 a month.

Wall Button

Included in Bay Alarm's In-Home Premium plan is the wall button which is basically a help button but is not wearable. It's waterproof and is placed on the wall through the double-sided tape at the back. We recommend putting it in the bathroom, bedroom, and stairs where accidents normally happen.

Bay Alarm Medical's Plan Details

In-Home System

Bay Alarm’s medical alert systems are designed to keep you safe and independent in your own home. With their 24/7 professional monitoring, you can rest assured that help is always just a push of a button away.

In-Home Basic

Bay Alarm's In Home Basic plan uses landline as connectivity option and is valued at $19.95 a month. This plan includes waterproof devices with buttons range up to 1000ft. Optional fall detection can be added to this plan at $10 a month.

In-Home Preferred

In-Home Preferred is a cellular-connected home-based plan that costs $29.95 a month. This plan can also come with fall detection for an additional $10 a month. This is Bay Alarm’s popular plan and you could get free shipping if you opt to pay quarterly and free shipping plus a free one-month monitoring fee if you opt to pay on an annual basis.

In-Home Premium

Another plan to choose from Bay Alarm Medical’s home-based system is their In-Home Premium which is an In-Home Preferred plus four wall buttons. Included in this plan are a base unit, help button, and wall buttons that you can place around the house for added security. You can get this at $39.95/month with the option to add fall detection at $10/month. The same offer comes with the In-Home Premium plan when you opt to pay it quarterly or annually.

How Does Bay Alarm’s In-Home Systems Work?

In the event of an emergency, the user would simply press their wall or help button (wristband or necklace) which would then trigger the base unit to place a call to Bay Alarm’s 24/7 response center. The certified operator will assess the situation and if needed, they will immediately dispatch emergency services to the user’s location.

SOS Mobile

Unlike Bay Alarm's home-based system, SOS Mobile plans require a one-time device payment of $79 upon purchasing the plan. Their ultra-compact and lightweight on-the-go device is available on both AT&T and Verizon 4G-LTE networks.

It's also IPX6 water-resistant which means it could still work even when you're in the shower or in the rain. It comes with a caregiver tracking app and a GPS location tracking feature as well. Plus, the device can last up to 3 days after a full charge.

SOS Mobile Lite

The Mobile Lite plan comes with the SOS Mobile device and a monitoring fee of $29.95 a month. This is their most basic plan and this includes features like caregiver tracking and location tracking.

SOS Mobile Plus

This plan comes with the automatic fall detection feature for $39.95 per month. So if you're worried about falls, this could be the one for you. With this plan, you could get free shipping if you opt to pay quarterly and free shipping plus a free one-month monitoring fee if opt to pay on annual basis.

Mobile 360° Bundle

If you feel like doubling your security protection, Bay Alarm offers a bundle for home-based and on-the-go systems. You can have In-Home Preferred + Mobile device + Fall Detection for only $49.95 a month, on top of the one-time device cost of $79. This bundle saves you a significant amount compared to subscribing to the two plans separately. The same offer comes with the Mobile 360° Bundle plan when you opt to pay it quarterly or annually.

How Does Bay Alarm’s SOS Mobile Work?

Stay protected while out and about. With Bay Alarm's SOS Mobile, you can take your protection with you anywhere you go. In the event of an emergency, just push the button and you can expect that help is on the way!

SOS Smartwatch

The SOS Smartwatch is the other option on Bay Alarm’s on-the-go systems. Just like the SOS Mobile, it is also priced at $29.95 a month but with an additional $159 for the smartwatch. Free shipping plus free month can be applied when you opt to pay on a quarter or annual basis.

The SOS Smartwatch does not come with a fall detection monitoring feature but it features optimal display lighting, clear two-way communication, an SOS button, and step tracker. The device is also powered by the 4G-LTE cellular network which allows fast response speed and GPS location tracking. The device is designed with a modern look, is water-resistant, and has a battery life of 6 to 18 hours.

In-Home Preferred + Smartwatch

This is another bundle they offer. You can get the plan at $49.95 a month. This saves you around $10 and still have access to a 24/7 US-based monitoring center, location tracking, and in-home protection.

How Does Bay Alarm’s SOS Smartwatch Work?

The SOS Smartwatch is a 4G LTE-enabled device that has an SOS button for emergencies. With a press of a button, the smartwatch will automatically connect you to Bay Alarm's 24/7 response center. The response center will then assess the situation and if needed, they will immediately dispatch emergency services to the user’s location.

Monitoring Center

Bay Alarm's monitoring center operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They provide nationwide coverage across the US including Alaska and Hawaii.

Their headquarters are located in Concord, California and their state-of-the-art monitoring centers are located in Utah and Idaho. They strategically place their monitoring centers separate from their daily business activities to make sure their monitoring services will not be interrupted. This is a good sign that they are serious in providing the best protection and response to their customers.

In addition, both of their monitoring centers are CSAA Five Diamond Certified which means they have met the strictest guidelines in the industry. This certification is only given to monitoring companies that have passed a series of comprehensive audits. They also undergo random inspections by the UL testing facility to make sure they are keeping up with the standards.

Moreover, their emergency response operators can accommodate up to 170 languages which means they can give out help and support even to non-English callers. Some of the languages they can cater to are Spanish, Chinese, Farsi, Vietnamese, & Russian.

Why Consider Bay Alarm Medical?

30-day trial

They offer a risk-free trial for a period of 30 days. If ever you are not satisfied with Bay Alarm Medical, you can cancel your subscription right away without being charged any cancellation fee.

Spouse monitoring

More than one person in one location can be protected with Bay Alarm Medical Plans. This could be any two family members that live in the same household. There will be a charge for the extra button but no additional charge for the monthly plan

No Hidden fees

Bay Alarm Medical does not charge any additional fees except for the plan, device cost, shipping fee, and accessories that you will get together with your plan. No other activation fee will be imposed.

No long-term contracts

If you prefer long-term contracts, you can select either a quarterly or annual contract but these are completely optional. They do not require long-term contracts but they offer discounts and freebies for plans paid on a quarterly or annual basis. Their services can be canceled anytime.

24/7 monitoring

Bay Alarm Medical's dispatch centers are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. No matter what time or day it is, their emergency response operators will be there to help you.

Nationwide coverage

Bay Alarm Medical services are available anywhere in the United States. Just be sure to contact their customer service first to inquire about the cellular coverage in your area.