Medical Care Alert vs. LifeStation

Seniors who live alone or suffering from a medical condition may be interested in learning about the benefits of investing in a tried and trusted medical alert system. As technology advances over time, medical alert systems are also moving along to meet all your needs.

Subscribing to a medical alert system provides you the peace of mind of knowing that you or your loved one are being monitored every second of the day, every day. This also gives you the confidence to live worry-free as their safety is completely taken care of.

With the rising number of life alert providers in the market, the question ultimately lies in which has the best offer to fit your lifestyle and more importantly, your budget.

Medical Care Alert and LifeStation are reputable companies that are committed to providing vital support for older adults. Comparing their features, cost, and services through objective-based parameters, we have created this comprehensive guide to help you decide which medical alert system gives you more of your money’s worth.

	Medical Care Alert	LifeStation
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A-plus	Overall Grade: A-minus
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$29.95 - $39.95	$32.95 - $49.95
Device Cost	$0	$0 - $99.95
Shipping Fee	$11.95	$12.5
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	$10	n/a
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$0 - $29.95	$0 - $3.95
Features
Connectivity Option	Cellular, Landline or Cellular	Cellular, Landline or Cellular
Two-way Speaker & Microphone	Yes	Yes
Home-based Back Up Battery Life	80 hours	32 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	72 hours	120 hours or 120 hours
Button Range	1000 ft	600 ft, 650 ft or 200 ft
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	Yes, some plans
Caregiver App	Yes, some plans	Yes, some plans
Response Time	12 seconds	28 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

Medical Care Alert

Pros:

• 24/7 Monitoring Center based in the U.S
• Emergency operators hold EMT/EMD Certification
• Can cancel subscription within the first 14 days
• On-the-go devices are equipped with GPS location tracker
• All devices are compatible with automatic fall detection
• Long battery life (lasts up to 3 days)
• No activation fees
• Price-lock guarantee
• The RemoteCare 24/7 smartphone app lets authorized caregivers check the location and device status of the HOME & AWAY help button
• Free lockbox provided with an annual monitoring plan

Cons:

• Subscribers must choose an annual prepaid plan to get the lowest monthly price
• No month-to-month billing option for new subscribers

LifeStation

Pros:

• Offers automatic fall detection feature
• Location-based services can be accessed through Find My Loved One app
• Offers sleek and stylish devices
• No long-term contracts
• No cancellation fee
• 30-day money-back guarantee for new customers
• On-the-go devices can last up to days

Cons:

• Plans are considerably more expensive than other providers
• No landline connection for a home-based system
• Limited range coverage

Medical Care Alert Overview

Medical Care Alert is offered by American Response Technologies, Inc. Based in Northville, Michigan, the company was founded in 2012 and it is for this reason that they have already established their systems through time and experience in the industry. As they are family-owned, they also monitor their own family members. Their monitoring centers are staffed with highly-trained emergency respondents who are all EMT/EMD certified.

Their systems are best for seniors who have health risks and also for individuals living with medical conditions that may require immediate help as the need arises. Medical Care Alert’s monitoring system is UL-approved, and maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. This is an important aspect to look at because reliability always comes first when deciding which medical alert system is worth purchasing.

Medical Alert Systems

Home Medical Alert System- Landline

A standard landline connection is needed for this plan to operate appropriately. It includes a base unit paired with a pendant or wristband help button which is safe to use in the shower. The base unit includes a speakerphone for hands-free communication with the emergency monitoring center. The help button has a 1000-ft range from the base console through the landline connectivity. The battery features an 80-hour backup so you don’t have to worry if the power goes out. The system is at $29.95 per month, with optional upgrade for fall detection that costs $10 every month.

Home Medical Alert System- Cellular

If you don’t have a standard landline connection at home, the Home Cellular Medical Care Alert system works as an alternative protection through connecting to the AT&T 4G LTE wireless network. The system has a 1,000 foot range from the base console, which exceeds the average size of an American home. This provides extra assurance for you and your family members as the range capacity covers all areas inside your home and in your yard. The wearable help button is also water-proof, and has a battery life of up to 80 hours.

Home and Away Ultra

For seniors who are active and always in the move, this system provides a blended in-home and mobile protection. The Home and Away Ultra provides a lightweight and compact device that comes with a wearable waterproof help button pendant, with a GPS location tracker, that is directly connected with a trained, EMT/EMD certified operator ready to respond in cases of emergencies. This mobile system connects to AT&T 4G LTE and works in any location that is accessible to the AT&T cellular service. The battery can be used for up to three days, giving you convenience and peace of mind even when you need to be away for a while. This system can also be upgraded to have fall detection monitoring for only $10 a month.

Home and Away Duo

The Home and Away Duo offers similar services and features with the Home and Away Ultra model, providing coverage across the country wherever cellular signal is accessible. It comes with the Duo GPS device and a water-proof help button which is safe to wear anywhere and in any weather. Its battery life can last up to three days, and the device comes with a free charging cradle. The pendant is also equipped with a speakerphone and GPS, Wi-Fi and cellular location services that allows access to the Medical Care Alert call center to pinpoint the exact location of the user in times of emergencies. All it takes is just one push on the help button in a medical emergency.

LifeStation Overview

Being in the business for 18 years, LifeStation is among the companies that has been around in the industry the longest. This is a family-owned company based in Union City, New Jersey. They offer both home-based and mobile systems, making them a great choice for those who want reliable protection both at home and on the go. One drawback is their devices only connect through the 4G-LTE cellular network, which can be a point of issue for seniors residing in areas with weak cellular signal.

As high reliability is important in deciding for a medical alert subscription, it is useful to know that LifeStation has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and they are also TMA-certified. They also have two US-based monitoring centers located in New Jersey and Texas and both are staffed by care specialists who are trained to assist in any emergency situation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Both of the monitoring centers are UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond Certified which means that they are held to the highest industry standards.

Medical Alert Systems

At Home Standard

LifeStation’s At-Home Standard plan costs $32.95 per month. The system connects to a cellular network, and includes a base station and a waterproof, wearable help button. The coverage is up to 650ft from the base unit. The system has a clear two-way speaker and microphone and a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours in the event of a power outage.

At Home Supreme

At Home Supreme comes with a monthly monitoring fee of $44.95, and basically includes everything in the At Home Standard plan plus a free Lockbox that allows first responders to access your home if you're unable to open the door in an emergency. The base pricing for this system’s monthly subscription plan already includes the automatic fall detection. It also has a backup battery that can last up to 32 hours with the same coverage of 600 ft from the base console.

Sidekick Standard

This on-the-go system costs $37.95 a month for monitoring, plus a one-time device cost of $99.95. The device comes as a wearable pendant that is compact and lightweight, and equipped with a built-in two-way communication help button that is water resistant and can last up to 5 days after being fully charged. It also has GPS tracking and a caregiver app called Find My Loved One so you can easily find out where your loved ones are if they wander off.

Sidekick Supreme

The Sidekick Supreme from LifeStation costs $49.95 a month for monitoring, plus a one-time device cost of $99.95. This includes everything in the Sidekick Standard plan, plus a fall detection feature that can automatically detect if a fall has occurred and send an alert to the monitoring center.

Sidekick Smart

Sidekick Smart may be the best discreet device if you’re looking for a medical alert system that does not give off the vibes of a life alert system. Sidekick Smart is a touch-screen watch that has modern features, as it can track your steps and monitor your heart rate. The system is also water-resistant, with Bluetooth technology, a built-in two-way speaker, GPS location tracking, and fall detection capabilities that allows 24/7 access to emergency help. It can last up to 5 days on a single charge, so you don't have to worry about it running out of power when you need it most.

LifeStation Luxury

This beautiful pendant may be the best choice for stylish seniors who want a medical alert system that could go with their fashion style. The pendant is carefully crafted with high-quality materials, including a brass case with rhodium-colored plating, a center-faceted blue resin stone, and a 30" brass chain.

The pendant pairs wirelessly via bluetooth with LifeStation's Mobile LTE device, which connects to a 24/7 emergency monitoring center. In case of an emergency, the wearer can push the help button on the pendant to call for help. This on-the-go system costs $43.95 a month and the pendant has a 1-year life span and a range of 200ft from the base unit.

When deciding for a medical alert subscription, the first thing to consider is the amount of money to spend for the purchase and for necessary add-ons. It’s good news that Medical Care Alert offers competitive pricing for their services. Let’s examine deeper into the cost comparison of Medical Care Alert and LifeStation.

Medical Care Alert’s monitoring fees start from $29.95-$39.95 per month, while LifeStation’s monthly monitoring fees range from $32.95-49.95 per month, with an upfront device cost of $99.95. Medical Care Alert, on the contrary, does not charge any one-time equipment fee. They also ship for only $11.95, while LifeStation charges $13 for shipping.

Therefore, Medical Care Alert’s pricing is quite more budget-friendly considering their pricing for all of its services.

We highly appreciate that LifeStation offers a wide variety of products and services to cater to the needs of its customers, emphasizing their on-the-go systems which gives a touch of modernity in their services as they have a Smartwatch and a unique luxurious pendant option.

We are quite impressed at some features offered by LifeStation, particularly its excellent on-the-go systems. Sidekick Smart, one of their on-the-go systems, features a pedometer to track step count, a heart rate monitor to support a healthy lifestyle, and a weather forecast. Additionally, LifeStation Luxury is a great choice for seniors who want a stylish life alert system to match their fashion style as the pendant has a sophisticated, jewelry-like design that makes it both fashionable and functional.

On the other hand, Medical Care Alert keeps things simple yet purposeful, as seen in how they designed their systems to provide a balance of quality and affordability. They also have a connectivity option for landline, which LifeStation lacks as they only have cellular connection. Medical Care Alert also offers more range coverage, as it has a maximum device range of 1000 ft, while LifeStation has a maximum range capacity of 650 ft.

Monitoring Center

Medical Care Alert and LifeStation’s monitoring centers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Both are 100% US-based and have nationwide coverage across all 50 states in the country.

LifeStation has two US-based monitoring centers located in New Jersey and Texas and both are UL-listed and CSAA Five Diamond Certified which means that they are held to the highest industry standards.

Medical Care Alert’s monitoring center, on the other hand, is also UL-listed and has an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau. They staff EMT/EMD certified emergency respondents in their monitoring centers who are highly trained to effectively manage medical emergencies.

Medical Care Alert’s operators can attend to an alert as fast as 12 seconds, while LifeStation can dispatch the same help for an average response time of 28 seconds. In terms of multilingual availability, LifeStation can accommodate non-English speaking customers through an interpreting service that translates other languages including Spanish, German, and more. Medical Care Alert, on the other hand, staffs bi-lingual operators who can speak both English and Spanish, to cater to the seniors who are more well-versed in speaking Spanish.

OUR PICK

Medical Care Alert and LifeStation both offer excellent medical alert services, with varying and particular strengths in their systems. However, based on our ratings obtained on different parameters, we highly recommend Medical Care Alert.

Considering the cost, Medical Care Alert offers comprehensive plans which are more affordable in the long run as compared to the more pricey offers of LifeStation.

LifeStation offers modern features, particularly for their on-the-go systems that are best for seniors who are tech-savvy and are fashion-forward. But when it comes to practicality, Medical Care Alert has an all-inclusive function for a medical alert system, which provides a good balance of quality and cost-effectiveness.

Most importantly, Medical Care Alert’s monitoring center is faster to respond to emergencies with its shorter response time of only 12 seconds. After all, the main purpose of a medical alert system is to be able to get help as soon as possible in case of an emergency.