Medical Guardian vs. GetSafe

Medical alert devices have been termed as “care extenders”, simply because these tools primarily function to ensure the safety of seniors via technology without having an actual caregiver around. These devices are bound to provide fast response to emergencies that could mean a great deal for the survival of the users.

Moreover, medical alert systems bring forth a sense of fulfillment in the life of the elderly, as they are able to continue living independently while knowing that help is always within reach.

As there are many medical alert systems in the market, it can be tricky to find the perfect device to fit your needs. We created this guide to provide a direct comparison of two renowned companies in the industry, Medical Guardian and GetSafe to give you an objective evaluation of how they deliver their services and products to help you decide on your impending purchase.

	Medical Guardian	GetSafe
Overall Grade	Overall Grade: A	Overall Grade: A
Costs
Monthly Cost Price	$29.95 - $39.95	$24.95
Device Cost	$0 - $199.95	$79 - $279
Shipping Fee	$12.5	$12
Cancellation Fee	No fee	No fee
Fall Detection Fee	$1 - $10	$10
Cellular Fee	n/a	n/a
Spouse Monitoring	$0 - $2.99	$25
Features
Connectivity Option	Cellular or Landline	Cellular or Landline
Two-way Speaker & Microphone	Yes	Yes
Home-based Back Up Battery Life	32 hours	32 hours
On-the-go Battery Life	120 hours, 120 hours or 24 hours	No
Button Range	1400 ft, 500 ft or 1300 ft	No
Water Resistant	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes, some plans	No
Caregiver App	Yes, some plans	No
Response Time	20 seconds	20 seconds
More Details	See All Plans	See All Plans

Medical Guardian

Pros:

• Equipped with Automatic Fall Detection
• Devices are set with GPS location tracker
• 24/7 US-based monitoring
• Plans are highly customizable
• High range coverage
• Anytime cancellation policy
• Comprehensive systems

Cons:

• Spouse monitoring is not offered on all devices
• Expensive one-time equipment fee

Get Safe

Pros:

• No wearable buttons required
• Affordable monthly monitoring fees
• 30-day free trial
• No long-term contracts
• Systems can support small to large home sizes
• Extra buttons may be added to the plans they offer

Cons:

• Does not offer on-the-go system
• High upfront equipment fees
• Does not offer features like activity tracking, medication reminders, etc.

Medical Guardian Overview

Being in the industry since 2006, Medical Guardian has helped thousands of seniors retain their independence until old age. They are based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and provide coverage across all states in the U.S with their advanced and high-tech systems.

They are most renowned because of their highly-trained operators, innovative systems, and sleek design for their devices. On top of that, they have reliable monitoring centers that are certified by various third-party accrediting bodies, as they are TMA-Five Diamond certified and UL-listed. This assures their adherence to the industry’s high standard of quality.

With their technology, they are able to build a lineup of systems: Classic Guardian (landline), Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0, Mini Guardian, and Active Guardian, which all provide reliable monitoring and premium emergency response services.

Medical Alert Systems

Classic Guardian

The Classic Guardian is the most affordable plan by Medical Guardian, with a cost starting only at $29.95 a month. This plan comes with a base unit equipped with two-way communication, and a wearable pendant or wristband that is safe to use in the shower. You can have an add-on for automatic fall detection for only $10 a month. The device has a range coverage of 1300 ft from the base unit, and it also includes an SOS flashlight which can come in handy when an emergency occurs.

Home 2.0

This system is an upgraded variant of the Classic Guardian. Home 2.0 costs $34.95 per month and a one-time cost of $124.95 for the equipment. This includes an in-home base unit that is paired with a waterproof wearable device which connects to AT&T cellular connection. An additional automatic fall detection is charged at $10.

This system has two-way communication with a battery that can last up to 32 hours. The device range is up to 1400ft from the base unit, which provides coverage anywhere in your home.

Mobile 2.0

Mobile 2.0 provides protection inside and outside your home. This includes a mobile base unit, and a wearable help button which has a range of up to 500 ft away from its base unit. The base unit is lightweight and portable, so it can be clipped to belt or carried in a purse. You can get this plan for a monthly monitoring fee of $39.95 with a one-time device cost of $124.95.

Mini Guardian

This system features a sleek and lightweight design that is ideal for seniors who prefer a discreet medical alert system. The system costs $39.95 per month and a one-time device equipment fee of $149.95. It includes a device that can be worn in any weather, and can last for up to 5 days on a full charge. It also features an HD speaker and microphone which provides a clear communication with the responder in case of an emergency. Automatic fall detection is for an additional $10 a month.

MG Move

MG Move is a smartwatch-style system, which offers a full suite of advanced monitoring tools to include a touch screen display, a built-in speaker and microphone, and an SOS button. It also features a step tracker and a weather app.

This system is priced at $39.95 a month, and a one-time device cost $199.95 .The best deal about this system is that the fall detection is already included in the base monthly pay.

GetSafe Overview

GetSafe is owned by the Bay Alarm Family of Companies, the same company that owns Bay Alarm Medical. Being in the market since 2015, GetSafe is considered a newcomer in the medical alert industry. While quite young, GetSafe has introduced a fresh approach to building their devices.

They also offer a unique pricing plan, as they charge a fixed rate of $24.95 for its monthly monitoring fee, and only requires users to pay for a one-time fee for equipment depending on the choice of device of the users. What sets it apart from other providers is that they grant the users freedom to customize their system plans based on their home size. It's different from the usual pricing plans of other medical alert companies who rate their systems based on the range coverage required by your home size.

In general, GetSafe’s systems include the base unit, voice-activated wall button, and standard wall button. Their device options offer three ways to get you help: call, press, and pull. GetSafe is highly recommended for people who prioritize a customizable system that allows them to access help fast without having to wear a pendant around the house.

Medical Alert Systems

Starter

Starter is mainly intended for apartments of homes with a small space mainly because of the device range that can only cover 1-bedroom homes. The system includes a 4G-LTE base unit, one voice-activated wall button, and one personal help button.

For this plan, a one-time equipment fee of $79 fis charged, on top of the base monthly pay of $24.95. The 4G-LTE base unit serves as the control center for the medical alert system. It has a two-way speakerphone. It has a 32-hour backup battery to provide protection even in the event of a power interruption. The voice-activated wall button is a compact, wireless and water-resistant device, which you can install in an area that might be prone to accidental falls.

Standard

If you live in a standard home with 2-3 bedrooms, the Standard system is a good option for you. This plan includes one 4G-LTE base unit, two voice-activated wall buttons, one standard wall button, and one personal help button. Users have to pay $179 upfront for this plan's one-time equipment fee.

Select

The Select plan is great for seniors who live in larger homes or even multi-level spaces. It includes one 4G-LTE base unit, three voice-activated wall buttons, two standard wall buttons, and one personal help button which you can install anywhere in your home to ensure coverage for protection. The system requires an upfront device fee of $279.

We assessed the pricing strategies of these two reputable medical alert system providers to provide you a comprehensive guide to help you decide which company fits your budget. Medical Guardian and GetSafe both provide quality protection and services, but they have a huge difference on how they price their products.

Medical Guardian charges between $29.95-$39.95 per month, with a one-time equipment fee that ranges from $124.95-$199.95. On the other hand, GetSafe charges a flat monthly rate of $24.95 on any of their systems, and only requires customers to pay an upfront fee for their equipment which ranges from $79 - $279 depending on the plan.

Both companies charge around $12 for shipping fee for all their devices and $10 additional monthly cost for the optional automatic fall detection feature, except for the MG Move of Medical Guardian that does not charge any fee for fall detection. When it comes to extra button/s for spouse monitoring, Medical Guardian offers it for $2.99 per month, while GetSafe for $25 per month.

Medical Guardian and GetSafe play it very differently when it comes to features and tech. Let’s take a look at how they designed their systems;

GetSafe offers customizable in-home systems with their unique voice-activated wall buttons. They designed their systems to fit the home size, and the number of rooms covered by their wall buttons. They also offer an alternative to wearable pendants or wristbands, which can be seen on most medical alert systems, which is great for seniors who do not want to wear anything while inside their home. While GetSafe has excellent in-home systems, they do not offer an on-the-go system; instead, they have a mobile GPS help button as an add-on to their plans, which can be a point of consideration for seniors who have an active lifestyle.

One unique thing about Medical Guardian is their wide variety of options and high tech systems. Medical Guardian also offers a good lineup of products, with five systems to choose from: Classic Guardian (landline), Home 2.0, Mobile 2.0, Mini Guardian, and Active Guardian. Unlike GetSafe, they have an on-the-go option which is remarkable if you’re looking for a modern smartwatch system. All their devices are 100% water-resistant, and GPS location tracking is available for their on-the-go systems. They also have an option for landline connectivity, which GetSafe does not have.

Because Get only offers standard devices for home use, we conclude that Medical Guardian provides better options for seniors who like to be outdoors every once in a while, and at the same time want reliable protection for their home.

Monitoring Center

The Monitoring Center is the lifeblood of every medical alert system, as this is where the real job happens. True to the statement, a medical alert system is only as good as its monitoring center, so it must be a priority to check the reliability of your medical alert system through its monitoring center. Medical Guardian boasts their state-of-the-art facility that is equipped with the latest in technology, as they are TMA Five-Diamond certified, FMA certified, and UL-approved. With just one press on the help button, they can respond in as fast as 20 seconds.

GetSafe also has monitoring centers that are also UL-listed, and are CSAA Five Diamond Certified, which ensures that their operators are well-trained to handle any type of emergency. They are on-call all the time, providing nationwide coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. GetSafe’s response time is as good as the 20-second record of Medical Guardian.

OUR PICK

Overall, both providers perform exceptionally well in their own strong areas: GetSafe for their voice-controlled in-home systems, and Medical Guardian for their excellent technology. For this comparison, we speak in favor of Medical Guardian, mainly because of the advanced technology it offers with its systems and the vast range of options that it provides.

While GetSafe is user-friendly and offers unique in-home systems that get immediate help through the touch button or voice command, Medical Guardian beats this with their equally capable systems.

Medical Guardian is packed with useful features that match the convenience that the modern world demands. Also considering their impressive in-home systems that can be added with voice activated help buttons which can be strategically placed in high-risk areas of your home such as the bathroom and the kitchen. This, along with the high-tech features that come with all their systems attest that Medical Guardian is a good investment for a reliable medical alert system.