Are you a senior or a disabled individual looking to avoid an assisted care facility and lead an independent life? Are you looking for an affordable and accurate system that will provide access to emergency care at all times? Medical alert systems, also known as personal emergency alert systems, offer great solutions that help people handle medical emergencies, accidents, fire and other problems independently without bothering friends and family members.
Your life alert system will consist of a base station connected to a traditional phone line. Most providers offer two help buttons – one is installed on the base station and the second button can be worn by the user as a necklace or a bracelet. The moment you press the help button, the medical alert system will connect to a monitoring agent who will procure help based on your needs. You will receive help even if you cannot move or talk. The monitoring agent will inform your family members as well.
Personal emergency alert systems have gained immense popularity in recent times. You will find several choices in the market. Philips Lifeline and Life Alert own a significant proportion of the market share and are popular among seniors with different abilities and needs. Each system comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Salient Features of Philips Lifeline
Philips Lifeline is the most well-known name in the world of personal emergency alert systems, especially in the United States. It has been in business for more than 35 years and caters to the needs of more than 750,000 consumers across North America. Apart from the standard medical alert system, the company also offers an AutoAlert fall detection pendant. The system will automatically contact the monitoring center if you fall and are unable to get up or talk. Philips Lifeline is one of the few companies that offer Medication Dispensers. The product keeps track of your medications and sends reminders when you miss a dose. An agent will also inform your family members and ensure that you get back to regimen quickly. Every great service, however, comes with a price.
Philips Lifeline Cost
The standard Philips Lifeline medical alert system will set you back by $29.95 each month. It comes with a base station and a pendant. You can order an additional pendant for your spouse for $10. You also pay a one-time activation and installation fee of $59.95. Philips Lifeline is one of the few personal emergency alert system companies that charge an installation fee. It is also one of the few companies that offer professional installation of the system and this can help justify the Philips Lifeline cost.
You have to pay more for the special features. Adding the AutoAlert Fall Detection pendant to your package will cost $10 to 15 more each month. The Medical Monitoring system is priced at $75 per month. There are no long-term contracts. The company bills you once every month. You can cancel anytime with 30 day notice. There is no cancellation fee.
Salient Features of Life Alert
Life Alert is another popular name. It is the second biggest company in the United States and a strong competitor of Philips Lifeline. It also comes with a standard base station and a help-button pendant. You can opt for carbon monoxide and fire/smoke detection as well. For seniors who are uncomfortable with modern smart phones, Life Alert offers a 911 phone. It is a simple device with a large button that allows you to call 911 from anywhere. You can also subscribe to Life Alert Cell Phone Alert system and use your regular mobile phone to contact the monitoring system.
Life Alert Cost
The standard Life Alert Medical Alert system costs $29.95 each month. You also pay a one-time installation fee of about $100. Addition of carbon monoxide, fire and smoke detection will bump up the monthly cost to $49.95. The 911 cell phone is expensive and will set you back by almost $150. The company charges a monthly fee of $19.95 for the Cell Phone Life Alert system along with a programming fee of $79. The standard service requires a three-year contract, while the Cell Phone Alert system comes with a two-year package.
Conclusion
Regular packages of Life Alert and Philips Lifeline are comparable to industry standards. However, additional features can get expensive with Phillips Lifeline costing less when factoring in the installation fee.
| System | Life Alert | Philips Lifeline |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | $100 | $59.95 |
| Monthly | $29.95 | $29.95 |
| Contract | Yes | No |
| Extra Features | More $ | More $ |
Both providers offer different upgrades which is a nice way to tailor the system to your needs. Many other system providers such as Bay Alarm Medical and Lifestation provide similar service without the long term contracts and installation fees. Choose your options carefully based on your personal requirements and enjoy great service at an affordable price whether it’s Philips Lifeline or another system.