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ADT Medical Alert Review
4.4 Overall Rating
Bottom Line
ADT Medical Alert is part of ADT Security Services, which has been in business for more than 140 years. The first product was a telegraph box designed to call for help at a time when police departments could not always be quickly summoned. Today, ADT Medical Alert and On-the-Go personal emergency response systems provide seniors with immediate access to help along with home and GPS location monitoring.
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About ADT Medical Alert Systems
ADT Medical Alert is part of ADT Security Services, which has been in business for more than 140 years. The first product was a telegraph box designed to call for help at a time when police departments could not always be quickly summoned. Today, ADT Medical Alert and On-the-Go personal emergency response systems provide seniors with immediate access to help, along with home and GPS location monitoring.
Trusted security industry magazine SDA estimates that overall, ADT has over 8 million subscribers to its various communications and security systems. Currently based in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT develops and sells monthly monitoring home security systems and mobile apps, and ADT Medical Alert personal emergency response systems for seniors. ADT is one of the best medical alert systems that helps seniors stay independent with hardware and a medical emergency response service.
Pros
- Top-ranked national security company
- Company-owned call centers are located within the U.S.
- Temperature monitoring available on some systems
Cons
- Only one cellular carrier network available for mobile systems
ADT Medical Alert Products
ADT’s three emergency response systems for seniors are the Medical Alert Basic system, Medical Alert Plus, and On-The-Go Emergency Response. We’ve described each below and included an at-a-glance feature and price chart.
All Medical Alert systems allow you to contact highly-trained U.S.-based emergency response operators with one touch of a help button. The monitoring center operator determines whether to contact one of your pre-designated caregivers or loved ones, or to call 911 first responders for help. If you press the button and can’t speak, ADT dispatches 911 immediately.
ADT Medical Alert Basic: $29.99 per month
If you are looking for a simple home medical alert system with two-way communication and an emergency button, ADT Medical Alert Basic is a reliable in-home system.
Features
- In-home operations
- Landline required
- Home temperature monitoring
The base unit for this model is a water-resistant wall mount button and unit that runs on your home’s landline, and the system includes a waterproof pendant or wristband designed to be worn at all times. If you need help, push the button on the wearable device or base station to contact ADT’s trained representatives. You can speak to the operator on the base unit but not through the wearable device, and the operator dispatches emergency services if you can’t talk or be heard.
The base unit that comes with ADT Medical Alert Basic detects a button pushed on the wearable device up to 300 feet, about the length of a football field. The wall density in your home and other factors may affect this range, so talk to ADT Medical Alert customer service about testing this system.
ADT Medical Alert Basic includes temperature monitoring. With this service, ADT notifies family members if the system detects an unsafe high or low temperature in the home from the base unit location.
ADT Medical Alert Plus: $35.99 per month
ADT’s Medical Alert Plus system works much like Medical Alert Basic, with emergency help from the base unit or wearable devices, but uses a cellular connection instead of a landline.
Features
- In-home operations
- Fall detection (optional)
- No landline required
- Home temperature monitoring
The price includes cellular service with a 600-foot range from the base to the included waterproof wristband or pendant. This range is equivalent to two football fields and likely covers you out in your yard. Your home must be located in the AT&T network area.
With ADT Medical Alert Plus, for ease of use, you have the option of using a fall-detecting pendant to detect falls and automatically notify ADT. While the feature works well, the technology is not yet 100 percent accurate, and ADT recommends pushing the emergency button to access emergency personnel in case of a fall.
ADT On-The-Go Emergency Response System: $39.99 per month
ADT’s mobile solution for active seniors who frequently are away from home is the On-The-Go Emergency Response System. Like ADT Medical Alert Plus, this system uses the AT&T cellular network for communication.
Features
- Mobile
- Fall detection (optional)
- No landline required
- GPS location capabilities
The On-The-Go system does not have a standard base unit, but comes with an on-the-go device that’s about the size of a beeper or pager, a pendant, and a charging cradle. The On-The-Go mobile device has an emergency button and two-way communication with a trained ADT operator. To use the emergency button on the pendant, it must always be within 100 feet of the mobile device. The temperature monitoring service is not available with the On-The-Go model, but it is waterproof. The On-The-Go system is the only system that includes incident-specific GPS tracking.
ADT Medical Alert Costs and Warranty
No long-term contracts are required with ADT; you can cancel at any time. ADT medical alert devices are designed to be easily installed and set up on your own, but you can get professional installation for an additional charge. All three ADT systems come with a lifetime warranty for damage, so if you drop or otherwise damage a component, it is replaced free of cost. However, there is no coverage for lost wearables or base units.
ADT charges an upfront, one-time activation fee, followed by a monthly cost per unit. Add-ons include things like an optional fall detection pendant, lockbox, and extra wearables. Promotions may apply to reduce the cost of the activation fee, and monthly fees are cheaper if you commit to an annual plan.
| Cost and Features | Medical Alert Basic | Medical Alert Plus | Cellular Service-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription Cost (month-to-month prices) | $31.99 | $39.99 | $41.99 |
| Waterproof Pendant or Wristband | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cellular Service-Based | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Landline Required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cellular Service Based | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Home Temperature Monitoring | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
ADT Medical Alert Systems Complaints
ADT Security, the parent company of ADT Medical Alert, currently holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with no complaints listed about the medical alert systems.
ADT Medical Alert receives high overall scores from customers, but with mixed reviews. ConsumerAffairs and ConsumerAdvocate each give a 4.5 out of 5 rating, with complaints revolving around activation issues. ADT responded and resolved problems.
ADT Medical Alert Systems FAQs
Yes, you can take your Medical Alert Basic or Plus system with you when you move, but you must update your new address with ADT so emergency services are sent to the right place. The On-The-Go system is fully portable, working anywhere in the U.S. with cellular coverage, and can be taken with you when you travel. In both a move or travel, it’s recommended that you notify ADT of your new location for accurate monitoring.
Fall detection is a last line of defense in case you become unconscious after falling. Automatic fall detection technology, like the fall detection pendant, is not yet entirely accurate, so if you fall and can push the emergency button, you need to do so.
In general, no, neither Medicaid nor Medicare covers ADT Medical Alert Systems. However, both Medicare and Medicaid rules vary, so check with your caseworker, state agency, and individual plan providers to determine if you get coverage.
Do note that while Medicare Part B does not pay for medical alert systems, some Medicare Advantage plans cover medical alert systems, so ask about coverage if you have this insurance.
No contract with AT&T is required. While the ADT Medical Alert Plus and On-The-Go Emergency Response System use AT&T cellular network for communication, your ADT service includes the cell service.
There are no contracts with ADT, so you can cancel at any time. If you have equipment, there is a 30-day time period to receive a full refund (excluding shipping).
The ADT Medical Alert Basic, Medical Alert Plus, and On-The-Go come with a 12- to 24-hour backup battery life in the base or charging cradle. If you lose power for longer, the base unit sends a signal to ADT to let an emergency response operator know that your system will soon be unable to communicate. The operator will then attempt to call you to check on you.
Conclusion
ADT Medical Alert offers options for personal safety systems that are easy to choose from, and the portable nature of all three systems is a plus. The lifetime warranty eliminates the concern of additional expenses if the system is damaged or stops working. ADT’s operators are highly trained to evaluate emergency situations, determining whether a 911 call or contacting a friend or relative is the best solution. Medical Alert and On-The-Go systems give seniors and their family members peace of mind while allowing for independent living.
For comparisons with other medical alert systems, read: