Bay Alarm Medical Alert Review

Best for On-the-Road Monitoring

Bay Alarm Medical is part of the Bay Alarm Family of Companies, a security organization founded in 1946. Today, Bay Alarm is the largest independently owned security company in the United States. The company has maintained a commitment to philanthropy and helping its community. Bay Alarm Medical regularly supports organizations like Meals on Wheels, Purple Heart Homes, and The Pets for the Elderly Foundation.

Bay Alarm Medical offers four medical alert devices and with several service plan options for each device. One of its stand-out devices is the in-car On the Go system. On the Go plugs directly into drivers’ cars and has a personal help button to connect users to the emergency monitoring center. The device features automatic crash detection, which instantly triggers a call to the monitoring center in the event of an auto accident. Bay Alarm Medical is the only medical alert company to offer a device specifically for in-car use, enabling more freedom for older adults who wish to continue driving.

Who Bay Alarm Medical Is Best For

Active Seniors

Seniors who enjoy staying active and spending time out of the house have multiple options from Bay Alarm Medical. In addition to its standard On-the-Go GPS Help Button, which offers emergency protection nationwide, it has two unique offerings- the in-car device and a medical alert smartwatch. The in-car device plugs directly into one’s car, and is a great addition to an On-the-Go or smartwatch device for seniors who still drive. The SOS Smartwatch, Bay Alarm Medical’s newest offering, offers all of the protection of a traditional medical alert system in a sleek, discreet device.

Caregivers of Seniors with Memory Impairment

The Caregiver Tracking Portal allows caregivers and family members of Bay Alarm Medical users to track their loved one’s location on-demand. Bay Alarm Medical also offers geofencing. The unique feature allows caregivers to set specific boundaries for their loved one’s device. If the user leaves the predetermined area, the caregiver will receive a notification. Both of these features are especially useful for caregivers of seniors with memory impairment who may be prone to wandering.

Seniors Who Drive

No other medical alert company offers a device specifically for in-car use. Bay Alarm Medical’s On the Road device directly plugs into one’s car (via the cigarette lighter), so there is no need to ever remove it from the vehicle. On the Road comes equipped with GPS location tracking to locate the vehicle at any time, and automatically detects crashes to alert the emergency monitoring center and dispatch emergency services to the vehicle. The device works in any vehicle.

Plans and Starting Costs

All Bay Alarm Medical devices are paid for on a month-to-month basis. The least expensive system, the In the Home, costs $19.95 a month. The most expensive device is the in-car device which costs $29.95 a month when purchased on its own. The in-car system can be bundled with another Bay Alarm Medical device for just $20 a month.

Bay Alarm Medical does not require customers to sign a long-term services contract. Customers who return their system within the first 30 days of service receive a full refund. Outside of the 30 day trial period, customers may still cancel their service at any time without paying a penalty.

Starting Costs

Bay Alarm Medical customers who choose to pay for their device monthly must pay $9.95 for shipping. The shipping fee is waived for those who choose the semi-annual payment option. Additionally, On the Go users must pay a one-time purchase fee of approximately $79-$99, depending on the service package, and the SOS Smartwatch has a purchase fee of $179.

Device Prices and Features

In-Home

Device Features

Bay Alarm Medical offers two in-home systems, one which requires a landline connection and one which uses 4G LTE to connect with the emergency monitoring center. Other than the connection type, the two systems are identical. The in-home base station has a range of 1,000 feet and a 32-hour backup battery, and the included wearable help button is waterproof and showerproof. The help button may either be worn as a pendant or around the wrist. Users who choose the pendant option may upgrade to a designer pendant with varying colors and artwork. The designer pendants cost an additional one-time fee of $27.95.

Pricing

The in-home system costs $19.95 when used with a landline. The cellular option is a bit more expensive, at $29.95 a month. Fall detection is available with both system types for an additional fee of $10 a month.

Pricing
The in-home landline system costs $19.95 a month with both the monthly and semi-annual payment options. The cellular option is a bit more expensive, at $29.95 a month with both payment plans. Fall detection is available with both system types for an additional fee of $10 a month.

On the Go

Device Features

On the Go

On the Go is a portable device designed for active seniors who regularly spend time outside of the home. It comes equipped with a 4G LTE connection, so it works anywhere in the United States with cellular service. On the Go is an all-in-one device with a built-in two-way speaker and a personal help button, so users only need to carry one device. On the Go is water resistant, showerproof, and has a battery life of up to 3 days. The device is available in two colors- black and white.

Pricing

On the Go costs $24.95 per month, and is paid on a month-to-month basis. Unlike other devices, which users lease and ultimately must return to the company, On the Go customers purchase their devices for a one-time fee of $99, and then may keep it forever. A second mobile device may be added to the same monitoring subscription for $20 a month. Additionally, users may bundle On the Go with the In-Home device for a total cost of $39.95 a month for both devices. Automatic fall detection may be added to one’s service plan for an additional $10 a month.

On the Road

Device Features

On the Road is the only medical alert device specifically designed for in-car use. It plugs directly into the car’s cigarette lighter, so there is no need to charge the device or ever remove it from the car. In an emergency, users may press the built-in personal help button to connect with the emergency monitoring center. The device also includes automatic crash detection, which instantly triggers a call to the monitoring center in the event of an auto accident. On the Road has GPS location tracking to make it easy to locate users in an emergency, and to provide caregivers and family members of users with peace of mind about their loved one’s location while driving.

Pricing

On its own, On the Road costs $29.95 a month. It may also be purchased as an add-on to another Bay Alarm Medical system. In these cases, the device costs just $20 a month.

SOS Smartwatch

Device Features

Bay Alarm Medical’s newest device, the SOS Smartwatch, is a “modern day alternative to traditional medical alert systems.” The sleek device looks like any other high-tech smartwatch, with a low profile and crystal-clear touch screen. The device offers the same emergency protection as Bay Alarm Medical’s traditional medical alert systems in a more aesthetically-pleasing package. The device can be especially good for seniors who are used to wearing a watch or have been resistant to wearing a traditional medical alert system in the past.

Pricing

Customers can purchase a Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch for a one-time fee of $179, plus $24.95 per month for monitoring services. There is no leasing option for the SOS Smartwatch, so customers must pay the initial equipment fee. But, the device is then theirs to keep forever. The SOS Smartwatch can be bundled with Bay Alarm Medical’s in-home system for a total of $39.95 a month, and a reduced watch purchase fee of $149.

*Automatic crash detection is included

Optional Devices

Bay Alarm Medical users have the option of adding several extra devices to their service plan, including:

• Wall Buttons: Wall-mounted buttons may be placed anywhere in a user’s home where they would like extra protection, such as the bathroom. The wall buttons function as additional personal help buttons and will connect callers with the monitoring center when pressed. Wall-mounted buttons cost an additional $2.95 a month per button, or $10 a month for a 4-pack. Those who choose Preferred or Premium service packages receive two or four free wall buttons, respectively, with the monthly cost of their plan.
• Lockboxes: Lockboxes provide an easy way for emergency services to enter users’ home if the user is unable to answer the door during an emergency. They cost an additional $1.95 a month.
• Designer Pendants: Customers of lanyard-button devices have the option of upgrading to a pendant featuring colors, art, and designs. There are four options of “beautified” pendants, which cost an additional one-time fee of $27.95 at the time of device purchase.
• Preferred and Premium Packages: In addition to the basic service package, the In-Home and On the Go devices are available with Preferred and Premium packages. The bundle packages include wall-mounted help buttons (two with Prefered, four with Premium), and the Premium package includes free ground shipping.

Monitoring

Bay Alarm Medical devices are monitored by a U.S.-based, UL-listed and CSAA-certified monitoring agency. The agency has call centers in Utah and Idaho, both of which are UL-listed and CSAA certified. The call center’s response times are some of the fastest in the industry, ensuring quick help in the event of an emergency.