Best Medical Alert Bracelets of 2024: Our Experts Put Them to the Test

Calling for help is as simple as pushing a button when you have a medical alert system—and most at-home and mobile medical alert systems include a medical alert bracelet as an additional safety accessory.

Also known as life alert bracelets, medical alert bracelets are wirelessly connected to your medical alert system. Even if you’re hundreds or more than a thousand feet from the system, all you have to do is press the bracelet button to contact the 24/7 monitoring center.

If you’re an older adult aging at home, have a chronic disease, are at risk for falling, or experience reduced mobility, these devices were designed for you. Research shows [1]Stokke, R. The Personal Emergency Response System as a Technology Innovation in Primary Health Care Services: An Integrative Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research. July 14, 2016. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4965612/ that using a medical alert system and knowing help is only a button away can help provide a sense of security and independence.

Our Reviews Team researched and tested a variety of the best medical alert bracelets to help you find the best medical alert bracelet for you or your loved one. See our top medical alert bracelets and why we picked them.

Our Reviews Team spent more than 2,500 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. During our process, we:

Read more about our medical alert review methodology.

Medical Guardian has four packages that include a medical alert bracelet: two at-home systems and two mobile. The landline based MGClassic offers 1,300 feet of coverage, while the MGHome Cellular offers 1,400 feet. Our Reviews Team named Medical Guardian “Best At-Home Range” because of the generous coverage for both systems (most landline medical alert systems only offer a few hundred feet).

Our Reviews Team recommends Medical Guardian’s at-home systems if you’re interested in the convenience of a medical alert bracelet and spend most of your time at home or in your yard.

The three Medical Guardian mobile systems connect to the monitoring center from anywhere with cellular service. The MGMini Lite and MGMove smartwatch are both designed to be worn on the wrist. The MGMini can be worn as a necklace or clipped to a pocket or handbag, but if you want to wear a bracelet-style medical alert with this system, you’ll need to purchase an additional help button for $2.99 per month. The MGMini serves as an on-the-go base station for the paired help button, allowing you to wear the more discreet bracelet button while keeping the larger MGMini out of sight.

Fall detection is an option with all of the above packages for an additional $10 per month, but it isn’t built into the basic help button bracelet. You can order a fall detection necklace that will automatically contact the monitoring center if it senses a fall. Fall detection necklaces can be paired with the MGClassic, MGHome Cellular, or MGMini.

Medical Guardian offers medical alert bracelets with the following packages:

Phone: 800-313-1191

Website: Online contact form

Email: [email protected]

Our Reviews Team found that ordering directly from the Medical Guardian site was an easy, intuitive process, and the customer service representatives were knowledgeable and helpful. Read more in our Medical Guardian Review.

MobileHelp has three packages that bundle two medical alert systems under one monthly monitoring fee. Depending on which package you choose, you’ll receive either an at-home system and a mobile system, or two mobile systems.

Our Reviews Team loved the flexibility of bundle packages for two people in the same home. If you’re out running errands but your partner is at home, you’ll both stay connected to the monitoring center through separate systems. This is why MobileHelp earned the title of “Best for Partners or Roommates” from our Reviews Team.

MobileHelp offers a standard landline and cellular at-home system. The medical alert bracelet connects up to 600 feet from the Wired Home landline system, while the MobileHelp Classic cellular system offers a 1,400-foot connection range from the bracelet to the base station. The at-home base stations have a two-way speaker to communicate with monitoring center staff.

MobileHelp offers medical alert bracelets with the following packages:

In-home:

Mobile:

Bundle packages:

Phone: 800-809-9664

Website: Online chat

Keep in mind that all MobileHelp subscriptions include a medical alert bracelet, but you have to select the wristband option under System Buttons on the checkout page to receive it with your package. We spoke with a customer service representative and confirmed that the technical support team monitors the bracelet’s battery life and sends a free replacement when the battery is low. Learn more in our dedicated MobileHelp Review.

You have multiple options when shopping Bay Alarm Medical packages, starting with the basic SOS Home Landline system ($24.95 per month), but we want to highlight the SOS All-in-One mobile device ($39.95 per month plus a one-time equipment fee of $119) since it includes a medical alert bracelet. The SOS All-in-One is a compact (weighs as much as two AA batteries), water-resistant mobile system that connects to the monitoring center anywhere with cellular service. You can add fall detection to the SOS All-in-One for $49.95 per month (plus a one-time equipment fee of $30 for the fall detection button necklace and $119 for the mobile device). If you add fall detection to your All-in-One package, the sensors are built into both the mobile device and the button necklace.

The All-in-One’s optional fall detection, two-way speaker, durable design, and GPS location tracking are why we chose Bay Alarm Medical as the “Best Mobile Option” to pair with a medical alert bracelet.

Although the monitoring center tracks your medical alert bracelet’s battery life, we don’t like that Bay Alarm Medical doesn’t automatically send you a new bracelet when the battery is low. Instead, monitoring center staff will notify you to call the company to order a new bracelet. Unless you add a protection plan to your package, you’ll have to pay a $30 equipment fee and $12 shipping to receive a new bracelet.

You can add extra medical alert bracelets to any package for $39 each. Bay Alarm Medical offers bracelets with the following packages:

At-home systems:

Mobile systems:

Bundle:

Phone: 877-522-9633

Email: [email protected] (for existing customers)

Website: Online chat

Our Reviews Team found the online ordering process to be simple and smooth, and a customer support representative was always able to answer our questions or direct us to a technical support representative. The online support chat is also excellent. We left a message asking about the connection range between the SOS All-in-One and medical alert bracelet, and in less than an hour we received an email confirming the 600-foot range. Read more in our Bay Alarm Medical Review.

Alert1 offers standard medical alert bracelets in white, as well as solid gray, blue, or purple bracelet bands to show off your favorite color and keep you connected to the monitoring center in style. Designed to fit Alert1’s standard help buttons, these vibrant medical alert bracelets earned Alert1 the title “Best Style Options” from our Reviews Team. The colorful bracelets are one size fits all, waterproof, and available for $9.95 each.

Monitoring center staff will check the medical alert bracelet battery level during monthly test calls and will automatically send you a new medical alert bracelet for free when the battery is low.

Additional bracelets are $19.95 each. Alert1 offers bracelets with the following packages:

Landline and cellular at-home systems from Alert1 include a medical alert bracelet that connects up to 600 feet from the base station. The mobile system doesn’t pair with a bracelet, so we recommend Alert1 medical alert bracelets if you spend most of your time in or around your home and want a standard, at-home system. If you want to add fall detection, a necklace is available for an extra $10 per month.

In addition to stylish, colorful medical alert bracelets, Alert1 offers a variety of safety accessories—most of which are available for a one-time fee and can be added to any package. Accessories include:

You can also save money on your monthly payment by choosing an annual subscription. Although you’re paying upfront for a year of service, your monthly monitoring fees are almost $10 less each month than if you choose a monthly subscription, saving you almost $120 per year.

Phone: 877-659-3528

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Saturday

Email: [email protected]

Alert1 doesn’t have an online chat or messaging service—instead, you’ll need to call to speak with customer service. The representative we spoke with was friendly, answered all our questions, and wasn’t pushy about making a sale. Read more in our full Alert1 Medical Alert Review.

A medical alert, or life alert, bracelet is a silicone wristband with a button connected to your at-home or mobile medical alert system. The center button is often called a help button. You can usually switch your help button from an adjustable bracelet to a necklace, if the necklace is included with your system.

While most medical alert bracelets have the same design and function, there are some distinguishing features to keep in mind when shopping around, including:

Medical alert bracelets and medical ID bracelets are not the same thing, although they are often used interchangeably.

Medical ID bracelets display important medical information needed during an emergency, such as the wearer’s blood type, allergies, chronic conditions, and current medications. Unlike medical alert bracelets, medical ID bracelets are not connected to a 24/7 monitoring center and can’t be used to call for help.

John Landry, BS, RRT, a registered respiratory therapist with HCA Healthcare in Memphis, Tennessee, added, “Medical ID bracelets can also be useful for people who take multiple medications or have complex medical histories, as they can provide a quick and easy way for health care providers to access this information.”

Medical ID jewelry is also becoming more common for those with Alzheimer’s disease, according to Christopher Norman, a geriatric nurse practitioner based in New York state. “ID jewelry is being increasingly used for people with this disease that might be prone to wander or get lost in familiar places,” he said.

Medical ID bracelets can be paired with a medical alert bracelet, especially if you or your loved one have any chronic conditions or health concerns. By shopping for a medical alert bracelet, you’re already taking a proactive step for you or your loved one’s safety.

Alert1 offers medical ID bracelets as an add-on accessory with your medical alert system for $34.95 each.

When you push the bracelet button, your medical alert system contacts the monitoring center. You’ll speak to monitoring center staff through the base station or mobile system speaker since medical alert bracelets don’t have built-in speakers. The staff member will dispatch emergency services and contact your loved ones if you confirm it’s an emergency or you’re unresponsive.

Your medical alert bracelet must be within range of the main system to connect to the monitoring center. We recommend testing your bracelet at the maximum distance from the system when you first receive your package.

For example, the Medical Guardian MGHome Cellular has an advertised range of 1,400 feet from the base station, but what does that distance look like in and around your home?

Caregiver tips for testing the bracelet range: You can test the bracelet’s range using an online conversion tool that converts feet to steps (MGHome Cellular’s 1,400-foot range converts to approximately 560 steps). Count out the steps with your loved one while they’re wearing their medical alert bracelet. While you return to the base station, they should stay put and press the bracelet button to test if the base station connects to the monitoring center. If it does, let monitoring center staff know you’re testing the system. If it doesn’t, tell your loved one and have them move a few feet closer to the base station. Continue testing the medical alert bracelet until it contacts the monitoring center.

Medical alert bracelets don’t need to be charged—they have built-in batteries lasting about three to five years, depending on how often you use them.

Medical alert bracelets are usually waterproof or water-resistant. A waterproof medical alert bracelet can be completely submerged in water without getting damaged. A water-resistant bracelet can get wet, but it can’t be submerged for a long time.

Most medical alert brands list their medical alert bracelets as waterproof or water resistant on their site’s product pages. You can also contact customer service to check if a bracelet is waterproof or water resistant.

Medical alert bracelets usually have starting costs of $20–$30 per month. The cost of your medical alert bracelet is bundled into your monthly monitoring fee unless you’re purchasing additional bracelets. Your monthly monitoring fee varies by the system, features, and any additional costs.

Standard in-home medical alert systems cost about $20–$30 per month. More advanced systems like mobile systems, smartwatches, or systems with smart technology may cost $40 to more than $50 per month.

Some medical alert brands charge a one-time equipment or activation fee on top of the monthly monitoring fee. When you pay an equipment fee, you’re purchasing the product. You won’t have to return your medical alert equipment even if you cancel your monitoring service.

MobileHelp and Alert1 are the only brands in our review that don’t charge equipment fees, meaning you’re renting the equipment instead of purchasing it. If you cancel your subscription, you’ll be asked to return the equipment according to the company’s return policy instructions.

An activation fee is a one-time charge to “activate” the medical alert system. Alert1 is the only brand featured here that charges an activation fee ($19.95) for all monthly subscription packages.

Fall detection, GPS tracking, medication reminders, and other add-on features are usually an additional charge each month. Medical Guardian, Bay Alarm Medical, and Alert1 charge $10 per month for fall detection, while MobileHelp charges $11 per month.

Optional accessories like extra medical alert bracelets, wall buttons, and lockboxes will either be an additional one-time fee or a monthly charge, depending on the brand.

Fees for medical alert systems can quickly add up. Fortunately, many medical alert companies run discounts on equipment, features, and other costs throughout the year, which can help you save money on your medical alert bracelet.

Some brands offer a lower monthly monitoring price and waive certain fees if you choose an annual, semiannual (pay twice a year), or quarterly (pay four times a year) subscription.

As of writing, all brands covered offer a subscription discount:

Traditional Medicare, also known as Medicare Part A and B, does not cover medical alert bracelets. Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C) may cover some or all medical alert equipment costs, but your coverage depends on your plan. Contact your insurance provider to confirm coverage.

Learn more about your Medicare coverage options and how to maximize your benefits with the comprehensive Medicare Guide on NCOA’s Age Well Planner.

Medical alert bracelets connect users to emergency services at any time of the day or night with the push of a button. This service was designed for older adults aging in place, as well as individuals with chronic conditions or physical or visual limitations.

Keep in mind the medical alert bracelets in this guide don’t have fall detection sensors, a crucial safety feature for many medical alert users. (The Medical Guardian wrist-based MGMini Lite and MGMove are exceptions; both have optional built-in fall detection.)

You can still press your bracelet button to connect to the monitoring center after a fall, but a fall detection necklace provides more safeguards if you’re unconscious or unable to reach your bracelet. If your fall detection necklace senses a fall, it will automatically trigger a call to the monitoring center.

“Necklace/pendent devices may be more accurate [than bracelets] because they sit closer to a person’s center of gravity and are at a greater distance from the floor than a wrist device would be,” said Jessica L. Israel, MD, a geriatrics and palliative care physician and chief medical officer at Complete Care Management in New Jersey.

Research shows that fall detection is not 100% accurate. This 2020 research survey [2]Ramachandran, Karuppiah. A Survey on Recent Advances in Wearable Fall Detection Systems. Found on the internet at https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2020/2167160/ found an average accuracy rate of 93% for fall detection devices, but numbers vary. This 2017 study [3]Aziz, et al. Validation of accuracy of SVM-based fall detection system using real-world fall and non-fall datasets. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5498034/ found an average accuracy rate of 80%, and a 2018 review of 22 different studies [4]Broadley, et al. Methods for the Real-World Evaluation of Fall Detection Technology: A Scoping Review. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6068511/ found that in order to arrive at a standard accuracy rate of fall detection systems, more real-world research is needed. Generally, researchers agree it’s not 100% accurate, but very close.

Assess your risk for falls with NCOA’s Falls Free CheckUp and learn how to create a safer home environment with fall prevention tips from NCOA.

Medical alert bracelets are a comfortable, discreet way to stay connected to a 24/7 monitoring center inside and outside your home. After researching and testing the models, our Reviews Team recommends Medical Guardian, which has a fast response time and an impressive 1,300- to 1,400-foot connection range between the base station and medical alert bracelet.

MobileHelp is a great option if you want to protect two people in the same home. The company has multiple medical alert system bundles to cover you and a loved one. You’ll receive two medical alert systems, but remember to purchase an additional wristband so both you and your partner have a medical alert bracelet to connect to each device.

Bay Alarm Medical SOS All-in-One mobile system paired with a medical alert bracelet is excellent for on-the-go protection if you travel independently and enjoy spending time outside your home. Finally, Alert1 is our pick if you’re looking for simple protection at home.

While the Unaliwear Kanega Watch isn’t a standard medical alert bracelet, our Reviews Team wanted to mention it here since it’s one of the only wristband-style medical alert smartwatches with built-in fall detection. The Kanega Watch is slightly bulkier than a medical alert bracelet because of its large watch face and rechargeable batteries.

Medical Guardian, MobileHelp, Bay Alarm Medical, and Alert1 are our top picks in this guide because of their bracelet connection range, battery life, device options, and overall brand reputation. But ultimately, the best medical alert bracelet depends on your lifestyle, budget, and other personal considerations.

Medical alert bracelets (also called life alert bracelets) pair with an at-home or mobile medical alert system and connect to a 24/7 monitoring center. When you press the bracelet button, monitoring center staff will answer the call through your base station and dispatch emergency services to your location if you confirm it’s an emergency or you’re unresponsive.

Medical alert bracelets are not standalone accessories, so the price will depend on the medical alert subscription you choose. Medical alert system monitoring fees range from $20 to more than $50 per month. You can also purchase additional medical alert bracelets for about $3 each per month.

You won’t be able to get a free medical alert bracelet through most insurance providers, but there are local and national programs that may be able to help cover your medical alert bracelet and system costs. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a long-term care program that covers medical alert systems and medical alert bracelet costs. You must live in a PACE service area and qualify for long-term care to be eligible.

Traditional Medicare (Medicare Part A and B) does not cover medical alert bracelets and medical alert systems. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C) may cover partial costs, but coverage will differ in each plan. Call your plan provider to check your coverage. Learn how to get the most out of your Medicare benefits with the Medicare Guide on NCOA’s Age Well Planner.

Medical alert bracelets are a good choice for anyone with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s disease. Those with physical or visual limitations may also consider wearing a medical alert bracelet. Speak with your health care provider if you or your loved one are hesitant about purchasing a medical alert bracelet.

Yes, medical alert bracelets are the same as life alert bracelets. Our guide uses both terms interchangeably. To learn about the brand name, check out our Life Alert review.

Yes. All of the brands on our list offer fall detection as an add-on option, ranging in price from $10-$11 per month.

Most insurance plans don’t cover the cost of medical alert systems, including bracelets. In some cases, private insurance or Medicare Advantage may offer some coverage. Contact your insurance provider to see whether your medical alert bracelet is covered.

Have questions about this review? Email us at [email protected]