What type of medical alert system are you looking for?

Monthly monitoring costs $20–$50/month depending on features. Basic in-home systems start at $20–$30/month. GPS-enabled mobile systems run $30–$45/month. Fall detection adds $5–10/month. Many companies offer no-contract plans with free equipment on loan.

Original Medicare does not cover personal emergency response systems. Some Medicare Advantage plans include them as a supplemental benefit. Medicaid waiver programs in many states cover medical alert systems for qualifying low-income seniors. VA benefits may also provide coverage.

The best system depends on lifestyle. Homebodies need an in-home system with range to cover the house and yard. Active seniors need GPS-enabled mobile devices. Key features to prioritize: automatic fall detection, waterproof pendant, 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring, and cellular (not landline) connectivity.

Fall detection uses accelerometers and algorithms to detect sudden changes in body position and impact. When a fall is detected, the device automatically contacts the monitoring center — no button press needed. Accuracy has improved significantly, though no system detects 100% of falls or eliminates all false alerts.