Bay Alarm Medical Review


Written By:

Updated: August 2, 2024

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Bay Alarm Medical Mobile GPS Help Button

Bay Alarm Medical Review Summary

Bay Alarm Medical offers a comprehensive medical monitoring system package with a friendly sales approach. Their website is easy to navigate and informative. They even have on-line chat available.

Bay Alarm Medical Pros

30-Day risk-free trial, affordable pricing structure with price lock guarantee, weekly tests to monitoring center, senior discounts available, friendly sales approach and easy to navigate website with lots of information, GPS alert system option, automatic fall detection, accepts all major credit cards, TMA monitoring centers and free monitoring for your spouse in the same household. They also have "Bella Charms" to make your pendant more stylish to wear.

Bay Alarm Medical Cons

They charge for shipping where most companies don't, no advance payment discounts, no 24-hour technical support (however the monitoring call center is open 24-7 with basic support), and no activity monitoring, carbon monoxide or smoke detection options.

Rating

Who is Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical was created in 2007 as a subsidiary of Bay Alarm, which has been in business for over 71 years. They are headquartered in Concord, California and Bay Alarm Medical requires all their customer care agents to go through extensive background checks in order to service their clients. Currently, they employee roughly 25 people in- house. Customer security is a big factor for Bay Alarm Medical. They ensure all your data is encrypted and your personal information is password protected.

Bay Alarm Medical loves to give back to their community and they fundraise for a number of senior related charities and organizations including The Pets for Elderly Foundation, Meals on Wheels and American Cancer Society.

Bay Alarm Medical Systems & Options

There are multiple medical alert system packages that Bay Alarm Medical alert currently offers:

SOS Home Medical Alert: In-home traditional medical alert system that you can use with a home landline or has a cellular no-phone line option which is called their In-Home Preferred option. Simply push the medical alert button and a live agent will answer and assess your situation. The base unit has an ultra sensitive microphone and loud speaker to allow for clear communication. The system is also so easy to set-up you can bring it with you on a long-term vacation but would require you to contact Bay Alarm Medical's monitoring center to update your location and again upon your return. You can add automatic fall detection if needed. 

Here are the 3 packages under SOS Home:
1. In-Home Basic: Needs an in-home landline to connect
2. In-Home Preferred: Easy installation, do not need a landline to connect.
3. In-Home Premium: Cellular option with a wall button package included.

SOS Mobile: This is a lightweight clip-on mobile button with GPS location services that goes wherever you go. You simply press the button when you need help and speak to Bay Alarm operators through the two-way communication feature in the device.  It is water-resistant and you can add the automatic fall detection feature if you would like. The mobile device is powered by the 4G LTE cellular network. 

There are 3 SOS Mobile packages to choose from:
1. Mobile LTE: includes the SOS Mobile system only.
2. Mobile Plus: SOS Mobile system plus automatic fall detection.
3. Mobile 360 Bundle: Includes all of the above plus in-home protection.

SOS Smartwatch: Great alternative to traditional medical alerts. This new smartwatch offering uses 4G LTE cellular service, can pinpoint your location and utilizes 24/7 monitoring. Push the button when you need help and Bay Alarm’s medical response team will speak to you through the two-way speaker. No smartphone is required. 

Choose between just the SOS Smartwatch or the In-Home Plus SmartWatch bundle to include an at-home monitoring system.

SOS All-in-One: Get emergency assistance when you are home and while you are away with this new product offering. The device weighs under 2 ounces and it comes with a two-way speaker and belt pouch. You can also wear it around your neck. It has GPS tracking capabilities and optional automatic fall detection. The device is powered by 4G LTE. Choose from an SOS All-in-One or an SOS All-in-One with Auto Fall packages.

Now Offering Free with Subscription! Bay Alarm Medical App: The new Bay Alarm Medical App is available at no cost to Bay Alarm subscribers. The app is perfect for caregivers who would like to track their loved ones for additional peace of mind. You can also update account information, make payments and keep track of orders. 

 

Bay Alarm Medical Costs & Fees

Cost For Equipment

Cost Per Month

Monitoring Agreement Term

Repairs or Replacement Charges

Ordering & Shipping

Free for the SOS Home Medical Alert. If you add automatic fall detection, there is a $30 device fee. 

Starting at $24.95 per month

30-day risk-free trial. Cancel anytime with refunds for unused months. You pay shipping costs to return equipment.

None, replacements shipped unless damaged by user. There is a $200 replacement fee unless you choose the warranty plan option for $2.95 to $4.95 per month, depending on the system you choose. To replace a lost button, the cost is $34.95 plus $9.95 shipping.

Orders received before 3:30 PM Pacific Standard Time ship same day. Standard shipping can take 5-9 business days.

Based on our medical alert reviews, like our Life Alert review, Bay Alarm Medical offers a reasonable price point for their in-home medical alert monitoring service. With no-long term contracts and starting at $.95, Bay Alarm Medical is easy to try. Medical Guardian prices, for example, are slightly higher per month. Also, Bay Alarm offers a Price-Lock Guarantee so you can be sure that your monthly costs will never rise. Free spouse medical alert monitoring is an excellent offering and will save you money if you have more than one loved one in the home that needs medical alert monitoring services. Standard shipping is $9.95 and express shipping is available for $39.95. You can receive free standard shipping if you pay semi-annually or if you bundle your services.

SOS Home Medical Alert

The SOS Home medical alert system requires landline telephone service or can work with an optional cellular connection. It is available in three different system packages: In-Home Basic, In-Home Preferred, and In-Home Premium. One of the differences between these packages are the number of wall mounted buttons that are included in each. The larger your home, the more you may want. The Basic and Preferred packages do not include any buttons and the Premium package includes 4 buttons. The main difference with the Preferred package is the use of LTE cellular if you do not have a traditional phone line.

You can also add an AT&T 4G-LTE no phone line cellular and fall detection option too. To use the no phone line option, you'll need AT&T 4G-LTE cell coverage in your area (you do not need to be a current AT&T customer). Bay Alarm will assist you to see if the signal is strong enough in your area to utilize this service.

SOS Home Basic

SOS Home Preferred

SOS Home Premium

Free Equipment

Free Equipment

Free Equipment

$24.95 Per Month

$29.95 Per Month

$39.95 Per Month

No Wall Buttons

No Wall Buttons

4 Wall Buttons

Cellular Option: $10.00 Per Month

Cellular Option - Included

Cellular Option - Included

Fall Detection Option: $10.00 Per Month + $30 device fee

Fall Detection Option: $10.00 Per Month

Fall Detection Option: $10.00 Per Month

Ground Shipping: $9.99

Ground Shipping: $9.99

Free Ground Shipping

SOS Samrtwatch

GPS enabled smartwatch that's perfect for tech-savvy seniors who have an active lifestyle. The watch includes an SOS button which will connect to Bay Alarm Medical call center professionals and allow you to talk right through the watch. The watch does not require a smart phone to be connected either as it works all on its own. Fall detection is not included due to the potential of false alarms since the device being worn on the wrist rather than around the neck.

SOS SmartWatch Standard

SOS In-Home + SmartWatch

Equipment: $159.00

Equipment: $159.00

$34.95 Per Month $44.95 with Fall detection

$54.95 Per Month

Ground Shipping: $9.99

Free Ground Shipping

SOS All-In-One

The SOS All-In-One is perfect for use inside and outside of the home. It is waterproof and can be worn in the shower or bath. You can purchase the button with or without automatic fall detection.

SOS All-In-One Standard

Equipment: $169.00 without fall detection

$39.95 Per Month

Equipment With Fall Detection: $199.00

Cost With Fall Detection: $49.95 Per Month

Ground Shipping: $9.99

"Bundle & Save" 360 Protection

Bay Alarm Medical offers more discounts when you bundle the In-Home Medical Alert system with the SOS Smartwatch or the In-Home with the SOS Mobile option. 

In-Home + SOS Mobile

In-Home + SmartWatch

Equipment Cost: $99.00

Equipment Cost: $159.00

$49.95 Per Month

$59.95 Per Month

In-Home Medical Alert: Yes

In-Home Medical Alert: Yes

4G LTE GPS Help Button: Yes

4G LTE GPS Help Button: No

Cellular Option: $10.00 Per Month

Cellular Option: $10.00 Per Month

Fall Detection Option: $10.00 Per Month

In-Home Fall Detection Option: $10.00 Per Month

Ground Shipping: $9.99

Ground Shipping: $9.99

Cancellation Policy & Discounts

Cancel at Any Time

Senior Discount

Advance Payment Discounts

Other Discounts

Yes, but you must send the equipment back at your expense.

Yes - AARP and American Seniors Association discount, $1.00 off per month (only one discount can be applied)

None, but you can get free shipping if you pay semi-annually.

AAA, AMAC, and USAA discount, $1.00 off per month (only one discount can be applied)

Equipment Features

Approximate Button Range in Typical Home

Watch Pendant Button Battery Life

What Happens if I Lose Power

Watch Pendant Waterproof

How Can The Button Be Worn

UL Certified Equipment

Technical & Customer Support

1000 Ft. Radius, up to 800 ft away if outdoors. This will be affected by the location of the base station in your home.

About 5 years. Low battery notification. The automatic fall detection pendant battery lasts about 12-24 months.

Approximately 32 hours of backup battery

Yes

Choose Neck or Wrist when ordering

Yes

Customer support is available M-F 6:00AM-6:00PM and Sat/Sun 8:00AM-4:30PM PST

Monitoring Center

TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center

Typical Response Once is Button Pressed

Automatic Test Signals Sent

Yes

Approximately 45 seconds

Weekly

Fall Detection, GPS, & Cellular Options

Activity or Inactivity Monitoring

Senior Fall Detection

Cellular or No Phone Line

Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Protection

GPS Medical Alert Tracking System

Separate Systems Needed For Mom & Dad

No

Yes

Yes

No, Bay Alarm does not offer this service anymore.

Yes, with their SOS Mobile option

No, simply add a second button for $2.00 per month or $15.00 per month for an additional fall detection button.

What We Like About Bay Alarm Medical

Low Monthly Rate - Great pricing with medical alert system costs starting at $24.95 per month

30-Day Risk-Free Trial Period - 
Give Bay Alarm Medical's services a try and return the system, with no questions asked, within the first 30-days for a full refund if you are not completely satisfied with their services. You will have to return the equipment and pay for return shipping.

Automatic Weekly Tests -
 System's console will automatically test weekly to the monitoring station. Many companies offer a monthly test.

Monitoring Center - Their website states that their monitoring partner operates TMA Five Diamond Certified monitoring centers. This important distinction means that their monitoring center is tested against a set of standards to be sure they are providing high quality medical alert monitoring services.

Flexible Monitoring Agreement - You can cancel at any time however any money you prepay is not refunded past initial 30-day trial period.

Multi-Lingual Help - If you need to communicate in a language other than English - they have multi-lingual representatives available.

Cellular Network Option - We like the option of a cellular system since many families have done away with their traditional telephone service. Simply add $10.00 a month for this service. Please note, you will have to have AT&T cellular coverage available in your area.

GPS Alert Option - Just push the button and an operator will talk with you through the speaker and check your location. Optional equipment warranty should be considered with this option as the unit may not be as durable as a standard medical alert device.

Automatic Fall Detection Option - Since diabetics can have the tendency to faint, fall detectors can be helpful because the user would be unable to press their medical emergency button. Bay Alarm Medical offers automatic fall detection as an add on feature to all their monthly monitoring services.

Stylish Pendants "Bella Charms" - Dress-up your medical alert pendant and give it your own personal style. With four options to choose from, it's a great way to disguise your medical alert.

Bay Alarm Medical Bella Charms

What We Dislike About Bay Alarm Medical

No Advance Payment Discounts - We feel that advance payment discounts should be offered when you pay for services up front.

Free Shipping Not Offered on All Packages - Most medical alert companies offer free shipping but Bay Alarm Medical will only waive the shipping fee if you pay semi-annually or if you bundle services.

No Activity Monitoring - Activity monitoring typically requires the user to check in with the system by pressing a button once every 24 hours. This is very beneficial as it allows you to know that your loved one is active and about each day.

No Pill Reminder Option - Having the system remind you of when to take medication is a nice feature, although not required by all. Many of these services have the main unit console provide some sort of beep reminder on regular interval to remind you of when to take your medication. The downside to this option is that it will not tell you what or how much medication to take.

No Carbon Monoxide or Smoke Detection - Bay Alarm Medical used to offer these services but no longer does. Although most medical alert companies are not offering this, it is still important to have these features in your home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I cancel my Bay Alarm Medical service?
If you need to cancel for any reason, give Bay Alarm Medical services a call at 1-877-522-9633. You will receive detailed instructions on how to return the equipment. Bay Alarm suggests to get a tracking number on your shipment so you can ensure it is returned to them in a timely manner. Your account will be cancelled once the equipment is returned, found in working order and processed.

How much does Bay Alarm Medical Cost?
The In-Home Medical Alert system starts at $24.95 per month. Please see our Monthly Costs & Fees section for a full breakdown of Bay Alarm Medical’s pricing.

Do you need a dedicated landline?
No, the unit will work with your existing phone line. If you do not have a traditional landline, you can use Bay Alarm Medical’s In-Home Cellular and GPS options. They run off AT&T's 4G LTE network in your area. You do not need to have ATT&T cellular services for the system to work.

What happens if I move?
You can take your Bay Alarm Medical System with you anywhere in the U.S. If you utilize their Mobile GPS or the In-Home Cellular device, you must check if AT&T is available in the area you're moving to. Be sure to give them a call so they can update your emergency information.

What Others Are Saying About Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical has a 4.7 star Google Rating at the time of this review. The majority of their Google reviews are positive. Most of reviews talk about Bay Alarm Medical's excellent customer service and that if they were experiencing an issue, they rectified it right away. Users also seem to be very happy with the service itself and the peace of mind of letting their senior loved one's age in place longer.

One Facebook user complained about false automatic fall detection alarms however, that is common with that particular technology. It seems as though Bay Alarm responds quickly to any negative feedback on their social media channels.

Bay Alarm is BBB accredited and has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating at the time of this review, with an average of 19 complaints on file.

Bottom Line - Do We Suggest Bay Alarm Medical?

Bay Alarm Medical has a well-rounded, easy to install, competitively priced service package with a friendly sales approach. We also really like their web site - it is clean, very informative, and has a chat feature which is important when comparing all system features and benefits between companies. With so much information readily available on their website, Bay Alarm makes it easy to find the information you need. If you call them for additional information, or to place an order by phone, you should have a positive phone experience with their representative. We had a very friendly and knowledgeable sales rep on the line who did not give us a lengthy sales pitch that some other medical alert companies are known for.

Some of Bay Alarm Medical's biggest selling points are their level of customer service. Their monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified and they provide weekly tests of their monitoring system, which provides added peace of mind (see our medical alert buyer's guide for other features to look for).  We are impressed with Bay Alarm Medical's monthly pricing, however it would be nice if they offered advanced payment discounts to their users. With no long-term contracts and a 30-day risk free trail, Bay Alarm Medical is a great choice to easily give their services a try.

They can also monitor a second person with their In-Home system for a small added charge, so you won't have to pay the full price for a second system. See our tip: Two Medical Alert Monitoring Systems For The Price of One? for more information on this type of service offering.

We are happy to see their new product, the SOS SmartWatch, which is a great solution for a savvy senior who does not want to wear a traditional medical alert pendant like the ones in our alert necklace reviews. You can utilize their automatic fall detection services with any of their other product offerings too, except the SOS SmartWatch.

Bottom line - if you are in the market for a medical alert device and read our medical alert for seniors reviews, you'll find Bay Alarm Medical to be a great choice.

Although our experience with this company had these results, your experience may be different. If you're interested in this company's services, contact them to judge for yourself.

*Bay Alarm Medical logo is a registered trademark of the Bay Alarm company