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Since 2004, Medical Alert, a Connect America company, has been providing emergency medical alert monitoring services to thousands of senior citizens nationwide. Connect America's headquarters is located in Philadelphia, PA and they are considered one of the pioneers in the medical alert monitoring industry. Connect America is a U.S. government approved provider of medical alert technology in over 30 states. They currently have 15 field service and support locations in the U.S. They also offer a Language Line that will translate your emergency call in real-time in 140 languages. Connect America is a member of the Medical Alert Monitoring Association (MAMA). All of Connect America's medical alert representatives are based in the U.S. and receive medical alert monitoring training. They have 4 monitoring solutions as well as add on services such as fall detection. Medical Alert by Connect America uses industry standard UL-Listed equipment however their monitoring centers are not TMA Five Diamond Certified. Their medical alert pendant can be worn as a necklace or wristband and is waterproof.
Who is Medical Alert By Connect America?
Review Summary
There are four medical alert system packages that Medical Alert by Connect America offers:
1. At-Home Landline System: Traditional medical alert in-home system that uses a landline compatible with most VoIP systems. The two-way speaker built into the base station will connect you with Connect America's emergency response operators. Connect America’s Medical Alert landline system has a backup battery that will let you use the system even in a power outage. This system comes with a medical alert pendant or bracelet. You can add on an automatic fall detection pendant for an additional fee.
2. At-Home Cellular System: In-home medical alert system identical to the system above except that it does not require a landline. No cellular contract is required however you must have good AT&T cellular coverage where you live. This system also has optional automatic fall detection as an add-on.
3. On-the-Go Mobile: On the go coverage with advanced GPS tracking and optional fall detection, all in one on-the-go pendant with a built in two-way speaker. Includes interchangeable neck or wrist options. Works as long as there is adequate AT&T cell phone coverage. It is water resistant for use in the bath or shower and the battery can last up to five days.
4. On the Go + Button: This option includes an additional neck or wrist button and is GPS-enabled so you can be located wherever you are in an emergency. When you push the button, the two-way speaker provides communication with the emergency response center.
Pros
Cons
Rating:
DISCLOSURE: We may receive referral fees from this company for purchases or inquiries made by you. Thanks to your support, we can maintain the website & offer you special discounts, at no cost to you.
Why Should You Choose Medical Alert?
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Compare Device Features:
Pros & Cons To Consider |
|
| Price | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
Cost for Equipment | Free equipment + $9.50 shipping charge if paying monthly (shipping fee is waived if you pay semi-annually or annually). |
Cost Per Month | $19.95 per month for the At-Home landline medical alert system when paid semi-annually. |
Advance Payment Discounts | Yes, you will receive a discount if you pay semi-annually or annually. Annual payments also receive one free month. |
Monitoring Agreement Term | None |
Repairs or Replacement Charges | You can add optional insurance for $5.00/month for free replacements for one base unit device and up to 2 buttons, or $10.00/month for unlimited devices and buttons. Without an insurance plan, expect to pay upwards of $350.00 to replace lost or damaged equipment. |
| Cancellation Policy & Discounts | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
Cancel at Any Time | Yes, with 30-day notice. Also, you get a pro-rated refund on unused services. |
Senior Discount | None |
Other Discounts | None |
| Equipment | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
Approximate Button Range in Typical Home | Up to 800 ft. Range is impacted by device location, environment, equipment & other conditions in your home. This is true with all wireless devices. |
Watch/Button Battery Life | Battery will last approximately 2 years. Low battery signal sent to monitoring station to send replacement. |
What Happens if I Lose Power | Approximately 32 hours of backup battery |
Is the Watch/Button Waterproof | Yes |
How Can The Button Be Worn | Neck or wristband are both included. Belt-Clip option available with the On-The-Go system. |
UL Certified Equipment | Yes |
Does The System Automatically Test Itself To The Monitoring Center | No, you must test monthly yourself. |
24 Hour Technical & Customer Support | Yes |
| Monitoring Station | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center | No, but they own their monitoring centers. |
Typical Response Time When Button Pressed | Approximately 20 seconds |
| Other Options & Information | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
How Fast Does System Ship | Standard shipping time is 4-6 business days. |
Do You Need Separate Systems For Mom & Dad | No. Two buttons come with the At Home Landline system. If you want to add another or have two of the same, there is a one-time charge of $19.99 for an additional user button. |
| Optional Advanced Features | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
Activity or Inactivity Monitoring | No |
Senior Fall Detection | Yes, for an additional $10.00/month per person. |
Cellular or No Phone Line | Yes, with the At Home No Landline system or the On-The-Go system. |
Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Protection | No |
GPS Medical Alert Tracking System | Yes, they have a medical alert system with GPS called On-The-Go system. |
| Special Offers | Medical Alert by Connect America Review |
Special Offers For Our Visitors | DISCLOSURE: We may receive referral fees from this company for purchases or inquiries made by you. Thanks to your support, we can maintain the website & offer you special discounts, at no cost to you.Why Should You Choose Medical Alert?
1-877-624-5160 |
Monthly Costs & Fees
Connect America has a competitive pricing structure and have recently decreased their prices. Desirable features such as fall detection can be added to their in-home systems for only $10.00 a month. You can also add on a protection plan for an additional $5.00 per month.
Their GPS On-The-Go system has the option to add fall detection for $10.00 a month as well. Advanced payment discounts help make Connect America even more affordable and they come with added perks like free shipping if you choose to pay semi-annually or annually and one free month if you pay for a year upfront. They no longer require a 3-month commitment and you can cancel at any time if you are unhappy with their service.
| Connect America System | Cost For Monthly Payments | Cost Per Month For Semi-Annual Payments | Cost Per Month For Annual Payments |
| At-Home Landline | $22.95 | $19.95 | $19.95 |
| At-Home Cellular | $32.95 | $29.95 | $29.95 |
| On-The-Go Mobile System | $37.95 | $34.95 | $34.95 |
| On-The-Go + Button | $42.95 | $39.95 | $39.95 |
What We Like About Medical Alert By Connect America
24-Hour Support & They Claim Fast Response Times - Call center support is available 24 hours per day with US-based, multi-lingual call center representatives available. They also boost fast response times with an average of 20 seconds.
Flexible Monitoring Agreement - You can cancel at any time with a 30-day notice. You get a refund of unused services and there are no cancellation fees. You must return the equipment back to Connect America and pay for the return shipping.No Phone Line/Cellular Option - Since every household no longer has a traditional telephone line, having a reliable no phone line option is a must.
Mobile GPS Option - For seniors or even young children on the go, this may be an important and easier option for you than using your cell phone in an emergency. Bring medical alert protection and fall detection with you wherever you go.
Fall Detector Option - Since diabetics can have the tendency to faint and falls are common among seniors, fall detectors can be helpful because the user may be unable to press their medical emergency button. You can add fall detection to their in-home and GPS On-The-Go medical alert systems.
Discount for Advanced Payments - If you pay semi-annually or annually you will pay less and receive perks like free shipping.
What We Dislike About Medical Alert By Connect America
No Automatic System Tests - Some system consoles will automatically test weekly or monthly to the monitoring station, but we were told that Connect America does not offer automatic testing. You will have to periodically test your system (at least monthly) to ensure it is working properly.
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 for seniors who are not in assisted living as it allows you to know that your loved one is active and about each day. Connect America used to offer this service, but we were told that they do not now.
Monitoring Center is Not TMA Five Diamond Certified - While we like that Connect America owns its own monitoring center, we prefer that it be TMA Five Diamond Certified, ensuring that operators are consistently trained to a set of standards.
No Medication Reminders - Connect America used to provide medication reminders for those seniors who need these helpful notifications. This is a nice feature to add to your monitoring service if your medical alert company offers it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is Medical Alert?
Medical Alert, a Connect America company, has been providing medical alert devices direct to consumers since 2004.
Can I cancel my Medical Alert services at any time?
Yes. Medical Alert does not require long-term contracts. You may cancel at any time within 30 days for a full refund minus your return shipping costs. After the 30-days you can return the equipment for a pro-rated refund, providing that the equipment has no damage.
Does Medical Alert have automatic fall detection?
Yes. Medical Alert offers automatic fall detection as an add-on service for all of their medical alert systems. The additional cost is $10 per month.
Is Medical Alert's pendant waterproof?
The medical alert pendant and the fall detection pendant are both water resistant and can be worn in the bath or shower where most slips and falls occur.
How much is a Medical Alert device?
If you choose to pay annually, the monthly fee breaks down to only $19.95 per month for their traditional in-home medical alert monitoring system; plus you get a free month. This is very price competitive for the medical alert market.
What Others Are Saying About Medical Alert By Connect America
Connect America has verified user reviews on their website. We appreciate that they share all their feedback, both negative and positive, with their potential customers. Most of the feedback we found online states that Connect America's ordering process was smooth, shipping was fast, and the set-up was easy. Any negative feedback that was given was responded to right away by Connect America. It appears that they would like to make things right for any unhappy customers.
The negative feedback entailed the equipment not working in their service area and some users having trouble getting their refund in a timely manner. It's important to note that you must return your equipment within 15 days of cancelling service to receive a refund.
Connect America is BBB accredited and they have a A+ rating. At the time of this review they have an average of 181 customer complaints on file.
Bottom Line
Connect America's Medical Alert systems have been around since 2004 and has been providing medical alert monitoring emergency response services to thousands of seniors. They use industry standard UL-Listed equipment however their monitoring center is not TMA Five Diamond Certified which is a distinction that we prefer. Centers that are TMA Five Diamond Certified go through an annual renewal process to ensure a high level of quality medical alert monitoring service. We were told they were given an excellence in medical alert monitoring award in 2018 but we are unable to verify this information.
You can find additional information at Connect America's website which has improved immensely and continues to. You will also be able to find any pricing information for Connect America's medical alert options on their website along with online ordering. When you call Connect America's sales representative, be prepared for a lengthy sales pitch, but they were not overly pushy and did share quite a bit of detail on the product. They did answer all our questions in a friendly manner however, they will ask you for personal information.
Connect America does a good job of providing the basics when it comes to medical alert monitoring. They offer no phone line options for their in-home service, fall detection and mobile GPS coverage. We would like to see them catch-up to competitors who are coming out with newer technology such as activity monitoring using motion sensors, bed sensors, and door contacts and two-way voice built right inside the medical alert pendant.
Connect America is an affordable choice for medical alert monitoring service when you utilize their pre-payment discounts. We do prefer companies that automatically test that their equipment is communicating with the monitoring center automatically, although you would still need to test the medical alert button yourself at least monthly, regardless. Overall, Connect America is a solid choice for medical monitoring service when considering budget and basic options. We do suggest comparing other medical alert companies, such as Medical Guardian's review, before you decide to purchase.
DISCLOSURE: We may receive referral fees from this company for purchases or inquiries made by you. Thanks to your support, we can maintain the website & offer you special discounts, at no cost to you.
Why Should You Choose Medical Alert?
- Systems Start at $19.95 Per Month
- Limited Time Sale with Purchase!
- One Free Month & Free Shipping With Annual Plan
- No Long-Term Contracts Required
- A+ Better Business Bureau Rating
- No-Risk 30-Day Money Back Guarantee
- Receive a $10 Gift Card When You Order Online!
1-877-624-5160
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.
Modified: 2021-12-19