LifeFone Review


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Updated: January 24, 2024

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LifeFone In-Home Medical Alert System

LifeFone System Review Summary

LifeFone has packages for traditional service and cellular, as well as fall detection, GPS, smartphone apps, and check-in services. Their customer care reps are available 24/7 and their monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified which is a plus. Lifefone has lots of positive customer reviews online. They offer competitive pricing with advance payment discounts and a price guarantee along with free shipping.

LifeFone Pros

No equipment or set-up charges, cancel anytime, free protection for your spouse, 24-hour customer service and many options including no phone line, fall detection, GPS, smartphone apps, and activity monitoring. Monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified. Their in-home system offers a long range and a back-up battery in case you lose power.  LifeFone offers a lifetime warranty on equipment and will replace equipment at no charge. They also have a subscriber price lock so that your rate is guaranteed to never increase.

LifeFone Cons

No monitored smoke or carbon monoxide options. Their basic in-home system can cost a bit more per month than some of their competitors unless you pay annually.

Rating

Special Offer From LifeFone

30-day Money Back Guarantee

Lifetime Subscriber Price & Equipment Guarantee

Spouses Protected Free

Cancel At Any Time & Prepaid Unused Services Are Fully Refunded

DISCLOSURE: We may receive referral fees for purchases or inquiries made by you. Thanks to your support, we can maintain the website & offer special discounts, at no cost to you.

Who is LifeFone

LifeFone has been in the personal emergency response business since 1976 and has done a good job keeping up with the medical alert industry's latest technology. LifeFone is headquartered in White Plains, NY and all of its representatives are based in the U.S. LifeFone has industry recognition by the National Council on Aging and National Institute of Senior Citizens. LifeFone claims to be recommended by most healthcare providers such as hospitals, in-home caregivers, geriatric care, and social workers. 

LifeFone owns and operates its primary medical alert monitoring center but backup centers are not company-owned. They do offer 24/7 customer care so they can offer emergency care agents when you need them. LifeFone also provides caregiving tools such as apps, daily check-in calls, and location services. LifeFone boasts that their products help your aging loved one with their independence and safety, ensuring that they can age in place while giving you peace of mind. 

LifeFone Systems & Products

LifeFone has packages for traditional service and cellular, as well as fall detection, GPS, smartphone apps, and check-in services. Their customer care reps are available 24/7 and their monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified which is a plus. Lifefone has lots of positive customer reviews online. They offer competitive pricing with advance payment discounts and a price guarantee along with free shipping.

There are six different medical alert system packages and one caregiver app that Lifefone offers:

1. At-Home Landline with Optional Fall Detection: In-home traditional medical alert system that requires a landline and provides an automatic fall detection option. The range you can use your medical alarm pendant from the base station is 1,300 ft. and this medical alert system comes with a 32-hour backup battery in case your home ever loses power. LifeFone promotes their highly sensitive microphone which is perfect for anyone who may have a weak voice. 

2. At-Home Cellular with Optional Fall Detection: In-home traditional medical alert system that does not require a landline. It works the same as the At-Home Landline system except instead of being connected to your telephone line, it works by using AT&T’s cellular network. This system also  provides a fall detection option.

3. At-Home & On-the-Go GPS, Voice in Pendant (VIP Active®) & Optional Fall Detection: In-home and on-the-go coverage that does not require a landline and includes a premium mobile device that features two-way call response voice technology. The voice-in pendant system is water-resistant and can be worn in the shower or bath. The latest system utilizes the LTE network and will work anywhere in the US using LifeFone provided AT&T cellular service. The latest model has a long-lasting battery for up to 30 days.  

4. At-Home & On-the-Go, VIPx® & Optional Fall Detection: This relatively new option from LifeFone is a small and light weight medical alert device. It offers two-way voice technology built into the small pendant and it includes both GPS tracking and optional fall detection protection. You can use the VIPx® on the go (with the help of Verizon or AT&T LTE cellular services) or inside your home. There are no additional cellular fees when using this system. The pendant comes in three stylish colors and will last up to 16 days on a full charge! It is water-resistant and can be used with LifeFone’s VIPx® Caregiver Mobile App (an add-on feature that gives real-time data to loved ones with the app). 

5. At-Home & On-the-Go, VIP Flex & Optional Fall Detection: This brand new offering from LifeFone is their smallest and most powerful medical alert device. The VIP Flex can be worn on a belt clip, on a wristband or on a necklace. You can use the VIP Flex on the go Nationwide (with the help of Verizon or AT&T LTE cellular services) or inside your home. Simply press the button when you need help, and LifeFone can immediately identify your location and will have your personal Emergency Care Instructions ready to implement. There are no additional cellular fees when using this system. The VIP Flex’s battery will last up to 5 days and it is water-resistant.

6. Safe Watch Active®: This new product offering from LifeFone features an easy-to-use smartwatch, perfect for active seniors. The smartwatch includes a connection to emergency help, a heart rate monitor, a step tracker, a weather report, and a low battery warning. The watch has a powerful two-way speaker that will connect you quickly to LifeFone’s care team. Like the previous systems, it runs off AT&T’s LTE cellular service. You can use the Safe Watch Active® smartwatch nationwide. There is an option to add automatic fall detection for an additional monthly cost.

LifeFone Caregiver Tools

VIPx® Caregiver Mobile App: This app works with the VIPx® and includes location tracking of your loved one, activity monitoring (tracking steps, etc.), sends an alert when motion is first detected daily and it can help find your VIPx® device if it is misplaced.

LifeFone Activity Assurance: As an add-on service for LifeFone’s At Home Landline and At Home Cellular systems, you can request a daily check-in with LifeFone’s call center. The base unit will send out a beep at a specified time each day (you pick the time). The user will press a button on their base unit to turn off the alert and let the emergency response team know they are home and OK. If there is no response within 15 minutes, a call is placed to the subscriber and their emergency plan is put into place. It is recommended to have a lock box at your home if you take advantage of this service, so the emergency response team can have easy access to your home. This service is an additional $6 per month.

LifeFone Daily Check-in Call: This is similar to activity assurance, except you will get a call from the LifeFone call center every day with a reminder of your choice. It could be a medication reminder, or just simply to check on you to see how you are feeling each day. All LifeFone subscribers are eligible for this caregiver tool for an additional cost of $19 per month.

LifeFone Location Service: If you have the At Home & On-the-Go GPS system, you are eligible for the location services. It allows your caregiver to know the exact location of your medical alert device. The cost is $9 per month and includes up to 30 location requests per month.

Medical Alert Lock Box: You can purchase a LifeFone Hanging Lock Box with any system for a one-time charge of $29.95. This is a hanging lock box that houses your home key with a lock box code. This gives emergency response quick and easy access to your home.

How LifeFone Works

LifeFone's in-home residential emergency detection systems let you summon help by simply pressing your wearable medical alert button and connecting to the base station to communicate your emergency with LifeFone’s trained emergency response team. If you choose a pendent with automatic fall detection, it will attempt to sense when a fall has happened and will contact the monitoring center for you. The On-the-Go systems work the same way as the in-home device except you can speak directly through the pendant instead of utilizing the base station.

LifeFone's Key Features

• No-long term contracts
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Cellular in-home options
• TMA Five Dimond monitoring center
• Advanced payment discounts
• Caregiving tool add-ons

 

LifeFone Cost & Fees

Cost For Equipment

Cost Per Month

Monitoring Agreement Term

Repairs or Replacement Charges

Ordering & Shipping

Free equipment with no activation or shipping charges

The starting costs for LifeFone's monthly services are $24.95 per month when paid annually.

Cancel at any time and receive refund of any unused, prepaid service with the return of the equipment.

None, replacements shipped free, there is a $39.95 charge is you lose the standard button and a $90 charge for a lost fall detection button. You can purchase a LifeFone protection plan for $5.00 a month.

Same day if order received by 3:00 PM EST. Typical 3-5 day delivery. Expedited shipping options are available for an additional charge.

LifeFone's monthly fees are competitive in the medical alert marketplace especially when you consider their advanced payment discounts and ongoing promotions. There are no equipment fees and no long-term commitment to try LifeFone, plus they have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Plus, they have a price lock guarantee that the price will not increase. You can cancel their services anytime and only pay for the time that you have used. Every LifeFone product is backed by a lifetime warranty with no charge for replacements. Check their site often for special offers like one month free when paying annually.  With LifeFone's many medical alert options, it's easy to find one that fits into your price range.


You can also add automatic fall detection to most of their systems, including the Safe Watch Active®, ranging from an additional $5.00 to $10.00 per month. LifeFone’s additional features you can add at check-out include: the LifeFone Protection Plan for an additional $5.00 per month, Daily Check-In service for $19.00 per month and Activity Assurance for an additional $6.00 per month. 

At-Home Landline

At-Home Cellular

At-Home & On-the-Go GPS, VIP Active®

VIPx® Mobile Alert Device

VIPx Flex Mobile Alert Device

VIPx® Caregiver Smartphone App

Safe Watch Active®

$29.95 Cost Per Month

$34.95 Cost Per Month

$43.95 Cost Per Month

$45.95 Cost Per Month

$45.95 Cost Per Month

$8.00

$49.95 Cost Per Month

$27.95/Month Paid Quarterly

$32.95/Month Paid Quarterly

$41.95/Month Paid Quarterly

$43.95/Month Paid Quarterly

$43.95/Month Paid Quarterly

n/a

$47.95/Month Paid Quarterly

$22.87/Month Paid Annually

$28.37/Month Paid Annually

$36.62/Month Paid Annually

$38.45/Month Paid Annually

$38.45/Month Paid Annually

n/a

$42.12/Month Paid Annually

$5.00 Fall Detection

$5.00 Fall
Detection

$5.00 Fall
Detection

$5.00 Fall
Detection

$5.00 Fall
Detection

n/a

$5.00 Fall
Detection

Cancellation Policy & Discounts

Cancel at Any Time

Senior Discount

Advance Payment Discounts

Other Discounts

Yes. This company also refunds unused, prepaid amounts, but you pay to ship the equipment back.

No

Yes

Refer a friend and receive one month free for each referral and the person you refer will also receive one free month.

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

Up to 1,400 ft for the In-Home system to the base unit. .

Battery will last approximately 2-5 years. LifeFone will contact you when the battery is low for a free replacement. The battery life with fall detection button is approximately 5 days.

Approximately 32 hours of backup battery

Yes

Neck, wrist or wall-mounted options. Must choose when ordering.

Yes

LifeFone’s monitoring centers are open 24/7. Their customer service is available to answer general questions from 8am - 10pm ET, 7 days a week.

Monitoring Center

TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center

Typical Response Once is Button Pressed

Automatic Test Signals Sent

Yes

Per the company, the average is 15 seconds.

Yes - Monthly

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

Yes, they call it Activity Assurance ($6.00/month).

Yes. Cost varies from $5-10 per month, depending on the system you add it to.

Yes, with all systems except the At-Home Landline system

No

Yes, with At-Home & On-the-Go, the At-Home & On-the-Go Voice in Pendant systems and VIPx®.

No, spouses are covered free. Just pay for an extra help button at $39.95.

What We Like About LifeFone

Flexible Monitoring Agreement - You can cancel your Lifefone medical alert service at any time. Remember to return your equipment after you cancel their service. You will only pay for the time you've used their monitoring service.

Subscriber Price Guarantee - Once you subscribe, you are locked into the price you signed up for and the price will never increase. A price lock guarantee can be very helpful to those on a fixed income.

TMA Five Diamond Certified - LifeFone owns and operates their own TMA Five Diamond Certified monitoring center, ensuring the operators are trained to a set standard.

Activity Monitoring (Activity Assurance) - 
The unit will beep at a pre-determined time, in which you must press the button to acknowledge that your OK. If you do not press the button within 15 minutes, an alert will be sent to the monitoring station. This service is available with their At Home Landline Service only. LifeFone is one of the few medical alert monitoring companies that offers this useful service. 

Daily Check In Services Call Option - Although this can be an expensive add-on at $19.00/month, you can use this service for pill reminders, to simply check on a loved one, or any other daily call you would like made.

Fall Detector Option - Since seniors and especially diabetics can have the tendency to faint, fall detectors can be helpful because the user would be unable to press their medical emergency button. LifeFone offers fall detection as an add-on to all their monthly monitoring plans at an affordable rate.

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 in order to place the emergency call. LifeFone now has the ability to utilize AT&T's 4G LTE cellular phone service. 

Automatic Monthly Tests - System's console does automatically test monthly to the monitoring station. LifeFone also encourages its customers to test their button manually as well to be sure they understand how it works. They will call and remind you to test, if needed.

Mobile GPS Option - For seniors or even young children on the go, this may be an important option for you. You can take your medical alert protection with you wherever you go. 

Location Service Option - LifeFone's Location Service enables a caregiver authorized by a LifeFone subscriber to know the location of the subscriber's mobile device. This service is available with their At-Home & On-the-Go GPS VIP Active service and the VIPx® system. The cost is an additional $5/month for this service.

Unlimited Emergency Contact Notifications - They will contact as many people as you request.

Free Coverage For Your Spouse - Simply purchase an additional help button and you can add your spouse to your system for no additional charge.

New Vanity Pendant - LifeFone has added jewelry-style pendant necklaces so people will never know you are wearing a medical alert pendant. They come with a replaceable 2-year battery.

Updated technology- LifeFone is an innovator in the medical alert industry, keeping up with the trends and technology. The VIPx® is as light as a AA battery and packs lots of features and VIP Flex has several wearable options while being the smallest and most light weight option. 

What We Dislike About LifeFone

No Smoke Alarm or Carbon Monoxide Detection Options - Every home should be equipped with carbon monoxide and smoke alarms whether stand-alone or part of a system. Don't get carbon dioxide (CO2) confused with carbon monoxide (CO) detection. Carbon Dioxide detection is not typically needed in a home. Even though LifeFone does not offer these options, you should have these products installed or purchase them from your local hardware store or home center retailer like Lowes, Home Depot or Menard's.

Basic Medical Alert Service Can Cost More Than Others - The cost of Lifefone's In-Home landline system is a bit on the high side when compared to similar offerings from other medical alert providers, unless you are willing to pay annually.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How much does LifeFone cost?
LifeFone’s monthly costs start at $24.95 for their At-Home Landline system if you pay annually.

What happens if I live in a rural area?
You can still utilize their landline in-home service or if you have AT&T’s cellular network in your area, you can utilize any of LifeFone’s systems. Check coverage in your area here: https:/www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html

Is LifeFone’s medical alert pendant waterproof?
Yes, their standard pendant and wristband are waterproof. The Voice-in-Pendant and VIPx® are water-resistant.

How can I cancel my LifeFone service?
If you are ready to cancel LifeFone, you must call their customer service team to notify them. You will be asked to ship back the equipment in a timely manner.

Do I need to have Verizon or AT&T service to utilize LifeFone’s medical alert system?
No, you do not need to have a cellular contract with AT&T or Verizon to utilize LifeFone, but you need a good signal in your area to utilize their cellular based systems including On-The-Go and VIPx®.

Do I need a landline to use LifeFone’s in-home system?
No, LifeFone has two options for its in-home medical alert system. One that uses a traditional landline and one that uses a cellular network service.

What are LifeFone’s customer service hours?
LifeFone’s monitoring centers are open 24/7. Their customer service is available to answer general questions 8am-10pm ET, 7 days a week.

Does LifeFone own their own monitoring center?
Yes. They own their main monitoring center, located in White Plains, NY. They do not own their back-up monitoring centers.

Do I need to sign a long-term contract?
No. You can cancel anytime.

Does LifeFone charge for equipment, activation fees or cancellation fees?
No. There are no fees for any of these items at this time.

What happens if I push my button but cannot speak?
LifeFone will first try to call your landline. If they still can’t reach you or hear you, they will follow your Emergency Care instructions that you set up at the beginning of your service.

What happens if I push the button by accident?
Simply tell the dispatcher that it was an accidental press. You will not be charged.

Can I take my equipment with me if I’m on vacation or if I move?
Yes. Call LifeFone’s customer service to provide them with your new or temporary address.

Do I need a lock box?
If you don’t have family or friends that live in your immediate area, it is a good idea to have a lock box in place for ease of access for emergency response.

Is the wearable button water-resistant?
Yes, you can wear it in the shower or bath.

Is LifeFone easy to install?
Yes, it should only take a few minutes.

What People Are Saying About LifeFone

LifeFone has a significant amount of verified reviews online that are easy to sort through and get a good idea of what the general consensus is. We found many positive reviews about LifeFone's medical alert monitoring service and how its quick reaction times were lifesaving. Users seem to be happy with their price, set-up, and service. Many users liked that LifeFone tested the system to ensure it was working properly at the time of the test.

There were very few negative complaints about LifeFone online. In fact, only 4% of all their Trust Pilot reviews are negative. The ones that were negative were resolved or responded to by LifeFone in a timely manner.

Lifefone is a Better Business Bureau Accredited company and is rated A+ with three complaints on file, which all have been resolved or answered, at the time of this review. 

LifeFone Compared To LifeStation

Both medical alert companies do not charge for equipment and have no-long term contracts. They offer similar in-home medical alert systems and each have a TMA 5 Diamond Monitoring center. LifeStation does offer a Smart Watch as an additional offering. LifeFone has some great caregiver tools, including activity monitoring, which make it stand out from the pack.

Do We Suggest LifeFone?

There's a lot to like about LifeFone, besides their extensive product offering. They are family-owned and operated and have been in business since 1976. They are forthright with information regarding their pricing and services. Their website is easy to navigate and contained most of the information we were seeking with an easy-to-read comparison chart. They also have a live chat option on their website to get quick answers to your questions.

As for their products, we are happy with the specs on the long-range of the medical alert pendant to the base station, long-lasting battery life of the back-up battery, and the extended product offerings such as activity monitoring, and fall detection. We are also happy with LifeFone’s VIPx® offering. The VIPx® is super lightweight and chic, which may help with anyone who is resistant to wearing a medical alert. It has a long battery life and features Voice-in-Pendant technology. There is also an optional VIPx® caregiving app too.

It's also a bonus that they do not charge an additional monthly fee for a second person to use the system. You will only have to pay for an extra pendant. Their monitoring center is TMA Five Diamond Certified and that helps to ensure monitoring services are being provided to a set standard. They also have two back-up monitoring centers (not company-owned) with one that is geographically separated, which is vital in a natural or regional disaster.

When we contacted LifeFone by phone, we found their customer service representative to be knowledgeable and courteous, and answered the questions we had with ease. They did not push to make a sale over the phone and there were no long wait times. Overall, a good call experience. Considering LifeFone offers advanced payment discounts on their monitoring services and there are no long-term contracts or cancellation fees, LifeFone would be a great option to try for your aging loved one.

Special Offer From LifeFone

30-day Money Back Guarantee

Lifetime Subscriber Price & Equipment Guarantee

Spouses Protected Free

Cancel At Any Time & Prepaid Unused Services Are Fully Refunded

DISCLOSURE: We may receive referral fees for purchases or inquiries made by you. Thanks to your support, we can maintain the website & offer special discounts, at no cost to you.

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.