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WHO IS MEDIPENDANT?
MEDIPENDANT SERVICES ARE NO LONGER BEING OFFERED. THIS REVIEW IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED.
REVIEW SUMMARY
MediPendant is a unique two-way voice speakerphone pendant which the company claims is the first of its kind. The MediPendant allows you to speak and listen directly through the pendant itself. Traditional medical alert pendants do not allow you to speak through the pendant but rather through the base unit which means you are limited within the base unit’s range.
This feature makes MediPendant unique in the medical alert marketplace. However, there are other companies starting to offer this type of emergency response pendant as well, in a cellular version, that you can take anywhere.
There is one medical alert system Medical Alarm Concepts offers:
MediPendant: This medical alert system can be used with or without a landline. If you do not have a phone line make sure to ask for the no phone line adapter when ordering. MediPendant will also work with alternative phone services such as Ooma, Vonage and U-Verse. The pendant’s unique two-way voice allows users to speak and listen directly through the pendant. This allows the freedom to utilize the voice feature anywhere inside or outside of your home as long as you are within 600 ft of the base unit. The pendant is water resistant and can be worn in the bath or shower. You can wear the pendant as a necklace, bracelet or clipped to your belt.
The pendant also has a 3-way voice feature where the emergency response team can conference in your loved one into the pendant’s speaker, so you can speak with them during the emergency.
PROS
Easy installation and can be used with or without a traditional home phone line. Flexibility and freedom to use the two-way voice on your pendant anywhere in and around your home. The system will work with alternative phone services such as Vonage. 24/7 monitoring with EMT certified professionals. Bilingual (English and Spanish) equipment and phone operators. The pendant will give an out of range notification. AARP discount available. No long-term contracts or cancellation fees. The monitoring centers are TMA Five Diamond Certified but they are not company owned. Equipment is automatically tested once a week.
CONS
Limited product offerings. No smoke or carbon monoxide detector options. More expensive than other medical alert device units in the market unless you pay annually. There is no automatic fall detection, GPS location activated devices or activity monitoring available. Shipping is not free for quarterly and semi-annual plans. No option to pay monthly.
RATING: 
COMPARE DEVICE FEATURES:
PROS & CONS TO CONSIDER | How did MediPendant do? |
| Price | MediPendant Review |
| Cost for Equipment | None. Shipping starts at $14.95 if you choose the semi-annual or quarterly payment plans. Free shipping for the annual plan. |
| Cost Per Month | Payments start at $34.95 per month when you are billed quarterly. There is no option to pay monthly. |
| Advance Payment Discounts | Yes, discounted pricing if you pay semi-annually or annually. |
| Monitoring Agreement Term | No long-term contract. You can cancel at any time with no cancellation fee. You will be refunded your unused paid portion of the monitoring service and you will receive it once the equipment has been returned to MediPendant. |
| Repairs or Replacement Charges | No cost for replacements regardless of reasons. Comes with Lifetime Warranty. |
| Cancellation Policy & Discounts | MediPendant Review |
| Cancel at Any Time | Yes |
| Senior Discount | 10% discount for AARP members. |
| Other Discounts | None |
| Equipment | MediPendant Review |
| Approximate Button Range in Typical Home | 600 ft |
| Watch/Button Battery Life | Up to six hours of total talk time or one year of standby. The pendant uses a Lithium CR123 battery which can be purchased at places like Walgreens, CVS, Amazon, Walmart and others. |
| What Happens if I Lose Power | The base station has 30 hours of back-up battery. |
| Is the Watch/Button Waterproof | Yes |
| How Can The Button Be Worn | Pendant can be worn around your neck, wrist or clipped to your belt. |
| UL Certified Equipment | Yes |
| Does The System Automatically Test Itself To The Monitoring Center | Yes, once a week the unit is automatically tested. |
| 24 Hour Technical & Customer Support | Yes |
| Monitoring Station | MediPendant Review |
| TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center | Yes, but it is not company owned. |
| Typical Response Time When Button Pressed | Typically, 35 seconds. |
| Other Options & Information | MediPendant Review |
| How Fast Does System Ship | 3-5 business days with $14.95 shipping fee if paying quarterly or semi-annually. Free shipping when paying annually. |
| Do You Need Separate Systems For Mom & Dad | No. However, you only need to purchase an additional pendant at a one-time cost of $60. You can have up to 4 pendants per base unit. |
| Optional Advanced Features | MediPendant Review |
| Activity or Inactivity Monitoring | No |
| Senior Fall Detection | No |
| Cellular or No Phone Line | Yes. If you do not have a landline, just ask for the no phone line adaptor when you order. |
| Smoke or Carbon Monoxide Protection | No |
| GPS Medical Alert Tracking System | No |
| Special Offers | MediPendant Review |
| Special Offers For Our Visitors | None at this time |
MONTHLY COSTS & FEES
MediPendant only offers one system so that makes their payment options simple. They no longer offer a monthly payment option, however you can choose to pay quarterly, semi-annually or annually. You will receive a larger discount the longer in advance you pay. You will also receive perks such as a free lock box if you choose to pay annually. There is no equipment fee.
The standard shipping fee for 3-5 business day shipping (the cheapest option) is $14.95 for the quarterly and semi-annual payment plans. Shipping is free if you decide to pay annually.
If you are an AARP member, you can receive a 10% discount.
| MediPendant System | Cost Per Month Paid Quarterly | Cost Per Month Paid Semi-Annually | Cost Per Month Paid Annually |
| MediPendant | $34.95 | $32.95 | $29.95 |
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT MEDIPENDANT
Senior Discount Available – AARP members receive 10% discount on MediPendant. Combine this discount with an annual payment plan and MediPendant’s pricing will be more competitive.
Call Center Staffed with Certified EMTS – If you are in an emergency, speaking directly to a highly trained bilingual (Spanish and English) EMT is beneficial and could be lifesaving.
Battery Life – The MediPendant does not need to be charged which is great if your aging loved one is forgetful and charging the device frequently would be an issue.
TMA Five Diamond Certified Monitoring Center – There are two monitoring centers and they are both TMA Five Diamond Certified however, they are not company owned. You can be sure you will be reaching highly trained staff when your loved one is in an emergency situation.
Discount for Advanced Payment – If you pay semi-annually or annually you will receive a discount.
No Long-Term Contract – You can cancel at any time. You can even cancel before the service has started if you change your mind.
System is Automatically Tested Each Week – MediPendant’s system is automatically tested each week to the monitoring center, although you will still need to test your pendant on your own.
Long Range Button – MediPendant’s range is up to 600 feet, which is substantial. This is equivalent to two football fields and per MediPendant, the button can be used in and just outside of the home. It will also alert you when you are out of range.
WHAT WE DISLIKE ABOUT MEDIPENDANT
No Carbon Monoxide or Smoke Detection – Both are important features to have in your home. You should have these installed whether provided by your medical alert company or simply purchased from your local home center.
No Fall Detection Option – Automatic fall detection is a common feature for today’s medical alert devices. 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. Most companies offer this option and it would be nice to have that available to you.
No Activity Monitoring – Activity monitoring typically requires the user to check-in with the system by pressing a button once every 24 hours or automatically checked with motion sensors and door contacts. This is very beneficial as it allows you to know that your loved one is active and about each day.
No GPS or Mobile Options – MediPendant is meant to be used in and around your home only and has no GPS features.
Expensive Shipping – Standard shipping of the system is $14.95 if you choose the quarterly or semi-annual plans. Many medical alert companies ship their systems for free.
No Monthly Payment options – MediPendant has done away with the option to pay monthly. Quarterly payments may be hard for some to afford.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
Does MediPendant need to be professionally installed?
No. MediPendant’s set-up is as easy as plugging it into a power source and a phone jack if you have one. However, it can be used with or without a landline.
Do I speak into the base unit?
No. You can speak and listen directly into the pendant itself. You will need to be within 600 feet of the base station for the system to work properly.
What happens if my pendant’s battery dies?
The MediPendant uses a Li123 battery that can be purchased at most local hardware stores or Amazon.
Can I pay for my MediPendant system monthly?
No. MediPendant does not have a monthly payment option. You pay in advance either: quarterly, bi-annually or annually. The longer in advance you pay, the less expensive your system will be.
How can I cancel my MediPendant service?
You can cancel at any time by calling their customer service number at 1-877-782-1234. They will give you instructions on how to ship the product back. There are no long-term contracts and you can cancel at any time.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MEDIPENDANT
One user testimonial on the MediPendant’s website describes falling in her home and the EMT trained staff at MediPendant was able to call her neighbor to come give her assistance. Other’s describe a “weight off their shoulder” knowing that their loved one is protected by MediPendant at home.
Finding unbiased reviews on MediPendant was hard. One Amazon user described frustration when trying to change the MediPendant battery. The four very small screws can be hard to remove if you are vision impaired or have shaky hands. There were a few who complained of the button malfunctioning and one who complained of having trouble getting their refund.
Medical Alarm Concepts is not BBB Accredited, but they do have an A+ rating with one complaint on file at the time of this review.
BOTTOM LINE
Medical Alarm Concepts, MediPendant offering is limited to one product. The uniqueness of speaking directly into the pendant as well as the three-way voice features make MediPendant stand out in a crowded marketplace. It is important to note that although MediPendant claims to be the first to the market offering two-way voice through the pendant, there are other companies who are offering similar technology. These companies are including fall detection and mobile GPS too, so you can take the device anywhere, but do require charging the pendant, where MediPendant does not. We’re told that the battery will last up to a year if not activated or up to 6 hours of total talk time and can easily be replaced by purchasing a battery at a local drug store. You can also use the system in your home with or without a traditional phone line and there is no additional cost for using the no phone line option.
If you need more well-rounded monitoring system options, this product may not be for you. Many seniors can benefit from automatic fall detection as well as activity and wellness monitoring. Medipendant can also be more expensive than its competitors, although paying annually and taking advantage of their AARP member discount makes this medical alert more affordable. We would like to see them offer a monthly payment option and also a GPS version of their system for on-the-go coverage.
Although MediPendant has a thorough website, you may wish to call and speak to a customer service representative. Once we had one on the line, our call experience was pleasant, and they did not give us a pushy sales approach. We did learn that they claim to never raise prices and their product comes with a Lifetime Warranty.
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.
