Bay Alarm Medical Review 2025

Bay Alarm Medical

Best for the Price

Bay Alarm Medical is one of our picks for the top medical alert systems on the market. It’s an established home security company with above-average customer reviews and affordable rates. 

Read more to discover the pros and cons of Bay Alarm Medical services and customer support options, compare the different medical alert systems’ costs and features, and decide whether accessories and added services are worth the cost.

Why we like Bay Alarm Medical

We’re impressed with the offering from Bay Alarm Medical, considering it’s such an affordable brand among its competitors. The company has packages that start at $24.95 and increase to their highest-priced bundle that includes all of their offerings for $64.95. The equipment fees on the website can go up to $199, but it appears that these are always discounted, with actual rates closer to half the listed price for each model. 

Bay Alarm Medical offers fall detection, a mobile app for caregivers and loved ones, and GPS location tracking. The devices performed well in our testing, and we were particularly impressed with the fall detection performance and battery life of its on-the-go devices.

Also, when testing the buying process as a mystery shopper, our testers were very impressed with the MobileHelp salespeople they spoke with, describing them as empathetic, helpful, and courteous. That can make all the difference when you’re wading through the often stressful process of purchasing a product quickly after a loved one has fallen or experienced a medical event.

Pros and cons of Bay Alarm Medical

Pros

• 30-day, risk-free trial
• No long-term contracts
• GPS location tracking for no additional cost
• Supports more than 170 non-English languages
• Fall detection option ($10 per month)
• Bella Charms accessories to make buttons look like jewelry

Cons

• One-time equipment fee required for most systems ($30–$159)
• Warranty costs extra ($2.95–$4.95 per month)
• ($2.95–$4.95 per month)

Compare Bay Alarm Medical devices

Bay Alarm Medical reviews

SOS Home

What you should know about the SOS Home

The SOS Home from Bay Alarm Medical connects to Bay Alarm monitoring centers via landline or cellular networks. Landline connection is the least expensive option the company offers and may also be a better choice if you don’t have strong cell coverage in your area (enter your address into the AT&T coverage map or the Verizon coverage map to ensure your area has coverage).

What’s included

Both the landline and cellular systems come with the standard base unit (the part plugged into the wall, syncs with your wearable button, and calls the monitoring center when you press the help button) and a wearable help button, which is waterproof for users to take into the shower or bath area—one of the three most common areas where falls occur in the home (in addition to the stairs and bedroom, according to research from 2020).

The SOS Home system includes both a wristband and a lanyard, so you can wear your button around your wrist or as a necklace. At no extra cost, you can choose the color you want for the standard button: black or white.

Bella Charms and Bands

For those hesitant about the look of a medical alert necklace, you can purchase a Bella Charm that clips onto your button device to make it look like jewelry ($25 each or $90 for a set of four). If you’d like a wristband option for your button, Bella Bands come in four colors ($17 each or $60 for all four).

Improving the look of a medical alert device was important to our survey respondents—”it doesn’t look appealing” was the third biggest challenge respondents cited with their medical alert devices, behind only “not having enough special features” and “not knowing how to use all the features.” If you choose to purchase the larger fall detection button, available for an additional $10 per month, it only comes in white, and it cannot be dressed up with a Bella Charm.

SOS Home packages

Bay Alarm Medical offers the following three SOS Home packages:

• In-Home landline for $24.95 per month
• In-Home cellular for $29.95 per month
• In-Home cellular with fall detection for $39.95 per month

Wall buttons, available as add-ons for $35 each, connect to the base unit, allowing you to press the buttons and call for help from rooms throughout your home. You can place the wall buttons in areas where the risk of falls is high, like bathrooms and stairways. Other add-ons include emergency key lockboxes for $30, extra Vial of Life kits for $8, and extra fall detection buttons for $10.

The SOS Home is a good option if you spend most of your time at home and are looking for a less expensive system. If you find yourself on-the-go more, you might want to consider the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Micro or SOS Smartwatch options.

SOS Micro

What you should know about the SOS Micro

The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Micro system has GPS location tracking and two-way communication so monitoring center staff can contact you for details, pinpoint your location, and get help to you quickly.

What’s included

The SOS Micro system includes a belt clip and a lanyard so you can clip your device to your belt, pocket, or purse, or wear it as a necklace. Unlike the at-home wearable button, which can be taken into a bath or swimming pool, the mobile system should not be submerged in water. The on-the-go system is water resistant, not waterproof like the at-home system. The company says if the mobile device is exposed to water, it should be dried with a towel.

The on-the-go mobile system battery lasts 72 hours, more than twice as long as the at-home base unit. It takes 2–3 hours to fully charge the mobile device.

Similar to the at-home cellular option, users connect SOS Micro through a cell phone provider (AT&T or Verizon). This service is included in the monthly cost of a Bay Alarm Medical system, so you will not receive separate bills from a cellular service provider.

Caregiver Tracking app

The SOS Micro also allows caregivers and loved ones to check in on users in real time. Caregivers can download the Caregiver Tracking app onto an iOS or Android device, which allows them to track the medical alert system user’s location and activity history, as well as monitor the weather in the user’s area and check the medical alert’s battery status.

By registering in the app, caregivers can sign up to receive alerts when the user pushes the help button. The app even allows caregivers to receive an alert when the user leaves a certain predefined geographical area (like their home or neighborhood).

If you’re on-the-go and looking for a device with a battery that lasts three days, the SOS Micro could be a good choice for you. If you’re looking for a more modern medical alert style, like a medical alert smartwatch with unlimited device range, you might want to consider the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch.

SOS Smartwatch

What you should know about the SOS Smartwatch

The water-resistant SOS Smartwatch weighs less than 2 ounces and is connected through a cellular network (either AT&T or Verizon). Although the battery doesn’t last as long as the SOS Micro (6–8 hours versus 72 hours), like the SOS Micro, the SOS Smartwatch has GPS tracking with an unlimited device range, giving monitoring center staff the ability to find you and send help no matter where you are. But the SOS Smartwatch has several special features the SOS Micro doesn’t, such as a step tracker, touch screen, and a network connection signal.

What’s included

The watch comes with a charging station and wristband, which is available in two sizes: standard (to fit wrists up to 7 inches around) and large (to fit wrists up to 8 inches around).

The SOS Smartwatch has built-in GPS and two-way communication. In the event you need help and press the SOS button on the side of the watch, monitoring center staff will pinpoint your location for emergency services and talk to you through the two-way speaker until help has arrived. A perk of this system: You don’t need to have a smartphone or base unit to use this device.

Special features

For special features, the Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch has a step counter for tracking activity and goals, a touch screen, and options for either analog or digital clock faces, for whichever style you prefer reading. It also comes with fall detection for an additional $10 per month.

If you prefer simplicity and aren’t concerned with having a lot of unnecessary features, this medical alert system smartwatch may be a good choice for you. But if you’re looking for a watch with more special features, other medical alert watches might be a better fit, like the Apple Watch, which has ECG (a recording of the heart’s electrical activity), blood oxygen, and health tracking, or the UnaliWear Kanega Watch, which has medication reminders.

SOS All-in-One 2

What you should know about the SOS All-in-One 2

The SOS All-in-One from Bay Alarm Medical is a two-way help button with GPS location tracking and connects to the Caregiver Tracking app. It also comes with an additional wearable help button for protection on the go and at home to help keep peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

What’s included

The SOS All-in-One comes with a two-way speaker help button that you can use to communicate with the monitoring center in the case of an emergency. It also comes with a wearable help button (can be worn around the neck or wrist) that you can use as backup while the all-in-one device is charging. Though, this button doesn’t have two-way communication, so it’s just the button to call for help.

A belt clip and charging cradle for the device is also included. Similar to the SOS Micro system, the SOS All-in-One battery lasts for 72 hours and takes two to three 2–3 hours to fully charge, and it is water-resistant, not waterproof. 

Additional accessories and features

The SOS All-in-One has similar features to the other devices from Bay Alarm Medical, such as Bella Charms, Bella Bands, and the Caregiver Tracking app. Bella Charms cover the additional help button of the SOS All-in-One and come in four different color schemes: leopard print (Gemma), elegant animal print (Marella), starry night with dark tones and sparkles (Stella), and a mix of blue, purple, and pink hues (Marina). Bella Bands come in four colors: Midnight, Sky, Mint, and Lavender.

The Caregiver Tracking app can track a user’s location, activity history, weather, and battery status.

Wall buttons are available as add-ons for $42 each.

The Bay Alarm Medical SOS All-in-One could be a good fit for those wanting protection inside and outside the home and includes many of the accessories and features of the other devices on this list. If you want a specific at-home device or a smartwatch, check out the other medical alert systems on this list.

How much does a Bay Alarm Medical system cost?

Bay Alarm Medical alert systems range from $24.95–$64.95 per month, depending on the system you choose, whether you bundle systems, and whether you want fall detection. You have the option to select monthly, quarterly, or annual payment plans. See the table below for more details.

Does Medicare cover Bay Alarm Medical systems?

Original Medicare doesn’t cover medical alert systems, but if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (Medicare Part C), you may qualify for support, depending on your specific plan. Check with your insurance provider to determine if you’re covered.

Warranty and ways to save on Bay Alarm Medical systems

Bay Alarm Medical offers different types of optional warranties, depending on the system you purchase.

• SOS Home: $2.95 per month for the extended in-home warranty. Includes lifetime battery replacement, one base system replacement per contractual year, and 50% off accessory replacements.
• SOS Micro: $2.95 per month for both GPS Mobile Lite & Plus options. Includes one free device replacement per contractual year and 50% off accessory replacements. Or $4.95 per month for the Mobile 360° bundle, which covers the mobile warranty plus the in-home warranty.
• SOS Smartwatch: $2.95 per month. Includes one free smartwatch replacement per contractual year and 50% off accessory replacements. Or $4.95 per month for the Home + SOS Smartwatch bundle, which covers the smartwatch warranty plus the in-home warranty.
• SOS All-in-One: $2.95 per month. Includes one free smartwatch replacement per contractual year and 50% off accessory replacements.

Payment methods

Bay Alarm Medical accepts payments in the form of credit or debit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club.

The Bay Alarm Medical app and accessories

Bay Alarm Medical offers several accessories (see table below) as well as a Caregiver Tracking app, which allows caregivers to track a medical alert system user’s location, activity history, battery status, and local weather.

Add-on accessories for Bay Alarm Medical

Bay Alarm Medical customer service and satisfaction

You can contact Bay Alarm Medical three ways:

• Phone: 877-522-9633, Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m PT
• Email: cs@bayalarmmedical.com
• Chat: In the lower-right corner of the Bay Alarm Medical website, you can message online support, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 pm PT, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT. You’ll need to fill out a form with your name, email address, and phone number.

On the website, the company also has an FAQ page and helpful videos and help guides on how to use Bay Alarm Medical medical alert systems.

Compare Bay Alarm to other medical alert companies