What Is a Medical Alert Bracelet?
Medical alert bracelets are a way to communicate your pertinent medical information to emergency responders in case you cannot do so. These bracelets are simple pieces of medical technology that ensure you receive appropriate medical care in case of an emergency. They are different from mobile medical alert devices, which include a help button worn as a necklace or bracelet. Also referred to as a personal emergency response system, medical alert devices can help immediately connect you to emergency services during an emergency. When the button is pressed, you are directly connected to a dispatcher at a designated monitoring center who can help track your location, contact your family members or caregivers, and dispatch emergency personnel to assist you.
Who Should Consider a Medical Alert Bracelet or Medical Alert Device?
A medical alert bracelet or mobile medical alert device can be a useful tool for many people. You might consider a medical alert bracelet if:
- You have a chronic medical condition that could cause a medical emergency. According to the CDC, 85 percent of individuals aged 65 years and older have at least one chronic medical condition. These conditions, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, can cause symptoms requiring prompt assistance.
- You have a chronic disability or physical condition that requires use of an assistive device such as a cane, walker, or wheelchair.
- You live alone.
- You are above the age of 65.
- You are at a high risk of falls.
There are many ways to go about purchasing a medical alert bracelet or mobile medical alert device, which we’ll discuss below.
Buy Directly From the Company
Most medical alert companies have all the information you would need about their available packages and pricing posted on their secure company website. To order a medical alert device from the company, you would need to select the device, choose a monitoring plan, and enter your delivery information and credit card number. Most companies will offer standard shipping options, which might cost extra depending on the option you choose.
Some companies, like Medical Guardian, offer customers a questionnaire to help you navigate the available plans and devices to find the option that best fits your needs. Once you complete the questionnaire and enter your contact information, the company will send you a free quote with the options and pricing it feels would best fit your needs. If you have questions along the way, the customer service line is available, as well as a Live Chat feature on the website where a company representative can help directly answer your questions in real time. Here’s a screenshot taken directly from Medical Guardian’s website as it helped individualize a plan for a potential customer.
This is the first question in the customer survey to help find the right device for you. Once the survey is complete, the company creates a table of options it feels would best suit this customer, including some information about each device. This creates a user-friendly experience and can help you navigate the potential dozens of available options without any hassle.
Bay Alarm Medical also makes the process of purchasing a medical alert bracelet or device seamless. The pricing is transparent and easy to understand, and you can choose your device and monitoring plan via a simple step-by-step process. The company also offers a live chat function, so your questions can be answered by a company representative in real time.
Shop at Local Retailer or Authorized Dealer
You might also be able to purchase a medical alert bracelet at your local pharmacy. For example, Walgreens offers standard medical ID bracelets for both in-store and online purchase (with the ability to purchase online and ship to your local store) that provide general medical information for the wearer, such as “diabetic” or “blood thinner,” which can be helpful in case of a medical emergency. These standard bracelets are typically less expensive than engraved bracelets. You can purchase an engraved medical alert/ID bracelet through Walmart’s website. The engravement is handled by a third party medical device company and can be shipped directly to you or your local store. You can also purchase medical alert devices through Walmart or CVS. For example, Medical Guardian offers its MiniGuardian and Active Guardian for purchase through Walmart. There are some other lesser known companies that sell help buttons and wearable medical alert devices for purchase through Walmart and CVS.
Purchase Over the Phone
You can also contact the company by phone and purchase your device directly from it with the help of a company representative. A product expert can answer any questions you might have about the device and/or monitoring plan during this discussion, and a salesperson can discuss payment options and available discounts.
Shop Online
Our expert reviewers have made finding the right medical alert bracelet or mobile medical alert device a seamless process. You can check out our list of the best medical alert bracelets while comparing available features and costs.
Can You Return a Medical Alert Bracelet That Is Purchased Online?
If the medical alert bracelet is generic, meaning it doesn’t have your personal information or a custom engravement on it, you should be able to return the product. If you’ve customized your alert bracelet, you may be offered the option to change or update the engravement, but you likely will not be able to return the product for a full refund.
If you’ve purchased a monitoring plan for a mobile medical alert device, you should be able to contact the company’s customer service line to cancel your plan at any time. Some companies will then have you mail the equipment back to the company. If you purchase a medical alert smartwatch device, like the one that’s offered through Bay Alarm Medical, that’s a one time purchase and the equipment is yours to keep. Life Alert is one company that requires a three year contract, which can be rather difficult to cancel. If you’re unsure how long you wish to use the device, it would be a good idea to discuss the cancellation or return policy with the company prior to making your purchase.
Bottom Line
Medical alert bracelets and mobile medical alert devices are easy ways that can help ensure your safety in case of a medical emergency. There are many different ways to go about purchasing a medical alert device, such as online, over the phone, or through your local retailer. Be sure to review your available options and various costs before making your purchase.
Why You Can Trust Our Expert Review
Our experts independently research and recommend products we believe provide value to the lives of our readers. We’ve collectively spent more than 1,700 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. Our team tested multiple medical alert devices to better understand features and provide the most accurate feedback and recommendations for our readers.
Here’s what we did:
- Engaged in ongoing independent research
- Consulted with geriatricians and adult caregivers
- Mystery shopped the brands
- Surveyed medical alert system users
- Tested various medical alert systems
- Interviewed experts in the field
- Read hundreds of verified customer reviews from trusted third parties such as Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports
Learn more about our in-depth medical alert system testing and scoring process.
