Medical Guardian Review 2025: A Reliable Medical Alert System We Like

Medical Guardian

Overall rating 9.9/10

• No contract
• Automatic Fall Detection
• Five-Diamond Certified Monitoring Center

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If you’re in the market for a medical alert system, Medical Guardian is a good choice, according to our research and testing.

Not only does Medical Guardian offer a variety of models and prices, but you don’t have to sign a long-term contract like with some other medical alert systems. Its devices held up well during our testing, and the brand has had a strong reputation in the medical alert system industry since its founding twenty years ago. 

We researched Medical Guardian, tested its devices, and compared it to other medical alert companies to help you choose the best medical alert system for your needs.

Medical Guardian pros and cons

Pros:

• Special offers: Medical Guardian often has special promotional offers, such as a free month of service, free ground shipping, and a free lockbox during Heart Health Month.
• Fast response time: We tested response time on Medical Guardian devices and found that they always averaged less than 60 seconds, which is the gold standard in the industry.
• Refund policy: If you cancel your policy before the end of your service period, Medical Guardian will give you a refund for the days that aren’t used.
• Power outage backup: Medical Guardian in-home systems use backup batteries, giving you up to 32 hours of continuous protection in a power outage.
• System customization: Customize your system to fit your needs by adding wall buttons, wearable devices like necklaces or medical alert bracelets, and automatic fall detection. The MGMove smartwatch also offers upgrades that give you reminders and the ability to text your circle of contacts.

Cons:

• Most devices have equipment fees: Depending on the system you choose, you may have to pay a one-time equipment fee of up to $199.95.
• Extra notifications cost more: You can add an extra emergency notification (called OnGuard Alert) that notifies your caregivers in an emergency rather than just calling the monitoring center. OnGuard costs $2.99 per month on top of your system price.
• No smoke or carbon dioxide detection: For people looking for an all-in-one alert system, this could be a drawback.

Medical Guardian cost

Medical Guardian costs between $34–$49 per month and offers several payment options, including monthly, quarterly, or annual plans. Choosing an annual payment plan will help you save the most, and your subscription includes one free month of service, a free lockbox, and free shipping.

Medical Guardian is more expensive than most other medical alert system companies. Most companies we’ve reviewed have starting monthly prices of $20–$25. The brand says its excellent customer service is what makes it less affordable than others in the space, and we have had positive experiences with customer service representatives we’ve interacted with in our testing.

Medical Guardian accepts payments via check, credit card, or check by phone.

Medical Guardian cost by model

*One-time fee

Compare Medical Guardian models

Our thoughts on Medical Guardian devices

MGClassic

What you should know about the MGClassic

The MGClassic is Medical Guardian’s least expensive option. It connects to your landline, making it a good choice for anyone who doesn’t have a cell phone or strong cell service. The system includes a necklace and wristband. Both are water-resistant, so you can wear them in the shower or while working outside. They are not waterproof, so you shouldn’t submerge them in water. The MGClassic’s lower price comes with fewer features. The necklace and wristbands do not have a two-way speaker like every other Medical Guardian device-just a help button. You can still speak to the monitoring center using the two-way speaker on the base unit, and if you press the help button on the base but don’t say anything, the monitoring center staff will assume you need help and send it your way.

MGHome Cellular

What you should know about the MGHome Cellular

The MGHome Cellular also comes with a wristband and necklace, but it doesn’t need a landline like the MGClassic. Instead, it connects through LTE and Wi-Fi. And unlike the MGClassic and other home-based systems, the MGHome Cellular device is portable; you can take your wearable device and base unit with you when you travel. All you have to do is contact the customer service department so they can update your address. When you return home, you’ll need to call customer service to change your address back to your full-time residence.

Though you can’t activate the device with your voice alone, you can press the small “information” button on the base unit (not the larger “help” button), which triggers Voice Assist technology. Voice Assist gives you updates on your device’s battery and cellular network strength.

MGMini

What you should know about the MGMini

The MGMini is one of the smallest on-the-go medical alert systems available today. At barely two inches high, it’s about the height of a credit card and can be worn as a necklace or clipped to your pocket, belt loop, or purse. We like the fact that the device is available in four colors: rose gold, pearl, silver, and black. 

The MGMini has a help button, a two-way speaker, and a five-day battery life, and it can contact the monitoring center anywhere with cellular service. Fall detection is available for $10 per month. Although you can add built-in fall detection to the MGMini or order a separate fall detection necklace, we recommend adding fall detection directly to your MGMini, so you’ll only have to keep track of one medical alert necklace.

Like previous Medical Guardian mobile systems, the MGMini connects to the MyGuardian caregiver app. The app includes:

• Step tracking
• GPS location monitoring
• Battery and connection status
• A ringer to locate the device if it’s misplaced or missing

MGMini Lite

What you should know about the MGMini Lite

The MGMini Lite is the first Medical Guardian bracelet with optional fall detection. This sleek black bracelet looks like a fitness tracker or smartwatch but without a touchscreen. It includes a help button and a two-way speaker for quick, easy access to the monitoring center.

We were pleasantly surprised by the bracelet’s fall detection accuracy- the MGMini Lite detected all but one of our falls.

The on-the-go system weighs less than a pencil and connects to a monitoring center anywhere with Verizon cellular service. This makes the MGMini Lite an excellent choice if you enjoy independent activities outside your home and want a medical alert bracelet instead of a necklace.

The MGMini Lite has the same MyGuardian app features as the MGMini but has a shorter battery life of three days. The $149.95 equipment fee may also be discouraging for some shoppers.

MGMove

What you should know about the MGMove

The MGMove is an on-the-go medical alert system in the form of a smartwatch, so no one even needs to know you’re wearing an alert system. Respondents to our survey chose smartwatches as the most desired type of wearable medical alert system.

The MGMove is also the most advanced on-the-go system from Medical Guardian. It includes GPS tracking, voice-to-text messaging, and several apps that allow you to:

• Track your fitness goals
• Keep in touch with friends and family
• Get medication and appointment reminders

Since it’s an on-the-go system, it has an unlimited device range. With a touch of the alert button, you can contact the Medical Guardian monitoring center from anywhere, provided the connection is reliable.

Because it’s a smartwatch, the advanced features may be difficult for those who prefer simpler technology or have dexterity issues, as the buttons are small.

Medical Guardian add-ons and accessories

You can add the following optional devices and services to your system for an extra cost:

OnGuard Alert

OnGuard Alert provides you and your care network (such as caregivers) with real-time emergency notifications. You can get alerts by text or email. This feature costs an extra $2.99 per month and lets you add up to four contacts.

Wireless wall button

Wireless wall buttons make it easier to quickly call for help in rooms without a base unit, such as bathrooms and kitchens. By pressing the button, you can contact the monitoring center in an emergency. Like OnGuard Alert, wall buttons cost an extra $2.99 per month.

Voice-activated wall button

With the voice-activated wall button, you can call for help by saying the key phrase, “Help me, help me!” The button then alerts the monitoring center as long as you are less than 500 feet from your base station. This feature is an extra $4.99 per month.

Protection plan

The protection plan provides repairs and replacement on devices damaged by wear and tear, accidents, spills, or power surges. The protection plan also includes unlimited technical support and costs an extra $6.99 per month.

Fall detection

Almost all Medical Guardian devices come with the option of adding fall detection for an extra $10 per month. If you fall while wearing the fall detection device, it’s designed to contact the monitoring center automatically. But no fall detection device is 100% accurate, so if you can press the button after a fall you should always do so.

When we tested the Medical Guardian fall detection option, we found it successfully detected falls from a standing position. Fall detection is complex, and the technology uses multiple criteria to identify falls, including speed, angle, motion, and distance. Be aware that false positives can occur (when the machine mistakenly detects a fall that hasn’t happened) from things like dropping your device or the device falling off a table. In the event of a false positive, the company will reach out and verify that you don’t need assistance. Our survey respondents chose automatic fall detection as a medical alert system’s most important special feature. That’s likely because preventing falls is a big concern for older adults, their care partners, and those who live alone. In fact, more than one out of four people 65 and older falls each year, and falling once doubles your chances of falling again, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Medical Guardian customer service

The customer service team at Medical Guardian is available by phone, email, or chat on its website. The team is available by phone at 800-295-9350 Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

You can also email the customer service address at mgcustomercare@medicalguardian.com. 

For quick questions, Medical Guardian has a chat service on its website that quickly connects you to an agent. Chat availability is the same as phone availability.

Medical Guardian warranty

If you have an active subscription with Medical Guardian, the company will replace any system or accessory that breaks due to workmanship defects within one year after purchase. “Workmanship defects” include any issues caused by how the device was manufactured. The warranty doesn’t cover equipment that breaks due to normal wear and tear or accidents.

Compare Medical Guardian to other top medical alert systems

Who should consider Medical Guardian?

Anyone who lives alone, has mobility issues, has had a previous fall, or has one or multiple care partners (in-home care nurses, adult children, next-door neighbors, etc.) should consider Medical Guardian. We also recommend the Medical Guardian mobile app because you can add people to your “Care Circle,” which is a list of contacts, such as caregivers or loved ones, who will receive automatic notifications in an emergency.

Medical Guardian offers both cellular and landline medical alert system options so you can choose the best system for your needs.

A medical alert system from Medical Guardian may not work for someone who wants extra features like telehealth services, such as virtual doctor consultations, or daily wellness checks, such as medication reminders. While some medical alert companies offer those features, Medical Guardian does not.