Is the Bay Alarm Medical necklace waterproof?

Yes, the pendant necklace offered by Bay Alarm Medical is waterproof, so customers can use it in the shower.

What network does MobileHelp use?

MobileHelp utilizes AT&T’s cellular network. That’s something to consider if you live in an area with poor AT&T coverage.

What is the highest rated medical alert system for seniors?

It’s important for seniors to thoroughly evaluate different medical alert systems and to choose a system that aligns with their lifestyle, medical needs, and budget. Our dedicated reviewers have comprehensively studied different medical alert systems and devices, which you can review here .

How much is MobileHelp a month?

The cost of MobileHelp packages varies from $19.95-$54.95 per month, depending on the system you choose.

What are the different MobileHelp systems?

MobileHelp offers a variety of in-home and mobile systems, including In-Home Classic, In-Home Wired Home, In-Home Touch Classic, On-the-Go Solo, On-the-Go Micro, Duo, MobileHelp Duo, and Touch Duo.

MobileHelp vs. Bay Alarm Medical: Pros and Cons

Updated: Jul 17, 2022

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BEST AT-HOME SYSTEM
BEST PRICING OPTIONS

When considering the use of a medical alert system, there are dozens of companies with packages that utilize the latest technology for both in-home and mobile devices. These companies offer features such as GPS tracking, fall detection, Wi-Fi and bluetooth connectivity, and tech-forward caregiver tools to help seniors and their loved ones find a package that works well for their individual medical and personal needs. With all of these available options, it is easy to become overwhelmed. This article compares two popular companies, MobileHelp and Bay Alarm Medical, to help you navigate the process of choosing the right medical alert system.

How Do Medical Alert Systems Work?

MobileHelp has summarized how medical alert systems work in four easy steps:

The user presses the pendant or portable emergency fall button.
The user’s information and location are sent to emergency operators.
The emergency operators—all of whom are based in the United States— establish a two-way communication and assess the situation.
The operators contact a neighbor, family member, or emergency services based on the user’s specific need.

In a medical emergency, having a medical alert device can quickly help you get the care you need.

Who Should Consider a Medical Alert Device?

Medical alert devices can offer immediate assistance from emergency responders in the case of a medical emergency. The following people might consider using a medical alert device:

Those who prefer to live alone
Elderly individuals
Seniors who use mobility assisted devices (walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs)
Seniors who have sensory deficits (vision or hearing)
Those who have a history of falls or are at a high risk for falls
Seniors who have a history of inconsistent medication management
Seniors with a cognitive deficit or memory impairment
Those who have a chronic medical condition that might require emergency services

MobileHelp Overview

Now a top-ranked medical device company, MobileHelp was the first company to provide medical alert devices that operated through a cellular network as opposed to a landline connection, thus giving customers the ability to remain protected while out of the home. MobileHelp is a reputable company and America’s leading provider in Mobile-Personal Emergency Response System (M-PERS) technology, for which the company is aptly named.
The company’s response time is as fast as 17 seconds on average, leaving customers satisfied with the help they receive in emergency situations.

MobileHelp offers a variety of in-home and mobile packages, which are explained below:

In Home Classic

This is the most basic in-home package, including a base unit and wearable, waterproof help button.

In Home Wired Home

This is similar to the Classic, but the base unit runs on a landline connection versus a cellular connection.

In Home Touch Classic

The Touch Classic is a touchscreen tablet device that has unique add-on features, such as medication reminders, activity tracking, and brain games.

On The Go Solo

The mobile cellular system is equipped with GPS tracking and does not require a base station. The wearer simply has their mobile device and a wearable help button, and there is a 600-foot coverage range between the device and the help button. This is a great option for those who prefer to be out of the home.

On The Go Micro

Similar to the Solo, this mobile cellular system is appropriately named, with the device weighing in at only 1.8 ounces. It’s still equipped with GPS tracking, but unfortunately does not include fall detection.

Mobile Duo

This package is designed for couples or roommates who enjoy spending a majority of their time out of the house. It offers two of the Solo devices for $44.95 per month.

MobileHelp Duo

This package is a bundle, which includes the base station from the Classic package and the Solo device. It offers coverage for both in-home and on-the-go systems.

Touch Duo

This is a hybrid package, which includes a touchscreen tablet (offered in the Touch Classic), as well as a mobile unit and help button, giving you the option to monitor one or two users.

In-Home Options

Options	Classic	Wired Home	Touch Classic
Cost	$19.95 per month	$24.95 per month	$54.95 per month
Connection type	AT&T cellular	Landline	AT&T cellular

Options

Cost
Classic	$19.95 per month
Wired Home	$24.95 per month
Touch Classic	$54.95 per month

Connection type
Classic	AT&T cellular
Wired Home	Landline
Touch Classic	AT&T cellular

On-The-Go Options

Options	Solo	Micro	Mobile Duo	MobileHelp Duo	Touch Duo
Cost	$37.95 per month	$33.95 per month	$44.95 per month	$41.95 per month	$54.95 per month

Options

Cost
Solo	$37.95 per month
Micro	$33.95 per month
Mobile Duo	$44.95 per month
MobileHelp Duo	$41.95 per month
Touch Duo	$54.95 per month

MobileHelp Pros & Cons

Pros

Low priced in-home systems
Cellular compatibility for both in-home and mobile systems for those without a landline
Bundle packages for couples
Bundle packages including both in-home and mobile systems
Wider range of caregiver tools

Cons

Activation fee of $49.95-$99.95, depending on package
No locked-in plan rates; can increase over time

Bay Alarm Medical Overview

When it comes to affordability, Bay Alarm Medical offers quality products for a competitive price. Bay Alarm Medical makes it easy for customers to understand exactly what they are purchasing, while also offering add-on features for caregivers. With fast response times of 45 seconds or less and excellent customer service reviews, Bay Alarm Medical can help keep you safe and independent both in and out of your home. Not only does Bay Alarm Medical market to older adults, but its advanced technology appeals to family members, caregivers, or loved ones of any age who might benefit from a medical alert device. Bay Alarm Medical offers four packages:

In-Home

On-the-Go

SOS Smartwatch

Bundle Packages

In-the-Home Options

Options	In-Home Basic	In-Home Preferred	In-Home Premium
Cost	$24.95 per month	$29.95 per month	$39.95 per month
Connection type	Landline	LTE Cellular	LTE Cellular
Start up/activation fee	None	None	None
Contract	Not Required	Not Required	Not Required

Options

Cost
In-Home Basic	$24.95 per month
In-Home Preferred	$29.95 per month
In-Home Premium	$39.95 per month

Connection type
In-Home Basic	Landline
In-Home Preferred	LTE Cellular
In-Home Premium	LTE Cellular

Start up/activation fee
In-Home Basic	None
In-Home Preferred	None
In-Home Premium	None

Contract
In-Home Basic	Not Required
In-Home Preferred	Not Required
In-Home Premium	Not Required

On-the-Go Options

Options	Mobile Lite	Mobile Plus	Mobile 360 bundle
Cost	$29.95 per month	$39.95 per month	$49.95 per month
Device fee	$79	$79	$79
Caregiver tracking	Yes	Yes	Yes
Mobile Fall Detection	No	Yes	Yes

Options

Cost
Mobile Lite	$29.95 per month
Mobile Plus	$39.95 per month
Mobile 360 bundle	$49.95 per month

Device fee
Mobile Lite	$79
Mobile Plus	$79
Mobile 360 bundle	$79

Caregiver tracking
Mobile Lite	Yes
Mobile Plus	Yes
Mobile 360 bundle	Yes

Mobile Fall Detection
Mobile Lite	No
Mobile Plus	Yes
Mobile 360 bundle	Yes


Mobile Lite
Mobile Plus
Mobile 360 bundle

*Bay Alarm Medical does offer free shipping and a free month for certain quarterly and annual payment plans, but you can also continue to pay monthly.

SOS Smartwatch Options

Options	SOS Smart Watch	In-Home plus Smart Watch
Cost	$29.95 per month	$39.95 per month
Device fee	$159	$159
Location tracking	Yes	Yes
Bundle discount		$39.95

Options

Cost
SOS Smart Watch	$29.95 per month
In-Home plus Smart Watch	$39.95 per month

Device fee
SOS Smart Watch	$159
In-Home plus Smart Watch	$159

Location tracking
SOS Smart Watch	Yes
In-Home plus Smart Watch	Yes

Bundle discount
SOS Smart Watch
In-Home plus Smart Watch	$39.95

Bay Alarm Medical Pros & Cons

Pros

No startup fees
No required contracts, with payment options for monthly, quarterly, or annually
Wide range of affordable plans
Free coverage for spouse
Variety of caregiver tools

Cons

Add-on features raise the monthly cost
Tech-forward options, which can be limiting for those who are seeking more basic features

Bay Alarm Medical vs. MobileHelp Comparison

Features	Bay Alarm Medical	MobileHelp
Water resistant?	Yes	Yes
Connection types	Landline, LTE Cellular, mobile +GPS	Landline, LTE Cellular, mobile +GPS
Call center	U.S.-based, 24/7 availability	U.S.-based, 24/7 availability
Call button range	Up to 1,000 feet	Up to 800 feet
Contract	Monthly, quarterly, annual contracts available. No long-term contract required.	Monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual contracts available. No long-term contract required.
In-home system	Starting price $24.95 per month	Starting price $19.95 per month
Mobile system	Starting price $29.95 per month	Starting price $29.95 per month
Equipment fee	$159 for SOS Smartwatch $79 for GPS button	$79.99 for Micro system
Activation fee	None on home system; varies for mobile system	$49.95-$99.95 on select systems
Automatic Fall Detection	Yes—$10 per month	Yes—$10 per month
GPS	Yes	Yes
Battery life	32-hour backup battery in the base station Up to five years for the non-rechargeable in-home call button Up to five days for the battery in the 4G/LTE mobile button	Base station: 30-plus-hour backup battery Help button: five-plus years Mobile device: 24 hours
Additional Features
Fall detection	$10 per month	$10 per month
Lockbox	$30	Free for new customer
Telehealth services	Not available	$9.95 per month
Spouse monitoring device	Yes—available as add-on feature	Yes—available with some packages
Wall buttons	$5-10 per month	$2.95 per month per button

Features

Water resistant?
Bay Alarm Medical	Yes
MobileHelp	Yes

Connection types
Bay Alarm Medical	Landline, LTE Cellular, mobile +GPS
MobileHelp	Landline, LTE Cellular, mobile +GPS

Call center
Bay Alarm Medical	U.S.-based, 24/7 availability
MobileHelp	U.S.-based, 24/7 availability

Call button range
Bay Alarm Medical	Up to 1,000 feet
MobileHelp	Up to 800 feet

Contract
Bay Alarm Medical	Monthly, quarterly, annual contracts available. No long-term contract required.
MobileHelp	Monthly, quarterly, semiannual, and annual contracts available. No long-term contract required.

In-home system
Bay Alarm Medical	Starting price $24.95 per month
MobileHelp	Starting price $19.95 per month

Mobile system
Bay Alarm Medical	Starting price $29.95 per month
MobileHelp	Starting price $29.95 per month

Equipment fee
Bay Alarm Medical	$159 for SOS Smartwatch $79 for GPS button
MobileHelp	$79.99 for Micro system

Activation fee
Bay Alarm Medical	None on home system; varies for mobile system
MobileHelp	$49.95-$99.95 on select systems

Automatic Fall Detection
Bay Alarm Medical	Yes—$10 per month
MobileHelp	Yes—$10 per month

GPS
Bay Alarm Medical	Yes
MobileHelp	Yes

Battery life
Bay Alarm Medical	32-hour backup battery in the base station Up to five years for the non-rechargeable in-home call button Up to five days for the battery in the 4G/LTE mobile button
MobileHelp	Base station: 30-plus-hour backup battery Help button: five-plus years Mobile device: 24 hours

Additional Features
Bay Alarm Medical
MobileHelp

Fall detection
Bay Alarm Medical	$10 per month
MobileHelp	$10 per month

Lockbox
Bay Alarm Medical	$30
MobileHelp	Free for new customer

Telehealth services
Bay Alarm Medical	Not available
MobileHelp	$9.95 per month

Spouse monitoring device
Bay Alarm Medical	Yes—available as add-on feature
MobileHelp	Yes—available with some packages

Wall buttons
Bay Alarm Medical	$5-10 per month
MobileHelp	$2.95 per month per button

Is MobileHelp or Bay Alarm Medical Right for You?

There are many similarities that exist between MobileHelp and Bay Alarm Medical. Both companies offer easy-to-use in-home and mobile packages, with options for more basic features and advanced caregiver features. The main difference between the two companies is how they offer bundle packages and available add-on features. Regardless of which company you decide to move forward with, you can rest assured knowing that both are top-rated and offer quality products to help keep you protected in a time of need.

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, including MobileHelp and Bay Alarm Medical, to better understand features and provide the most accurate feedback and recommendations for our readers.

To decide on our top picks, 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.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, the pendant necklace offered by Bay Alarm Medical is waterproof, so customers can use it in the shower.
: MobileHelp utilizes AT&T’s cellular network. That’s something to consider if you live in an area with poor AT&T coverage.
: It’s important for seniors to thoroughly evaluate different medical alert systems and to choose a system that aligns with their lifestyle, medical needs, and budget. Our dedicated reviewers have comprehensively studied different medical alert systems and devices, which you can review here.
: The cost of MobileHelp packages varies from $19.95-$54.95 per month, depending on the system you choose.
: MobileHelp offers a variety of in-home and mobile systems, including In-Home Classic, In-Home Wired Home, In-Home Touch Classic, On-the-Go Solo, On-the-Go Micro, Duo, MobileHelp Duo, and Touch Duo.

WRITTEN BY

DANIELLE PAGANO

Writer & Contributor

Danielle Pagano is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner currently practicing Internal Medicine in rural Illinois. She has extensive experience in primary and long term care, including preventive medicine and complex chronic disease management. Danielle has participated in several medical mission trips, serving communities in Brazil, Kenya, and Ethiopia. As a working mother of three young children, Danielle appreciates spending her time outside connecting with nature while hiking or running, or relaxing with her husband.