Retirement Living takes an unbiased approach to our reviews. We may earn money when you click a partner link. Learn More
ADT Medical Alert Review
4.4 Overall Rating
Coverage Area
Battery Life
Features
Ease of Purchase
Bottom Line
ADT Medical Alert is part of ADT Security Services, which has been in business for more than 140 years. The first product was a telegraph box designed to call for help when police departments could not always be summoned quickly. Today, ADT Medical Alert and On-the-Go personal emergency response systems provide seniors with immediate access to help along with home and GPS location monitoring.
Updated:
About ADT Medical Alert Systems
ADT Medical Alert is part of ADT Health, part of ADT Security Services, which has been in business for more than 140 years. The first product was a telegraph box designed to call for help when police departments could not always be summoned quickly. Today, ADT Medical Alert and On-the-Go personal emergency response systems provide seniors with immediate access to help, along with home and GPS location monitoring.
Trusted security industry magazine SDA estimates that overall, ADT has over 8 million subscribers to its various communications and security systems. Based in Boca Raton, Florida, ADT develops and sells monthly monitoring home security systems, mobile apps and ADT Medical Alert personal emergency response systems for seniors. ADT is one of the best medical alert systems, helping seniors stay independent with hardware, a 24/7 monitoring center, and medical emergency response services.
Pros
- Top-ranked national security company
- Company-owned call centers are located within the U.S.
- Temperature monitoring available on some systems
Cons
- Only one cellular carrier network available for mobile systems
ADT Medical Alert Products
ADT’s three emergency response systems for seniors are the Medical Alert Basic system, Medical Alert Plus, and On-The-Go Emergency Response. We’ve described each below and included an at-a-glance feature and price chart.
All Medical Alert systems allow you to contact highly-trained U.S.-based emergency response operators with one touch of a help button. The emergency response center operator determines whether to contact one of your pre-designated caregivers or loved ones, or to call 911 first responders for help. If you press the button and can’t speak, ADT dispatches 911 immediately. There is currently no caregiver app. Competitors like MobileHelp, Medical Guardian, and Bay Alarm Medical both offer one.
ADT Medical Alert Basic
$29.99 per month
If you want a simple home medical alert system with two-way communication and an emergency button, ADT Medical Alert Basic is a reliable in-home system option.
Features
- In-home range operations
- Landline required
- Home temperature monitoring
This model’s base unit is a waterproof wall-mount button and unit that runs on your home’s landline, and the system includes a waterproof pendant or wristband designed to be worn at all times. If you need help, push the button on the wearable device or base station to contact ADT’s trained representatives. You can speak to the operator on the base unit but not through the wearable device, and the operator dispatches emergency responders if you can’t talk or be heard.
The base unit that comes with ADT Medical Alert Basic detects a button pushed on the wearable device up to 300 feet, about the length of a football field. Wall density and other factors in your home may affect this range, so talk to ADT Medical Alert customer service about testing the system.
ADT Medical Alert Basic includes temperature monitoring. With this service, ADT notifies family members if the system detects an unsafe high or low temperature in the home from the base unit location.
ADT Medical Alert Plus
$35.99 per month
ADT’s Medical Alert Plus system works much like Medical Alert Basic, with emergency help from the base unit or wearable devices, but uses a cellular connection instead of a landline.
Features
- In-home operations
- Fall detection (optional)
- No landline required
- Home temperature monitoring
The price includes cellular service with a 600-foot range from the base to the included water-resistant wristband or pendant. This range is equivalent to two football fields and likely covers you out in your yard. Your home must be located in the AT&T network area.
With ADT Medical Alert Plus, for ease of use, you have the option of using a fall-detecting pendant to detect falls and automatically notify ADT. While the feature works well, the technology is not yet 100 percent accurate, and ADT recommends pushing the emergency button to access emergency personnel in case of a fall.
ADT On-The-Go Emergency Response System
$39.99 per month
ADT’s mobile solution for active seniors who are frequently away from home is the On-The-Go Emergency Response System. Like ADT Medical Alert Plus, this system uses the AT&T cellular network for communication.
Features
- Mobile
- Fall detection (optional)
- No landline required
- GPS location tracking
The On-The-Go system does not have a standard base unit, but it includes an on-the-go device about the size of a beeper or pager, a pendant, and a charging cradle. The On-The-Go mobile device has an emergency button and speakerphone communication with a trained ADT operator. To use the emergency button on the neck pendant or lanyard, it must always be within 100 feet of the mobile device. The On-The-Go model does not include temperature monitoring, but it is waterproof. The On-The-Go system is the only system that includes incident-specific GPS tracking.
ADT Medical Alert Costs and Warranty
No long-term contracts are required with ADT; you can cancel at any time. ADT medical alert devices are designed to be easy to install and set up yourself, but you can pay extra for professional installation. All three ADT systems come with a lifetime warranty for damage, so if you drop or otherwise damage a component, ADT replaces it at no cost. However, coverage does not include lost wearables or base units.
There is no equipment fee, but ADT charges an upfront, one-time activation fee, followed by a monthly per-unit cost. Add-ons include things like an optional fall detection pendant, lockbox, and extra wearables – no smartwatch option at this time. Promotions may reduce the activation fee, and monthly fees are lower with an annual plan.
| Features | Medical Alert Basic | Medical Alert Plus | Medical Alert On-the-Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription Cost (month-to-month prices) | $31.99 | $39.99 | $41.99 |
| Waterproof Pendant or Wristband | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Landline Required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Cellular Service-Based | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Home Temperature Monitoring | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
ADT Medical Alert Systems Complaints
ADT Security, the parent company of ADT Medical Alert, currently holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau with no complaints listed about the medical alert systems.
ADT Medical Alert receives high overall scores from customers, but reviews are mixed. ConsumerAffairs and ConsumerAdvocate each give a 4.5 out of 5 rating, with complaints revolving around activation issues. ADT responded and resolved problems.
ADT Medical Alert Systems FAQs
Yes, you can take your Medical Alert Basic or Plus system with you when you move, but you must update your new address with ADT so emergency services are sent to the right place. The On-The-Go system is fully portable, works anywhere in the U.S. with cellular coverage, and you can take it with you when you travel. For moves or travel, we recommend notifying ADT of your new location for accurate monitoring.
Fall detection is a last line of defense if you become unconscious after a fall. Automatic fall detection technology, like the fall detection pendant, is not yet entirely accurate, so if you fall and can push the emergency button, you need to do so.
In general, no, neither Medicaid nor Medicare covers ADT Medical Alert Systems. However, both Medicare and Medicaid rules vary, so check with your caseworker, state agency, and individual plan providers to determine if you get coverage.
Note that while Medicare Part B does not pay for medical alert systems, some Medicare Advantage plans do, so ask about coverage if you have this insurance.
No contract with AT&T is required. While the ADT Medical Alert Plus and On-The-Go Emergency Response System use the AT&T cellular network for communication, your ADT service includes the cell service.
You have no contract with ADT, so you can cancel at any time. If you have equipment, you have 30 days to receive a full refund (excluding shipping).
The ADT Medical Alert Basic, Medical Alert Plus, and On-The-Go come with 12 to 24 hours of backup battery life in the base or charging cradle. If you lose power for longer, the base unit sends a signal to ADT, letting an emergency response operator know your system will soon be unable to communicate. The operator will then attempt to call you to check on you.
Conclusion
ADT Medical Alert offers options for personal safety systems that are easy to choose from, and the portable nature of all three systems is a plus. The lifetime warranty eliminates concerns about additional expenses if the system is damaged or stops working. ADT’s operators are highly trained to evaluate emergency situations and determine whether a 911 call or contacting a friend or relative is the best solution. Medical Alert and On-The-Go systems give seniors and their family members peace of mind while allowing for independent living.
For comparisons with other medical alert systems, read: