Bay Alarm ® Medical Alert Systems
Bay Alarm Medical ® Medical Alert System – Full Review
- Available on:
BayAlarmMedical.com - Approximate Price:
$23.95 – $61.95 per month - Promotions:
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Bay Alarm Medical provides a single-button system that will get you help one quick push. The company operates three call centers 24/7 so you’ll always have quick access to the help you need.
It offers a variety of different protection products that all center on the core of getting assistance to you quickly.
Different options from Bay will protect you in your home or on the go, and it offers smart pricing options for combining the mobile and home protections. You’re paying for the service and not any equipment so it has a low upfront cost. Add in support in 170 languages and you’re looking at a good performer for senior safety when it comes to medical alarms.
Products
Bay Alarm Medical has a variety of product options that can be right for you depending on your home, mobility and other factors. Let’s take a look at how these different devices work and what might be right for you.
1. In-Home Care
The In-Home medical alert system is the most popular option from Bay. This package comes with two devices, an alert system you’ll plug into the wall and another that you hand around your neck.
The system that plugs into the wall requires a standard power outlet and an active phone line – meaning you must have an active home land phone line – and it looks like a small answering machine.
To set up this item, you just have to take a few steps.
- Remove the large base station from its box.
- Plug in a phone line.
- Plug in your power adapter.
- Push your button for the first test. And you’re good to go.
If you only have a few places in your home where you have a phone line wall plug, you can even plug your regular phone into the base station and then plug the base station into the wall. This allows both to use the same phone line, but it will give preference to the emergency button.
If you need help and are near the base station, you simply hit the bright red, large “HELP” button and it will automatically call for you.
The base station has some great characteristics, including:
- Loud two-way speaker
- Very sensitive microphone to pick up quiet or shaky voices
- Pressing the “HELP” button will also answer any incoming call you have, so you don’t have to hunt for the phone handset.
- Its battery will last up to 32 hours in the event of a power outage.
- The system can be plugged into any phone, so you can bring it with you on vacation or if you’re at a friend’s home who may want to see the service or need to use it.
Not only does this package include a base station, but you also get a help button to wear around your neck. This lightweight button can also be worn on a wristband if one method is easier for you.
The emergency button is light and 100% waterproof, which the company says is very important since 80% of all senior falls happen in the bathroom.
The help button is tied to your base station, so it will only work within a 1,000-foot radius. This means most of your home is covered as well as the front and backyard. The company offers other options if you need more coverage.
Your button will last for 5 years before the battery will need to be replaced. One feature we find very encouraging is that the button will send out a signal before the battery goes. This alert will lead to an announcement from your base station, detailing how to contact Bay Alarm Medical. The company will ship you a free replacement button at no charge.
2. Cellular Service
If you don’t have a landline phone in your home, you can use the company’s 24/7 medical alert service powered by AT&T’s 3G network. This package doesn’t need any phone line at all and it also comes with the emergency button to make sure you’re protected in every room of your home.
The service includes a main base station much like the traditional in-home service, just this button is grey. To install this base station, you just need to plug it in. Once the power is on, press the “HELP” button to test it and then you’re ready to go.
Like the other base station, this cellular-based device offers:
- Loud two-way speaker
- Very sensitive microphone to pick up quiet or shaky voices
- Its battery will last up to 32 hours in the event of a power outage.
- The system will work anywhere that AT&T offers its 3G network. AT&T has a very large coverage area throughout the United States, though the West and Mid-West have some gaps in coverage in especially hilly, barren or desert landscapes.
3. Smoke, Fire and Carbon Monoxide Protection
If you’re concerned with fire or carbon monoxide, you can also add a series of detectors to your home through Bay Alarm Medical.
These detectors not only make sounds like those you but in the hardware store, but they also connect to your base station and alert help at a monitoring station. An operator will call you, any designated people you have on your list, and emergency services in your area.
The company offers both CO detectors and smoke detectors for $120 per year.
4. On The Go
If you’re still active and you want a mobile alert system to go with you everywhere, Bay Alarm Medical offers a GPS medical alert system that uses T-Mobile’s Cellular system.
This little device comes with a belt pouch and lanyard so you can wear it however you like. The company even has a video with a woman keeping it in her purse.
This little button tracks where you are when you press its emergency button and it will connect you with a monitoring station through the speaker located in the device itself.
The company notes that the GPS alert system includes:
- Necklace Style Land-yard
- Carrying Case Belt Clip
- Charging Pod
- USB Charger
You can press the button for help in any emergency and the operator will assist you. If the problem is severe, it can also call your family, friends, or 9ss emergency services.
More Features:
- Sizes: 1.8 X 2.7 X 0.7 Inches
- 72 hours of use on a single charge
- 1 year warranty
- Multi-lingual support
What Does It Cost
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The Cost of Each System |
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| Annually | Quarterly | Monthly | |
| In-Home | $23.95 per month ($287.40 per year) |
$25.95 per month ($77.85 billed every quarter) |
$27.95 per month |
| Cellular | $29.95 per month ($359.40 per year) |
$34.95 per month ($104.85 billed every quarter) |
$39.95 per month |
| GPS | $29.95 per month ($359.40 per year) |
$34.95 per month ($104.85 billed every quarter) |
$39.95 per month |
| Bundle: In-Home and GPS |
$39.95 per month ($479.40 per year) |
$44.95 per month ($134.85 billed every quarter) |
$49.95 per month |
| Bundle: Cellular and GPS |
$47.95 per month ($575.40 per year) |
$54.95 per month ($164.85 billed every quarter) |
$61.95 per month |
Note: You can also get discounts depending on the organizations you belong to, including AARP, AAA and USAA.
Accessories for All
Systems also include a wide range of accessories you can add in to your package, most of which come with only a one-time fee.
Vial of Life – First up is the Vial of Life, a completely free accessory provided with every package or product. This Vial is a magnet that has an area for you to fill out all of your medical information on. Its purpose is to give paramedics or other emergency personnel a quick guide on your information in the even that you can’t speak or answer the door.
Additional Pendent (button) – If you would like an additional button for your spouse or someone else in your home, you can purchase one for a single charge of $34.95.
Lock-box– If you have difficulty answering your door quickly, you can also purchase a lockbox for your front door. You’ll put the keys to your door inside this box and hang it from your front door. The box locks with a combination and the Bay Alarm Medical team will provide the code to any emergency personnel called to your home. This device costs $39.95.
Surge Protector – You can also purchase a surge protector specific for your Bay Alarm Medical devices. Not only does this plug help prevent damages from surges and spikes, but it also comes with a one-year, full replacement warranty for both the surge protector and your medical alert system. This will cost you $49.95.
Land-line Accessories – Landline users also have some extra cable options that can help their system. If you use DSL Internet, you’ll want to pick up a DSL Filter to make sure the In-Home system doesn’t pick up interference from your Internet. This costs $24.95. You can also purchase a longer phone cord, up to 25 feet, for $9.95 so you can make sure the base station is in a central area of your home.
Common Questions
“Does Bay Alarm Medical offer medical alert service in my area?”
Yes, Bay provides nationwide service.
“How long does it take?”
Bay says a technician will call you in under one minute from when you press the emergency button.
“Who does Bay Alarm Medical call in an emergency?”
When you sign up for the service, you will give Bay the names and phone numbers of emergency contacts such as family and neighbors. When an emergency happens, technicians will call you and ask who you would like to speak with. If you don’t respond, the call will automatically be placed to your local 911 services.
you sign up for our service, you will be asked to provide names and phone numbers for emergency contacts such as friends, relatives, neighbors, or even the front desk of your building.
“Can I set up the medical alert system myself?”
Yes. The system is designed for simple installation and Bay says it takes 5 to 10 minutes.
“What happens if I accidentally press the emergency button?”
You can simply tell the technician who calls that it is a false alarm. They’ll verify that everything is okay. You are not charged for false alarms.
Pros
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No installation or cancellation fees |
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You can cancel or change plans at any time |
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Easy to install and use equipment |
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Service in 170 languages |
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Lockbox helps you avoid emergency personnel breaking down a door in the event of an emergency |
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24/7 support, with three call centers |
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Certified by the Central Station Alarm Association |
Cons
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Somewhat pricy compared to other options |
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Limited accessories and tracking, such as fall detection, compared to others |
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Basic packages |
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Some users say it takes longer than a minute to get a response |
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No refunds for an early cancellation of larger policies |
Call Centers from Bay Alarm
The company operates three call centers 24/7 so you will always have quick access to the help you need. The monitoring is USA-based and call centers are CSAA Five Diamond Certified.
Final Recommendation
Bay Alarm Medical offers a great service that has a very strong core. It doesn’t offer the same frills as some other systems, so you’ll always need to remember to take your medication on your own, but it has a great price and service. The backups for call centers and the easy-to-install nature of the product make it perfect for someone who isn’t tech savvy but wants constant support.
We do not sell Bay Alarm Medical products, only review it. We’ve located a great retailer for you to get this service and they can be found at BayAlarmMedical.com.
Have you tried the services from Bay Alarm Medical? Do you have thoughts you think our readers should hear? Scroll down and give us your feedback so we can help everyone choose the right medical alarm system to keep them safe and sound.
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My siblings and I purchased an alarm from (and set up service with) Bay Alarm Medical for our mother in May 2016. I was immediately charged for the alarm pendant. Thinking we were taking advantage of a discount, we set up our account to pay for the service semi-annually.
After several days, I noticed that I had not been charged for the upcoming six months of service and that the equipment (receiver) had not shipped. I called and was informed that there had been an error and had to request that they put through the charge again. Nobody had notified me! Further, at no time did anyone point out that, should my mother pass away and we cancel the service during this six-month period, no refund would be given for the portion of the six-month period occurring after her death (i.e., Bay Alarm does not prorate their service).
My mother passed away in mid-August (2 ½ months into the six-month period), and within days I called Bay Alarm to cancel the service. I encountered the rudest, most unfeeling customer service representative of my entire life, and she left me in tears. When I expressed surprise that no refund would be forthcoming, she repeatedly told me that I had agreed to it (in the fine print) when I set up the service. She was also very rude in informing me (multiple times) that I would be charged for another six months if I didn’t return the equipment before the end of the six-month period we had prepaid. Never once was there any expression of condolence for our loss, or in fact any kind word at all.
After receiving an email confirmation that the service had been cancelled, we unplugged the receiver (as the representative had directed). Immediately, my deceased mother’s cell phone rang, startling all of us. Then my cell phone rang and each of my siblings’ phones rang. Clearly the representative failed to properly cancel the service. We called Bay Alarm back and spoke to another representative, who was also rude and argued with us, not once apologizing for Bay Alarm’s error or their lack of kindness. Eventually we spoke to a manager, who assured us that the account was properly canceled and apologized. Since then, my siblings and I have received additional auto-generated phone calls from Bay Alarm. I eventually blocked the number from my cell phone. My husband called Bay Alarm last week (mid-October) to confirm the details on returning the equipment. Unbelievably, he was informed that a copy of my mother’s death certificate was required to close the account (even though we are not getting a refund!). He was treated as if this were the first time anyone had notified Bay Alarm of the cancellation! That, in turn, generated an email expressing condolence and explaining how to return the equipment. However, I am still receiving reminders about an upcoming billing payment that is scheduled, even after Bay Alarm confirmed that they received the equipment! All I can do is shake my head. You sort of assume that the loved one for whom you are purchasing this service will pass away at some point during the contract with Bay Alarm.
Customer service representatives should be trained on dealing with grieving loved ones. Bay Alarm should discontinue their greedy practice of failing to refund a prorated amount of the service fees. At the very least, this greedy policy of not prorating service fees should be prominently disclosed to new customers. Bay Alarm’s internal computer systems need to be updated to communicate with one another, and people need to be more respectful. I can’t believe this company has such good reviews. I would NEVER recommend this company to anyone!