Bay Alarm Medical is a subsidiary of the Bay Alarm company; a long-standing family-owned business dedicated to the security and safety of their clients. They place a premium on customer service and strive to provide each of their customers with a solution to keep them protected at home or on the go.
- Full refunds issued for equipment returned within 14-day trial period
- Given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau
- Family owned and operated since 1946
- Nationwide coverage
- Multi-lingual support
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About Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm Medical is a family owned California business spanning three generations which has been operating for over 70 years. Their main division specializes in security for both homes and companies and offers multiple products to suit these needs such as security systems, cameras, fire alarms and smoke detectors.
They offer numerous medical alert systems and exists mainly to serve the senior community. The company stresses customer satisfaction and protection. Their customer care consultants are required to go through extensive background checks to be eligible for employment, and all of their customer data is both encrypted and password protected to ensure the safety of their customer’s personal information.
The service is available across all 50 U.S. states, including both Hawaii and Alaska. Their main offices are located in Concord, CA, which is one of the larger cities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The company has been in business substantially longer than a good deal of their competition. As a result, they can offer better pricing, due largely in part to lower overhead costs and successful long-term relationships with their vendors.
Available Products
In-Home Medical Alert System
This alert system is one of the highest-rated in the country. The base station is simple to set up and only requires a landline phone jack so it can be used anywhere a jack is available and keeps you covered even if you travel. The base has a 32-hour built-in battery backup so that it will continue working even if you lose power and the help button is 100% waterproof so that you don’t have to worry about it getting wet.
- Includes base station, help button and “Vial of Life” which contains your medical information and can assist paramedics during an emergency dispatch if you are unable to speak
- Up to 1000ft of range
- Connects to wall so there is no battery limit, and there is a 32-hour battery backup in the event of a power outage
- Connects to landline
- No cellular
- Not GPS enabled
- No automatic fall detection (available separately)
In-Home Cellular Medical Alert System
This system is similar to the standard In-Home system except this one runs on cellular and is designed for customers who do not have access to a landline phone jack. The cellular system uses AT&T as its provider, and there is no additional charge for the service. A 3G SIM card powers it. Like the landline version, this base station also features 32-hour battery backup to keep you protected in the event of a power outage.
- Includes cellular base station, help button and “Vial of Life.”
- Up to 1000ft of range from the base station
- Connects to outlet, no battery limit. 32-hour battery backup
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- Not GPS enabled
- No automatic fall detection (available separately)
The emergency help buttons include a lifetime warranty. They are designed to last five years with no recharging. When the battery begins to run low, a signal is sent to the monitoring station, and a brand new one is shipped to the customer free of charge.
Mobile GPS Help Button
This medical alert button is designed for seniors who are often active or on-the-go and need protection while they travel. It is powered by AT&T 3G Cellular, has GPS tracking and offers multi-lingual support.
- Includes necklace style lanyard, carrying case with belt clip, charging pod and USB charger
- Unlimited range wherever AT&T signal is available
- Up to 72 hours battery life on a single charge
- Does not connect to landline
- Cellular-enabled
- GPS enabled
- No automatic fall detection
- Emergency contacts will be notified if necessary
Equipment Options
Here are a few additional products available for purchase:
Automatic Fall Detection Button: $10 / month
$10/mo. in addition to the service plan for In-Home or In-Home Cellular system.
This button is compatible with both the In-Home and In-Home Cellular systems. It can be used in place of the standard alert button and will automatically detect a fall and contact the help center immediately.
- 800ft range
- Waterproof
- 2-year battery life
- Lightweight & compact
- Optimized to minimize false alarms
Bay Alarm Medical Lockbox: $39.95
- Combination-style lock
- You set the secret code. The operators will store it in the system.
- Built tough to withstand the year-round weather.
- Can hold up to 5 sets of keys.
- No hidden costs. No long-term contracts.
Wall “HELP” Buttons: $39.95 or $149.95 for 4-pack
- Up to 1000ft coverage
- 5 Year Battery life
- 100% Waterproof
- Large “HELP” sticker in red for maximum visibility
- Ultra-sticky double-sided tape included with each button
Protection Plan Surge Protector: $49.95
- Ultra compact 600 Joule surge suppressor
- Supports up to 1800 watts
- LED indicator lights
- One-time full replacement of medical alert equipment
- No hidden costs. No long-term contracts.
Vial of Life: $8.95
The Vial of Life is a kit that includes an emergency medical information sheet, durable plastic sleeve, and magnetic strip. It is designed to contain all your medical information so that emergency responders can provide proper assistance as quickly as possible if you are unable to speak.
The business offers their Vial of Life for free with all new subscriptions and charges just $8.95 for each additional kit. The kit can be invaluable in emergency situations where every second counts.
Pricing
| Duration | In-Home Unit | In-Home Cellular Unit | GPS Mobile Button |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $29.95 | $39.95 | $29.95 |
| Quarterly | $27.95 | $37.95 | $27.95 |
| Semi-Annual | $25.95 | $35.95 | $25.95 |
Bay Alarm offers three different payment plans for each of their medical alert systems to allow their customers to choose one that best suits them. These plans are Semi-annual (one payment every six months), Quarterly (pay once per three months) or Monthly (pay month to month).
- Prices start at $25.95 per month
- Equipment is included in the monthly prices
- No activation fee
- The alert buttons come with a lifetime warranty and will be replaced for no additional charge if they stop working at any point.
- There is a 14-day trial period in which the equipment can be returned for a full refund, but if you choose the semi-annual or quarterly plan, you will be charged for any unused months.
- Auto-Fall Detection costs $9.95 extra per month for both In-Home options.
- There is a one-time $80 device fee for the GPS Mobile Help Button.
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Contracts
One of the major benefits of electing to use the service is the lack of contractual obligation. Several competitors lock their customers into contracts that range anywhere from three months to three years, often leaving them hamstrung if they are dissatisfied with the service.
Bay Alarm Medical offers a 14-day trial period that begins the day their medical alert system arrives at your doorstep. The 14-day trial period enables customers ample time to test the range, volume, and communication abilities of the product and make an informed decision.
Although customers do not receive pro-rations or refunds for unused months, the plan flexibility offered by the company allows you to choose a payment structure that will substantially lower your risk if you’re unsure whether you’ll want to be using the service on a long-term basis.
Monitoring Services
Bay Alarm Medical connects you with a trained, live operator any time you push your alert button. Their operators are available 24/7, 365 days of the year. Once you are connected with their representative, they will contact 911 immediately if it is determined that you need medical assistance. They will also be able to contact family, friends, and neighbors as well.
Each of their emergency medical monitoring centers are CSAA Five Diamond Certified. They are located in Ogden, Utah and Rexburg, Idaho, and are duplicates of one another which means that if one center were ever to go offline, the other would provide immediate emergency coverage in its place.
Compatible Phone Service Providers
If you plan on using a non-cellular home medical alert system option, it’s important to be certain that your provider will be compatible.
There are three possible connection methods if you are not a cellular customer which are:
- Standard landline service
- DSL phone service
- VoIP / Cable service
Many homes in the U.S. still have a standard landline connection available. If this is true for you, there’s a good chance that your alert system will be compatible. The standard landline is the most reliable connection method overall because it is the least likely to have service issues.
DSL is an acronym for “Digital Subscriber Line.” Using a DSL connection for your home medical alert system is less optimal because data is transmitted through your regular phone line. Static interference is a common issue run into by those who use this connection method.
If you do plan on using a DSL connection, you will need to purchase a DSL filter. The company will provide these filters to customers. It is important to note, however, that those using a VoIP or cable bundle service do not need to use a DSL filter. You will only need a DSL filter if your home is specifically utilizing a DSL phone service.
If you’re using a VoIP service, you probably know that it uses your internet service to place phone calls through your IP network.
Comcast and AT&T are providers of these types of services as well as cable bundles, which simply refer to a combination of cable, phone, and internet. To use a medical alert system that is compatible with this type of service, you’ll need to purchase a unit that can handle a digital phone service, which you should see somewhere in the name.
Multi-Lingual Support
Regardless of what your native language is, there’s a good chance that Bay Alarm Medical has representatives that can communicate with you.
The alert system supports over 170 languages. Some of their most popular non-English languages include Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Farsi, and Russian.
Range
Depending on which alert system you choose, it will have an approximate designated range in which it will operate.
The In-Home Medical Alert System has a base station which docks to a landline. From wherever it is plugged in, your alert button will function at up to 1,000 feet from that location. The In-Home Cellular Medical Alert System has the same range as the regular In-Home system. The only difference between the two systems is that the standard in-home version must be connected to a landline whereas the cellular version only needs to be connected to the wall via AC adapter.
The Mobile GPS Help Button is a unit that can travel with you wherever you go and essentially has unlimited range as long as you are in an area where AT&T Cellular service is available.
Battery Life
Both the In-Home and In-Home Cellular units have base stations that connect to AC wall adapters for power, so they do not have battery life limits. However, each of these systems features a 32-hour battery backup which means that even if you were to lose power, your base station would still operate for up to 32 hours without being connected to a power source to keep you protected.
The Mobile GPS Help Button will operate for up to 72 hours on a single charge before needing to be re-connected.
Maintenance and Testing
Testing your alert system is both simple and straightforward.
To test the unit, you can use either your pendant or you can press the “HELP” button. Both options will connect you to the dispatch center and should only take a matter of seconds.
Once you’re connected to a representative, you may simply ask them whether they’re able to hear you clearly and notify them that you are testing to make sure your alert system is operating correctly.
Each representative is extremely helpful and easy to speak to; you can test your system any time you feel you want to check to make sure it is working properly, even if just for peace of mind. There is no limit to how often you can test your system, but the company recommends testing about once a week.
If you’d like to see a live video demonstration, you may do so here:
Installation Process
The installation process is simple. Once you order your medical alert system, it will be shipped to you and arrive ready to use. All the customer needs to do is plug the unit in, press the “test” button and that’s it.
Customer Service
The company provides consultation, tech support, and customer service from their headquarters in California which can be reached by calling 1-877-522-9633. The company keeps their medical monitoring completely separate from their day-to-day operations to ensure that their call centers can handle as much volume as possible.
Their business hours are 7am-5pm PST on Monday-Friday and 9am-4pm PST on Saturdays and Sundays.
Feedback
Bay Alarm has a perfect grade of A+ from the Better Business Bureau and have been a BBB Accredited business since February of 2009.
Over the last 3 years, 50 complaints were closed. 15 of these complaints have been closed within the last 12 months.
Many of the customer complaints appear to be those who did not clearly understand the company’s trial period stipulations or return policy. The issues that are often mentioned are generally avoidable with better understanding of the refund rules, so it is important to do adequate research and understand your options prior to purchasing a medical alert system.
The negative experiences are minimal considering how long the company has been operating, and their rating seems to speak for itself in terms of reliability and customer satisfaction. Other reviews of the company show that the general consensus is positive.
Our Bay Alarm Medical Review
When it comes to medical alert systems, you want a company you can trust and one that has your best interests in mind. As a family owned business and one that places the utmost importance on their customer’s satisfaction, Bay Alarm certainly fits this criterion. Their variety of medical alert systems and payment plans will ensure that you find the right one for your needs.