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Bay Alarm Medical’s four distinct alert systems each provide meaningful protection for the most unexpected emergencies.
Updated August 14, 2024
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Medical alert systems are helpful tools for elderly individuals living on their own, but perfectly healthy people of any age can also benefit from having quick access to emergency services. Emergencies can be unexpected and unpredictable, so you can’t be too prepared for such events — especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.
With medical alert devices, emergency services are available at the push of a button. There are several services available, but Bay Alarm Medical is one of the most recognizable and reputable. You’re probably here to find out if it’s right for you, though, so let’s go over pricing, plans, buying experience, setup, features, and more based on our hands-on testing of Bay Alarm Medical.
Bay Alarm Medical home device unboxed
Buying tools or services that enhance your safety should be easy, and that’s thankfully the case with Bay Alarm Medical. As soon as we visited the company’s website, it was clear what plans it offers and the benefits of each. Finding and buying the right product was quick and easy thanks to the detailed descriptions on the site. Once we decided which plan we wanted, everything else fell into place.
Bay Alarm device options
After deciding which service and package you’d like, you can customize it with additional add-ons and amenities. Most hardware fees are included in the subscription, but some additional services and hardware come with an additional fee, such as automatic fall detection and extra buttons. We were impressed by how Bay Alarm Medical offers customizability while staying intuitive and straightforward.
Pro Tip: If fall detection is a top priority for you, check out our guide to the best medical alert systems with fall detection.
By following the support videos on the company’s website, we got the entire system set up in under two minutes. We had no problems getting our devices up and running. Studying and reviewing these products is our job, but even the least tech-savvy customers should be able to get their devices up and running without an issue. If you run into an issue, however, customer support can help.
Tech support is readily available from Bay Alarm Medical. We decided to call them, and we were pleased with how quickly we were able to talk to a real human. We asked a few questions and the agent was patient. After our call, they sent us a follow-up email with more details.
You can get in touch with Bay Alarm Medical customer support via email, phone, or chat. You can also use your medical alert system to get in touch with customer support, but it’s recommended that you reserve pushing the help button for device tests or emergencies only.
How Bay Alarm devices work
Bay Alarm Medical has four medical alert systems, starting with the SOS Home system. The standard home-only system works with a landline, or it can be upgraded to an LTE cellular system for a price. There are three options for the SOS Home system, and each offers 24/7 U.S.-based monitoring with pricing as follows:
Next up is the SOS Mobile system, which allows for protective care outside the home. With 24/7 monitoring and caregiver tracking, the system should help you feel safe anywhere you go. The three sub-plans include SOS Mobile for $29.95 per month, SOS Mobile With Fall Detection for $39.95 per month, and SOS Mobile 360 Bundle for $54.95 per month.
Bay Alarm purchase help and options
For a system that encapsulates the best of SOS Home Cellular and SOS Mobile systems, try the brand-new SOS All-In-One 2. The system is optimized for security both inside and outside the home. Two plans exist for the system, including the SOS All-In-One at $39.95 per month and the SOS All-In-One With Fall Detection at $49.95 per month.
Lastly, there’s the SOS Smartwatch. The swanky and stylish device takes all the safe and secure benefits of an alert device and puts it into a smartwatch format. The basic SOS Smartwatch service costs $34.95 per month. Adding fall detection brings the total up to $44.95 per month, and the SOS Smartwatch 360 Bundle costs $59.95 per month.
Pro Tip: Take a look at our guide to the best medical alert systems to see how Bay Alarm Medical stacks up against some of the top brands in the industry. You may even change your mind and go for another system altogether.
Below is an overview of all of Bay Alarm Medical’s alert systems.
| Bay Alarm Medical Alert systems | System type | Connection type | Monthly plan cost | Equipment fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOS Home Landline | At-home/landline | Landline | $19.95 | $0 |
| SOS Home Cellular | At-home/wireless | Cellular | $29.95 | $0 |
| SOS Home Cellular With Fall Detection | At-home/wireless | Cellular | $39.95 | $0 |
| SOS Mobile | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $29.95 | $79 |
| SOS Mobile With Fall Detection | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $39.95 | $79 |
| SOS Mobile 360 Bundle | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $54.95 | $79 |
| SOS All-In-One | All-in-one | At-home/on-the-go | $39.95 | $129 |
| SOS All-In-One With Fall Detection | All-in-one | At-home/on-the-go | $49.95 | $129 |
| SOS Smartwatch | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $34.95 | $159 |
| SOS Smartwatch With Fall Detection | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $44.95 | $159 |
| SOS Smartwatch 360 Bundle | Mobile/wireless | On-the-go | $59.95 | $159 |
The most important feature of any SOS device is constant access to emergency services. That’s something Bay Alarm Medical achieves with its 24/7 support. There are, however, other features and add-ons that vary for each system.
SOS Home
SOS Mobile
SOS All-In-One 2
SOS Smartwatch
Holding extra pendant for Bay Alarm Medical home device
Pro Tip: If the smartwatches by Bay Alarm Medical caught your eye, check out our review of the best medical alert systems worn as watches. Surprisingly, Apple landed on our list, but you’ll have to read on to find out why.
In addition to the select bundle plans, there is also a variety of add-ons that each subscription offers to add more security benefits. Below is an overview of the add-ons you can include with any system.
| Add-on equipment | Cost | Features and functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Fall detection | $10 per month |
|
| Extra buttons | $39 each |
|
| Wall buttons | $35 each |
|
| Lockbox | $30 each |
|
| Vial of L.I.F.E. Kits | $8 each |
|
| Extra auto fall-detection buttons | $10 each |
|
| Warranty plan | $2.95 per month |
|
| Bella Charms | $25 each |
|
| Bella Bands | $17 each |
|
| Additional charger | $49.95 each |
|
Bay Alarm Medical home device in box
Each plan also comes with access to the Bay Alarm Medical app. That ensures that your information and subscription plans remain up to date, even if you’re not currently near your Bay Alarm Medical device.
Bay Alarm mobile app download page
It’s not necessary to download the app, but we found it useful. It’s where you’ll find guides, general information, payments, transaction histories, subscription statuses, and more without having to contact tech support. The app is also a useful resource for subscribers with caregivers.
A 360 Bundle offer is available with both the SOS Mobile and SOS Smartwatch plans. The bundle includes either the SOS Mobile or SOS Smartwatch, along with the SOS Home System as follows:
| SOS Mobile | SOS Smartwatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Deals and perks | SOS Mobile and SOS Home Systems | SOS Smartwatch and SOS Home Systems |
| Services | Cellular | Cellular |
| Equipment | SOS Mobile System, SOS Home System, lanyard, wrist band | SOS Smartwatch System, SOS Home System, lanyard, wrist band |
Bundling the two systems saves you about $60 per year compared to buying each system separately.
Looking at the Bay Alarm Medical smartwatch
There isn’t a wrong Bay Alarm Medical system, but some may be more useful than others depending on your situation. To answer which plan is right for you, we first need to talk about the benefits of an on-the-go system versus a home system.
Who needs on-the-go medical alert systems?
As their name implies, on-the-go medical alert systems are great for active people who are constantly getting out of the house. Whether you’re going to a nine-to-five job or taking a vacation, the mobile systems add the protections of an at-home alert system while you’re on the move. The mobile nature of the devices means they’ll work even if you’re in another state, since the hotline will patch you through to any available local emergency services. If that sounds like you, go with the SOS Mobile or SOS Smartwatch system.
Who needs home medical alert systems?
Since many (but not all) individuals who need medical alert systems are seniors, many people using the devices aren’t able to leave the house without assistance. If that’s the case for you, a home SOS system will be perfect. We recommend having a mobile medical alert option in case you need to leave your house, but a home system will keep a close watch on your daily activities and will be available to assist you during an emergency.
Pro Tip: Our medical alert system buying guide will tell you what you should be looking for in a device. If saving as much money as possible is your priority, skip ahead to our guide to the cheapest medical alert systems.
Testing Bay Alarm Medical home device
It’s difficult to think of anything Bay Alarm Medical gets wrong. An easy-to-use website, affordable pricing, and diverse subscription options with extra add-ons to fit your needs make it one of the best alert services money can buy. The world is a scary and unpredictable place, and systems like these can help alleviate fears dramatically.
In our extensive reviews of the SOS Home, SOS Mobile, SOS All-In-One, and SOS Smartwatch systems, we found that all four are worthwhile choices. That’s true not just for individuals at an advanced age or with serious health conditions that require close monitoring, but also anyone who wants to keep their health at the forefront in case of an emergency.
They say you should know who to call when an emergency strikes, but you don’t need to do that if you have a Bay Alarm Medical system. Every emergency resource you need is just one click away — or one automatic signal away if you spend the extra 10 bucks on fall detection.
Bay Alarm Medical is powered by 4G LTE cellular data. Depending on your area, the watch runs on either AT&T or Verizon.
That depends on what you’re looking for in a medical watch. The Bay Alarm Medical SOS Smartwatch has a simpler user interface and an easier learning curve. It’s also cheaper. The Medical Guardian smartwatch has more abilities for its wearers to play around with, including calendar alerts and messaging apps, and it has a tracking app that allows caregivers to track you.
After the up-front fee of $159, you’ll pay $34.95 a month to continue using Bay Alarm Medical’s services. If you want the trusty fall detection with your watch, you’ll have to pay an extra $10 a month. That isn’t bad, but we’d prefer it included with the monitoring fee.
No, Medicare usually doesn’t cover Bay Alarm Medical devices. Medicare generally doesn’t cover any medical alert systems, regardless of the company.
Yes, to a point. You probably wouldn’t want to take your SOS Smartwatch with you for a swim, but it offers protection from rainwater and you can use the device while showering, which is one of the times you need it most.
Alzheimer's Association. (Retrieved February 2023). Wandering and getting lost: Who’s at risk and how to be prepared.
https://www.alz.org/media/documents/alzheimers-dementia-wandering-behavior-ts.pdf
National Center for Health Statistics. (Retrieved February 2023). Wireless Substitutions.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/wireless202212.pdf
Bay Alarm News. (2016, April 6). Bay Alarm Brothers Inducted Into Security Sales and Integration Industry Hall of Fame.
https://www.bayalarm.com/news/bay-alarm-brothers-inducted-into-security-sales-and-integration-industry-hall-of-fame/
Bay Alarm Medical: Better Business Bureau® Profile. (Retrieved May 2020). BBB.
https://www.bbb.org/us/ca/concord/profile/medical-alarm/bay-alarm-medical-1116-310903
