Medical Guardian Medical Alert Systems

The Medical Guardian personal emergency response system is on the higher end of the medical alert industry, and it continually receives outstanding online reviews. The company delivers some of the best devices on the market—including in-home and on-the-go systems—featuring impressive design. That, paired with around-the-clock, industry-leading support and state-of-the-art technology, Medical Guardian devices help seniors and individuals with medical conditions and disabilities live independently, maintain their hobbies, and have better quality of life. In addition, they provide families and caregivers with peace of mind. As with any medical alert company, there are pros and cons to consider before making a decision, which you’ll find in the below reviews of Medical Guardian’s medical alert systems.

Medical Guardian Pros

• We give this company an overall ReliaScore™ of 9.4 out of 10, making it one of the best medical alert companies on the market. Read our reviews below to find out why.
• Medical Guardian has a fantastic reputation for service and gets excellent reviews online.
• The company’s emergency operators are 911-trained and certified and are 100% U.S.-based. Plus, Medical Guardian provides response flexibility, sending emergency services when needed or contacting a caregiver for non-emergencies.
• We especially like the MyGuardian online portal, where you can pay your bill, manage caregiver contacts, and more.

Medical Guardian Cons

• In general, Medical Guardian’s prices are on the higher end of the spectrum. With upfront device fees, 24/7 monitoring subscriptions, and other add ons, the long-term cost of use is relatively expensive, compared to other brands. That said, research suggests that every one dollar spent on medical alert systems results in $7.19 in healthcare savings.
• While the company’s customer service is top-notch, its sales reps can be a bit aggressive. After speaking with a representative to ask initial questions, Medical Guardian followed up with six calls in 12 days to try to close the sale.
• The online checkout process isn’t intuitive and can be a little confusing.

Read on for more information and reviews of Medical Guardian’s Classic Guardian, Mobile 2.0, and MGMove. If, after reading our reviews, you’re still not sure which device is right for you (or your loved one), take Medical Guardian’s online quiz. You can also read our guide for choosing the right medical alert system for your (or your loved one’s) situation. Feel free to also compare across different providers by browsing our recommended best medical alert companies.

MGClassic: a Review of Medical Guardian’s In-Home Medical Alert

April 2022 | ReliaScore™ 9.4 / 10

MGClassic is Medical Guardian’s in-home, landline-based medical alert system. Unlike other Medical Guardian systems, you can lease the MGClassic equipment.

For $29.95/month (or $27.45/month for annual subscribers), the basic system and features include:

• One water-resistant wristband or pendant for 24/7 protection
• One base unit, with a 32-hour back-up battery and double jack so you can plug the device and your landline phone into the same unit
• Coverage for a range of 1,300 feet (approximately three football fields) to keep you safe when in the yard or taking out the garbage

Optional add-ons, which will increase your monthly price, include:

• Additional wristband or pendant for a spouse or housemate – $2.99/month
• Fall detection (though it’s only available with the pendant) – $10/month
• Wireless, wall-mounted help button – $2.99 each/month
• Wireless, wall-mounted voice-activated help button – $5.00/month
• OnGuard Alerts that notify caregivers in real-time when there is an emergency – $2.99/month
• Combination lockbox to give first-responders easy access to your home in case of a fire, lockout, or medical emergency – $2.99/month
• MG Protection Plan, which provides tech support, equipment replacements, and discounts on equipment – $6.99/month

What we like about MGClassic

Unboxing and setting up MGClassic was a breeze. The instructions were written in a large font on a large piece of paper, with all necessary information on a single sheet. Simply plug in the base unit, turn it on, and plug the phone line into the back. Be warned: Once you turn the device on, you may encounter a red blinking light or the “Unit Malfunction” light. After about a minute, the lights should stop blinking, and the device is ready to go.

What we don’t like about MGClassic

You might need some help when setting up your MyGuardian portal. We weren’t able to create an account because it said we already had an active profile, and requesting a new password didn’t work either. But a quick call to the 24/7 customer service fixed the problem.

MGClassic offers flexibility for users to customize the system to fit their needs, yet it comes at a higher cost. There might be better options for someone on a tight budget.

Bottom line: The system is exceptional. Overall, though, we think Medical Guardian is a better provider if you’re choosing MGMini or MGMove, the mobile and smartwatch systems, respectively. These devices are where Medical Guardian really stands out.

Read our full review of Medical Guardian’s MGClassic system

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Mobile 2.0: a Review of Medical Guardian’s Mobile GPS Medical Alert

September 2022 | ReliaScore™ 8.5 / 10

Medical Guardian’s MGMini is a lightweight, mobile medical alert system with built-in GPS location tracking on the AT&T 4G LTE network. You can take the base unit with you and get emergency help wherever you are in the USA without needing a cell phone. However, this mobility comes with a hefty price tag; you must purchase the device ($124.95 + shipping), along with a subscription ($39.95/month or $36.62/month annually).

The device includes:

• A charging cradle
• Base device with alarm button, 2-way voice contact, and 3- to 5-day battery life
• A clip-on attachment for your belt or purse
• A companion, water-resistant wearable alarm button with a 3- to 4-year battery life
• Pendant necklace and wristband to wear the companion alarm button

Optional add-ons, which will increase your monthly price, include:

• Fall detection, which is available as a separate pendant – $10 for the pendant and $10/month for the service
• Wireless, wall-mounted help button – $2.99/month
• Wireless, wall-mounted voice-activated help button – $5.00/month
• OnGuard Alerts that notify caregivers in case of an emergency – $2.99/month
• Combination lockbox to give first-responders easy access to your home – $2.99/month
• MG Protection Plan, which provides tech support, equipment replacements, and discounts on equipment – $6.99/month

What we like about MGMini

Setup is easy; just plug the charging cradle and base device in, then follow the prompts to activate. One caveat: our base device came with less than 20% battery (a full charge takes about 4 hours).

Medical Guardian pings the base unit every hour to test connectivity.

The device’s current location updates in real-time and is shown on Google Maps in the MyGuardian online portal.

What we don’t like about Mobile 2.0

The wearable alarm button doesn’t have 2-way voice communication, so you’ll need to have the base unit nearby to communicate with Medical Guardian’s operators.

You can purchase a second wearable alarm button to pair with the base device. However, both users should be within 500 feet of the device for the buttons to work properly, according to a customer service representative, compared to a maximum range of 1,400 feet for one user.

While you can wear MGMini on your wrist, this system is not a smartwatch. If you’re looking for a device with smartwatch capabilities, consider the MGMove.

Bottom line: Though MGMini is on the higher end of the price spectrum, it’s a great option for individuals who are more independent and on the go.

Read our full review of Medical Guardian’s MGMini system.

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MGMove: a Review of Medical Guardian’s Smartwatch Medical Alert

April 2022 | ReliaScore™ 7.5 / 10

MGMove is Medical Guardian’s medical alert smartwatch, and it functions on the AT&T cellular network with built-in GPS. It’s an elegantly-designed smartwatch with a clean user interface and optional add-on apps. MGMove is the most expensive medical alert option from Medical Guardian ($199.95 for the device) with a $39.95/month subscription (or $36.62/month annually).

The device includes:

• The MGMove smartwatch, which comes with Weather, Test, and Step Counter apps pre-installed
• A charging cradle
• The SIM card holder, in case you need the SIM number at any point

Optional add-ons, which will increase your monthly price, include:

• Support Circle Apps (Messages and Reminders) – $5/month
• OnGuard Alerts that notify caregivers in case of an emergency – $2.99/month
• Combination lockbox to give first-responders easy access to your home – $2.99/month
• MG Protection Plan, which provides tech support, equipment replacements, and discounts on equipment – $6.99/month

What we like about MGMove

After the watch was fully charged, setup was complete in just a few minutes.

The MGMove is a well-designed watch with a high-contrast user interface that’s easy for seniors to learn and use. Plus, it has the best apps of any medical alert smartwatch we’ve tried. We especially like the ability to send texts to the watch from the MyGuardian portal and to set reminders for medications or doctor appointments.

Unlike the popular Apple Watch medical alert, the MGMove doesn’t require an iPhone or other cell phone to work.

What we don’t like about MGMove

While we love this watch, our test experience was marred by a few glitches. The charging cradle stopped working within a week of purchase, but when we contacted Medical Guardian, we received a new one in 2 days. There was also a major service outage with the Messaging app that lasted for several days. When we contacted Medical Guardian about it, Tech Support failed to provide any follow-up communication.

Fall detection is not available with the MGMove—since the watch lives on the wrist and moving around could trigger false alarms. If fall detection is a critical feature for you, consider one of Medical Guardian’s other devices.

The battery life is supposed to last for 24 hours, however we found it lasted for less than a day.

Bottom line: If your loved one is adamant about not wearing an unsightly medical alert device, this is a terrific option. It looks, feels, and works like a traditional smartwatch, which one in five adults already wear.

Read our full review of Medical Guardian’s MGMove medical alert watch.

Summary

Medical Guardian is a respected company that makes high-quality medical alert systems.  The company offers some of the most full-featured devices on the market, including one of our picks for the Best Medical Alert Watch.

As you would expect, medical alert systems that have more features than the competition tend to cost more. Indeed, across the board, Medical Guardian’s systems are more expensive than most other products on the market.  In particular, the company’s monthly monitoring fees are high, which leads to a greater total cost of ownership the longer you use the system.

If money is no object, go with Medical Guardian. If price is a deciding factor for you, consider the other top systems available.

Head over to our reviews of the Best Medical Alert Systems for 2024 for alternatives.