GetSafe Medical Alert Review 2024: Expert Tried & Tested

Oct 17, 2024
Fact Checked
GetSafe offers basic medical alert systems based on the size of your home. Keep reading to learn why it’s one of our top medical alert systems picks.
Edited by: Donya Currie, MA, Senior Editor at NCOA
Reviewed by: Kathleen Cameron, BSPharm, MPH, Senior Director, NCOA Center for Healthy Aging

Key Takeaways

With 60% of falls occurring in the home, tools like medical alert systems can help you age safely in place by connecting you or a loved one with a monitoring center in the event of a fall or other emergency.

GetSafe, a medical alert system company owned by Bay Alarm security services, has three medical alert systems specifically designed for at-home living situations, from small apartments to larger, five-bedroom homes. Our Reviews Team breaks down these three options and their costs to help you decide which one is the right solution for you.

Why you can trust our expert review

2.5K+
Hours of Research
1
Surveys Deployed
13
Brands Tested
9
Experts Consulted

Our Reviews Team spent more than 2,500 hours conducting in-depth research on medical alert systems. During our process, we:

Read more about our medical alert system review methodology.

Why GetSafe is one of our Reviews Team’s top picks

GetSafe was selected by our Reviews Team for our best medical alert system review due to its basic but reliable home-centered packages. While the company does offer wearable help devices with GPS and fall detection, it does not offer packages that include those extras; they must be purchased as separate additions to a package, and the prices for those extras can be steep.

In our Reviews Team’s survey, 44% of the respondents said they preferred a smartwatch or wristband help button. If you’re looking for a medical alert system watch, you won’t find that option with GetSafe, but the company does include a personal help button with all of its packages, with the option of attaching the button to a wristband or lanyard.

Each medical alert system company has its pros and cons, so we took a deeper dive into the alert system devices GetSafe sells—by mystery shopping and conducting hands-on testing—to help you determine whether this system will fit your needs.

Pros and cons of GetSafe

Pros Voice-operated base unit and wall buttons Base unit has 32-hour rechargeable backup battery for power outages Wireless, water-resistant wall buttons with two-way speakers Waterproof wall buttons and personal buttons Wearable help button has 5-year battery, with free replacement Fall detection and on-the-go add-on options available
Cons No quarterly, semi-annual, or annual payment plans High equipment fees ($79–$307) Needs a reliable cellular connection, which may not be possible in all areas No landline option Limited device range for wearable help button (800 feet)

Table 1 Comparison of GetSafe medical alert systems

STARTERSTANDARDSELECT
Monthly cost$29.95 $29.95 $29.95
Equipment fee$79 $193 $307
Activation fee$0 $0 $0
Device typeAt-homeAt-homeAt-home
Device range (feet)800800800
Connection typeCellularCellularCellular
Battery life32 hours backup (base unit) 5 years (help buttons)32 hours backup (base unit) 5 years (help buttons)32 hours backup (base unit) 5 years (help buttons)
Location trackingNot with at-home unit, but optional on-the-go add-on ($20/month plus $99 one-time fee)Not with at-home unit, but optional on-the-go add-on ($20/month plus $99 one-time fee)Not with at-home unit, but optional on-the-go add-on ($20/month plus $99 one-time fee)
Fall detectionYes, optional add-on ($10/month)Yes, optional add-on ($10/month)Yes, optional add-on ($10/month)
Water resistantYes, wall buttons; personal button is waterproofYes, wall buttons; personal button is waterproofYes, wall buttons; personal button is waterproof
Two-way voice communicationYes, on base unit and voice-activated wall buttonsYes, on base unit and voice-activated wall buttonsYes, on base unit and voice-activated wall buttons

GetSafe Devices Review

Starter

GetSafe Starter medical alert system

Pros

Cons

Details

If you or a loved one lives in a small condo or apartment, the Starter package could be a good option for an at-home medical alert system. It comes with a base unit, one voice-activated wall button, and one necklace help button (wearing the necklace help button is optional, not required). The wall button and necklace are automatically programmed to pair with the base unit, so setup is easy.

To set the system up, all you need to do is plug the base unit into a wall outlet, turn the power switch on, and check the light on the unit to make sure the system is working. You can find a simple instruction video on the GetSafe website, where you can get step-by-step guidance on how to install and test your system.

While testing the device, or in the event of an emergency, you have four options to activate the system and contact the monitoring center:

  1. Press the help button on the base unit or wall button
  2. Say “Call 911” twice within range of the voice-activated wall button or base unit
  3. Pull the cord on the voice-activated wall button
  4. Press the button on the necklace device

Any one of these actions will initiate a call to the U.S.-based monitoring center, where someone will connect with you to see if emergency services are needed. An important detail to keep in mind is that if you’re using the help button necklace or standard wall button to call for help, you won’t be able to speak to the monitoring center unless you’re in voice range of the base unit. Instead, if the responding monitoring center representative doesn’t hear your voice, they will send emergency help to you right away.

The biggest difference with the Starter package compared to the other GetSafe packages is that it doesn’t include a standard wall button, which can be useful for stairways, bathrooms, and other areas where falls are most likely, according to research.¹

But at $79, the equipment fee is $114 less than the Standard package and $228 less than the Select package. If you want to add a standard wall button, fall detection button, or mobile GPS button, you’ll have the option of adding those devices on the “order summary” page after you have added the package to your cart.

If you are buying the package for a small living space and you spend much of your time at home, this basic, at-home system could cover your needs. If you have a larger home or want more coverage throughout your home, check out the Standard and Select packages below.

Standard

GetSafe Standard medical alert system

Pros

Cons

Details

Designed for two- and three-bedroom homes, the Standard package offers slightly more coverage than the Starter medical alert system. The Standard comes with the base unit, two voice-activated wall buttons, one standard wall button, and one necklace help button. This means you have two additional buttons that you can use to call for help. The extra wall buttons can be placed in common fall areas, such as the bedroom, kitchen, at the bottom of stairways, or in bathrooms.

All of the buttons (voice-activated wall button, standard wall button, and necklace help button) connect with the base unit and have a range of 800 feet. The range is most helpful for the personal/necklace help button because if you are more than two football fields away from your base unit and you push the help button, it will still alert the monitoring center, whereas you would have to be within close range of the wall buttons to either press the button or to be heard by the voice-activated microphone.

The one-time equipment fee for the Standard medical alert system is $193, but it is often discounted for $179. The monitoring fee is the same as the Starter package ($29.95 per month).

For anyone looking for more coverage for their two- to three-bedroom home, the Standard medical alert package could be a great choice. If you or a loved one need even more coverage, check out the Select package below to see if it has what you need.

Select

GetSafe Select medical alert system

Pros

Cons

Details

The third at-home medical alert system GetSafe offers is the Select package. It has the same monthly fee as the other two systems ($29.95) but comes with two more wall buttons than the Standard package (the Standard comes with two voice-activated wall buttons and one standard wall button). This package is a good option for those who want more coverage throughout their home, live in a larger home, or have a housemate who wants to share the system.

The Select package has the most expensive one-time equipment fee at $307, but it can often be found on sale for $279.

GetSafe battery life and replacement

The at-home base unit plugs into a wall outlet, but it also has a rechargeable backup battery life of 32 hours, which can provide reassurance that you’ll still be protected even when the power goes out. The voice-activated and standard wall buttons use replaceable batteries that last from 1.5–5 years.

When our Reviews Team tested the wall buttons, we noted that the batteries are easy to replace. You can watch a GetSafe video tutorial that shows you how to replace the batteries for the wall buttons. The personal (necklace) help button battery lasts for up to five years, but the battery is not replaceable. Instead, GetSafe keeps track of your personal button’s battery life and sends a new button when the battery is nearing the end of its use.

Connection type

All of the GetSafe systems connect to 4G LTE cellular, so if you live in an area with spotty or unreliable cellular coverage, and you have the option of a landline connection in your home, you might want to consider a different company that offers landline medical alert system options, such as Medical Guardian or MobileHelp.

How much does a GetSafe medical alert system cost?

The monitoring fees for all GetSafe medical alert systems cost $29.95 per month, but the equipment fee varies per system ($79–$307). If you want additional items, such as a fall detection necklace help button, a GPS on-the-go device, or caregiver tracking, it will increase the cost (monthly prices range from $5–$99).

Like other medical alert systems, the costs for GetSafe devices aren’t generally covered by insurance or Medicare. Some private insurance companies or Medicare Advantage plans might offer partial coverage, but check with your insurance provider for details about your specific plan’s coverage.2

You can use health savings accounts (HSA) and flexible spending accounts (FSA) to help pay for these devices, and because medical alert systems are considered medical expenses, these devices are tax-deductible, according to Publication 502 from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).3 To research more cost-savings in your area, check out NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp tool.

How to purchase a GetSafe medical alert system

You can purchase a GetSafe medical alert system through the company website or by calling 888-799-6255.

To buy on the website, navigate to the “Pricing” page and click “Buy Now” on the medical alert system package you wish to purchase. The “order summary” page will list all of the costs for your package and show the add-on options that you can add to your cart, such as a lockbox, protection plan, or additional help buttons. The order won’t be saved until you have created your user account, so you can use the “Buy Now” button to calculate the costs for each system package and any related add-ons before you decide which one you want.

After choosing the accessories you want to add, you’ll be taken to the “user details” page, where you’ll create your user account and add your shipping and payment details.

Standard shipping costs $12, and expedited shipping is $39.95. GetSafe accepts most major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, JCB, and Diners Club).

Warranty

GetSafe offers an optional hardware protection plan for $5 per month. It covers lost, stolen, and damaged items, and an annual medical alert system replacement, excluding system accessories. The protection plan also covers 50% of replacement costs for other accessories.

Trial period

GetSafe has a 30-day risk-free trial for its medical alert systems, but it’s important to note that GetSafe includes shipping time in the 30-day period. To meet the 30-day limit, the user needs to pack everything in the original boxes and send them back to the company, at their own expense, with a delivery date that falls within 30 days of receiving the order.

What this means for users is that the trial period is actually more like 23 days instead of 30 days. And if you return your device after the 30 days are up, there is no cancellation fee, but you won’t receive a refund.

Does GetSafe offer fall detection?

Yes, GetSafe offers fall detection for the personal help button and for the GPS enabled help button. These wearable buttons are designed to detect falls and automatically connect to the monitoring center to call for help, but they are not 100% guaranteed to detect all falls.

Brittany Ferri, a medical advisor for Medical Solutions and a registered and licensed occupational therapist specializing in geriatrics in Rochester, New York, explained that stairs are one of the biggest fall risks, and “getting your home down to one level is ideal.”

Because that might not be possible for everyone, Ferri recommended modifying your home so you have everything you need on the first level of your home, minimizing your need to use stairs. You might also consider other home-modifications, such as adding stair lifts to your home.

Janice Johnston, MD, chief medical officer and co-founder of Redirect Health, told us that “Screening patients over 65 years old has been standard practice in primary care for many years now and I highly recommend fall detection devices to any of my patients who are at risk.“

To learn more about falls prevention for older adults and to see if you might be at risk of falling, check out NCOA’s Falls Free CheckUp or consult with a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or home care nurse who specializes in older adult care.

GetSafe optional features and add-ons

Fall detection, GPS location tracking, and a mobile app for family or caregivers were the top three choices for special features in a medical alert system, according to our Reviews Team’s survey of medical alert users. GetSafe has these options and several more optional add-ons that you can choose to purchase during the checkout process.

For our hands-on testing of GetSafe devices and services, we ordered the caregiver tracking for mobile GPS ($5 per month) and mobile GPS fall detection monitoring ($10 per month), but it was unclear that we also needed to order the mobile GPS help button ($99 one-time fee) in order for the caregiver app to work.

When we couldn’t find the caregiver app after receiving our medical alert package, we used the web chat feature for support. The support team responded in three minutes and directed us to download the My Account Manager by Bay Alarm Medical. It wasn’t the caregiving app promoted on the GetSafe website checkout, but it allowed us to make profile changes and address updates, and to view our payment and order history.

Table 2 GetSafe optional accessories and prices

AccessoryDescription and purposePriceHow often
Voice-activated wall buttonPush the button, pull the cord, or say “call 911” twice to activate and connect to monitoring center for two-way communication$79.00 One-time fee
Standard wall buttonWaterproof button for common fall areas like bedrooms, stairways, and bathrooms; connects to monitoring center$35 One-time fee
Personal help buttonNecklace button for use as a backup or for spouse/family member coverage$25 One-time fee
Fall detection monitoringFall detection activated on personal help button; connects to monitoring center when it detects a fall (not 100% guaranteed to detect all falls)$10 Monthly fee
LockboxPasscode-protected box that holds spare keys to home, which emergency personnel can use to access your home in the event of an emergency$30 One-time fee
Vial of LifeMedical information card that you can put on your fridge door, or in your purse or car glove box,which emergency personnel can access in the event of an emergency$8.95 One-time fee
Hardware protection planPlan that covers lost, stolen, or damaged items, and 50% of replacement costs for other accessories$5 Monthly fee
Mobile GPS help buttonOn-the-go help button with 4G LTE and GPS capabilities, used for connecting to monitoring center and for optional caregiver tracking$99 One-time fee
Caregiver tracking for mobile GPSAllows caregivers and family to track medical alert system user’s current and previous locations; app can be downloaded from Apple Store and Google Play; permission for tracking is granted by user/account holder$5 Monthly fee
Mobile GPS fall detection monitoringAdd-on to the mobile GPS help button, connects to monitoring center when it detects a fall (not 100% guaranteed to detect all falls)$10 Monthly fee

GetSafe customer service

You can contact GetSafe a couple of ways:

When our Reviews Team contacted GetSafe, the support team responded within three to five minutes. They were friendly and answered all of our questions.

The website is easy to navigate and you can find how-to videos, explanations of GetSafe and how its medical alert systems work, and the pricing of the three at-home medical alert systems the company sells. Pricing is transparent, and there are no hidden fees—this was confirmed during our Reviews Team’s mystery shopping experience with GetSafe.

Table 3 Comparing GetSafe to other top medical alert systems

GetSafeMobileHelpMedical GuardianBay Alarm MedicalLivelyMedical AlertLife AlertLifeline
Starting monthly cost$29.95$19.95$29.95$24.95$24.99$19.95$50.00$29.95
At-home device range (feet)800600–1,4001,300–1,4001000No at-home system800800500
Connection typeCellularLandline or cellularLandline or cellularLandline or cellularCellularLandline or cellularLandline or cellularLandline or cellular
Fall detectionYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes
Battery life32 hours–5 years24 hours–5 days32 hours–5 days6 hours–5 years80 hours24 hours–5 days72 hours–10 years48 hours–7 days
Response time (seconds)25–351–4546–6060+1–451–45N/A1–45 
On-the-go optionsYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Location trackingYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Water-resistantYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
WarrantyYesYesYesYesYesNoYesYes

GetSafe customer reviews

GetSafe has 4.4 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 48 reviews. Bay Alarm (a security services company) owns the GetSafe brand, so many of the reviews on Trustpilot are related to home security systems. On Google, GetSafe has a 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 99 reviews. Positive reviews focused on the customer service, while negative reviews included billing issues and false alarms.

“Using the chat feature was easy and the representative let me know that a new necklace would be on its way. Great job!”

SHANNON, VERIFIED CUSTOMER REVIEW (GOOGLE REVIEWS)

“It seems to work well except for an unfortunate tendency to have false alarms. We had to remove the battery from one of the three remote stations because it consistently caused false alarms and there seemed to be no way to stop this. What I really like about this system is that it is voice-activated. This can also be a problem. If you are watching TV and someone on the TV says the “magic words,” there goes the alarm. The voice activation is pretty critical for my mom because if she falls, she will have no way to get help.”

GRANNY, VERIFIED CUSTOMER REVIEW (GOOGLE REVIEWS)

“I just signed up for GetSafe Medical Alert System and it was very quick and simple! I did most of the process online.”

JAMIE, VERIFIED CUSTOMER REVIEW (GOOGLE REVIEWS)

Bottom line

GetSafe offers three at-home medical alert system packages: Starter, Standard, and Select. The monthly monitoring fee costs $29.95 for all devices, but the one-time equipment fees range from $79–$307. The company also has a mobile GPS help button as an add-on option, which has a one-time fee of $99. If you want fall detection monitoring for any of the systems, it costs an additional $10 per month, which is standard across other medical alert system companies.

These systems are great for people who prefer using voice commands or pulling a cord to call for help for an at-home system rather than wearing a bracelet or necklace. If you’re looking for a life alert bracelet or seeking a more advanced medical alert watch, you might consider brands like Medical Guardian or Bay Alarm Medical.

Frequently asked questions

GetSafe offers three medical alert system packages with a monthly monitoring fee of $29.95, but equipment fees vary per package ($79–$307).

GetSafe and most other medical alert systems are not covered by Medicare, but some Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage or discounts. Check with your insurance provider for more details and how you might qualify for coverage.

Yes, GetSafe is a legitimate company that sells three at-home medical alert systems. GetSafe has a 2.1 out of 5 star rating on Trustpilot, and a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Google. Bay Alarm (a security services company) owns the GetSafe brand.

Yes, our Reviews Team determined that GetSafe medical alert systems are good. When we tested the devices, we thought the setup was very easy, the volume on the base unit was loud, and the monitoring center responded within 25 seconds after we pushed the help button.

GetSafe may be a better option than Life Alert because it doesn’t require a contract (Life Alert requires a three-year commitment), the starting monthly costs are $20 less than Life Alert, and GetSafe also offers the option of fall detection monitoring. Our Reviews Team doesn’t recommend Life Alert due to its lack of transparency in pricing and its strict three-year contract.

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

  1. Ehrenreich, J., et al. Circumstances and Outcomes of Falls Among High Risk Community-Dwelling Adults. Injury Epidemiology. Dec. 1, 2014. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700929/
  2. Medicare.gov. Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services. Found on the internet at https://www.medicare.gov/Pubs/pdf/12026-Understanding-Medicare-Advantage-Plans.pdf
  3. Internal Revenue Service. Publication 502. Found on the internet at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf
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