Philips Lifeline Medical Alert System Review

Philips Lifeline delivers high-tech medical alert systems for seniors that are backed by years of experience and hundreds of happy customers and caregivers. But Lifeline medical alert services will cost you a pretty penny. If your budget can take it, Philips Lifeline will deliver the peace of mind you’re looking for.

Philips Lifeline Packages

How Philips Lifeline Stacks Up

Philips Lifeline delivers solid technology and a strong reputation—but you’ll pay for it. Lifeline is one of the most expensive medical alert systems out there, and you pay one-time activation and equipment fees on top of the monthly service fee. But Philips does offer two Lifeline packages that include fall detection, and that’s hard to find. It also uses multiple location services to make sure that you’ll be found quickly in an emergency—no matter where you are.

If reputation is what matters, you can’t beat this medical alert company. Philips has hundreds of positive customer reviews—from both older adults who rely on the system and caregivers. And when it comes to experience, Philips has been doing it longer than anyone. Lifeline was the first company in North America to deliver a medical alert service, starting in 1974. Now it’s owned by Philips and continues to be a medical alert leader. We don’t think you can go wrong with a Philips Lifeline medical alert system, but it really comes down to what your budget can handle.

To help you sort out the pros and cons, we’ve broken down Lifeline’s medical alert systems for you. We looked at price, equipment, and customer service to see how well Philips Lifeline delivers.

Price and Contract

Although Philips Lifeline is more expensive than most other medical alert systems, it includes fall detection in multiple plans. This makes the first monthly cost you see the price you’re going to pay. Other companies start with a lower monthly quote and then offer a bevy of add-ons (including fall detection) that end up costing you as much or more than Philips’s monthly monitoring costs.

Like many other medical alert systems, Philips doesn’t require a long-term contract. You can pay monthly and cancel when you want. But one thing they don’t offer is quarterly and annual payment options. Some medical alert companies offer those options at a slightly discounted rate, so your monthly cost goes down even though you pay more upfront. You can still find discounts, though. Philips Lifeline regularly offers deals—like one month free when you sign up—so be sure to ask about any specials when you put in your order.

Compare Philips Lifeline Package Pricing

Tech and Equipment

Some medical alert companies go overboard when it comes to equipment. We like that Philips keeps it simple. There aren’t too many options to choose from, which makes your final decision easier to make. Every package except GoSafe 2 includes an in-home base unit that gives you a direct line to the Philips Lifeline response centers and emergency services. That link is delivered via the Philips Lifeline GoSafe personal help button in the GoSafe 2 plan.  

But just because Philips Lifeline equipment options are simple, it doesn’t mean the equipment is lacking in high-tech features. Philips Lifeline has evolved over the years, adding new wearable options (pendants and wristbands with mobile alert buttons) and extra protection services like Philips Lifeline with AutoAlert. AutoAlert is the company’s automatic fall detection service, and it sends an instant alert to the monitoring center if a fall is detected.

Another area where Lifeline stands out is its GPS location services. Philips Lifeline uses between five and six location technologies (depending on your package) to ensure that—no matter where you are—help can find you.

Customer Service

Philips Lifeline has a customer service rating of 4.6 (out of 5) on its website. It also garners high praise from experts and customers reporting on other sites. One of the things we like about Lifeline’s customer service is its in-home installation and setup. At no extra cost, you can have a trained Philips Lifeline technician help you set up your medical alert system right in your home. This is definitely an above-and-beyond perk, especially for aging adults who may have a hard time installing the system on their own.

Another feather in Lifeline’s cap is its personal response plan. When you sign up for a Lifeline medical alert system, you get to design the type of help you’ll receive during an emergency. In addition to alerting the response center, you can select who else you want to be notified when your alert system is activated. You can choose a family member or friend to be notified before emergency services are contacted. This can help with identifying false alarms and making sure you get the help you want. But, in all cases, if an alarm is activated and there is no response from the user or identified caregiver, EMS will be dispatched.  

Philips Lifeline FAQs

How does Philips Lifeline help when someone falls?

Philips Lifeline with AutoAlert includes a fall detection wearable. Philips uses two different technologies to detect falls better and minimize false alarms. When the pendant detects a fall, a call for help is automatically sent to the response center—whether or not the wearer pushes the help button.

Does the Philips Lifeline medical alert system work when I’m away from home?

Yes. Philips Lifeline has package options that include mobile medical alert devices for active people who like to get out and about. Because Philips uses multiple location detection technologies, its service should be able to accurately locate you no matter where you are.

What payment options are available with Philips Lifeline medical alert?

Payments for your Philips Lifeline service are required monthly. You can set up automatic payments with a debit or credit card, or you can send in payment with a check or money order. Philips doesn’t offer any quarterly or annual payment options, but you can cancel at any time without a penalty.

Will my phone bill go up when I use Philips Lifeline medical alert services?

No. There are no extra charges to your phone bill when you call for help with your Philips Lifeline alert system. And it doesn’t matter if you have a landline or cellular plan—all calls to the response center are free of charge.

Philips Lifeline Equipment

The Bottom Line

Philips Lifeline delivers top-notch medical alert and fall detection services. Years of experience combined with technological innovations and impressive customer service put Lifeline at the forefront of medical alert systems. But all the perks you get don’t come cheap. This is a high-end medical alert system designed to meet the needs of older adults, and it comes at a high-end price. If it works for your wallet, we think Philips Lifeline is one of the better medical alert programs to entrust with your (or a loved one’s) safety.

Visit Philips Lifeline Homepage

Medical Alert Systems Resources

• Best Medical Alert Systems
• Your Ultimate Room-by-Room Guide to Senior Home Safety
• Senior Safety FAQs

How We Evaluated Philips Lifeline

We conducted research, read customer reviews, examined product and package specs, and analyzed other expert and industry reviews. We looked at three main criteria: price and contract, tech and equipment, and customer service, keeping the qualities that matter most to customers as the foundation of our review. To find out more about how we rank and review products and services, read our full methodology.