Hello, my name is Harvey Cohen and I am the Vice President of LifeStation. I’ll keep it short and simple; yet make you an expert when it comes to choosing the right medical alert provider.
Receiving the most benefits when choosing a medical alert system is critical, so here it goes…
1. Low pricing should not be your only criteria
Life safety services cannot be thought of like widgets. Reputable providers cannot offer you proper medical alert service at rock bottom pricing without cutting down on their quality of service.
This being said, don’t pay $50 a month just because a company has a name you recognize or someone endorsing their product. (Remember, these endorsers are paid with your money)
2. Be wary of advance pre - payment requirements (3 - 24 months)
You will notice that there are providers who advertise that no long - term contract is required, yet will require that you pay 3 months in advance. Before agreeing to any contract, always ask what your first payment will be.
3. Insist on at least a 30-day money back trial
A money back trial gives you the opportunity to try a medical alert system without any financial penalties. Medical alert providers who are confident in their service will always offer this.
4. Look out for “installation charges” for medical alert systems. You don’t need it
Spending money on installation charges is unnecessary unless you can’t plug in a phone line. Setup of a medical alert is simple and only takes about 5-10 minutes. It’s like setting up an answering machine, so why would you pay $50 or more?
5. Use a provider that has its own monitoring center… most outsource this process
I see it all the time with smaller providers. The outsourcing of medical alert monitoring is quite common because most providers cannot afford the expense of having their own facility. You want management staff to oversee the quality of service, which is nearly impossible to do when you outsource to a third party.
For example, the way the LifeStation Medical alert system works is… management reviews emergency calls on a daily basis to ensure that proper service is being given. Only companies that have their own monitoring center can perform these critical self-evaluations.
6. Get real customer testimonials
Always find out what people are saying about the company. One of the biggest companies in the medical alert industry is actually receicing some negative customer reviews lately.
They even filed a lawsuit against Consumer Affairs for publicizing these complaints online. If you don’t ask, they won’t necessarily tell.
7. Find out what the operator training process is
It’s all about the service. In case of an emergency, you want qualified specialists to assist you when every second counts. Always ask what type of training is required. LifeStation Medical Alarm care specialists do not handle your call for help without at least 6 weeks of extensive training. Only then do they begin to assist you, with ongoing training a staple of our environment.
8. Will there be 24/7 customer & technical support?
Over 80% of medical alert providers have limited hours All medical alert providers provide 24/7 monitoring or you would not pay for the service, but what happens if you are having difficulty using the system? Or perhaps you have questions about your service? Make sure to ask if the medical alert company has a 24/7-customer support line as well.
9. Ask them how long they have been in business
Experience is extremely important. Dealing with someone who has been in the life safety monitoring business a short time can be a bit risky. There are a number of companies who have provided life safety services for over 20 years, so be sure to ask.
10. Make sure you receive system repair & replacement included
I’ve noticed over the years that quite a few companies offer 1 to 5 year warranties. With LifeStation, we include system repair or replacement for as long as you are a customer.
11. Be sure to test your medical alert
When you choose a company and receive its medical alert system, I urge you to test it immediately.
See it working, how long it takes for someone to speak with you, how clear it sounds and how far away you can be from it. Testing is critical and should be done through the system automatically and manually. Please don’t settle for less.
12. Is the monitoring center UL listed?
Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listed is a benchmark for all monitoring centers. Having the UL listing is a sign that the facility has met the required high standards to achieve such a distinction. If the monitoring center that your provider uses is not UL listed, I would be very cautious.
13. Will they program the system to automatically test itself every week?
This is one of the most important factors you have to check. Please deal with companies that will program the system so that it sends a silent signal to the monitoring facility on a weekly basis by itself, letting them know that your medical alert system is connected and works.
Many companies will say… “Be sure to test your medical alert system every month” but besides this standard testing, their equipment should be doing self testing for your protection as well.
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