Best Medical Alert Systems for Veterans, Tested and Reviewed

Our Editor Jeff Hoyt Testing Out MobileHelp

Veteran Discount: Discount on monthly rates; free MobileHelp Connect Premium with any purchase; $200 Visa gift card for referrals

MobileHelp offers a variety of perks for veterans, including a monthly discount on the medical alert system of their choice. Veterans also get access to MobileHelp Connect Premium at no cost, including features like GPS tracking, which is fantastic for caregivers.

We think MobileHelp is a particularly good fit for veterans who live with a spouse or roommate, because you can get two systems for the price of one. Even if your household needs just one system, MobileHelp’s monthly prices are pretty affordable. Some of its top-tier systems are on the pricier end, though, but not quite as expensive as Alert1’s top-tier plan.

» Pricing Guide: MobileHelp Medical Alert System Cost and Pricing

If you sign up for MobileHelp and end up loving it, make sure to recommend it to your fellow veterans and friends. You’ll earn a $200 Visa gift card for each person who signs up for MobileHelp thanks to your referral! MobileHelp has also supported the Wounded Warrior Project through both monetary and equipment donations.

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R

When a service is good, we share it with all our friends anyway. How nice to have a company that both gives a referral bonus and supports the Wounded Warrior Project!

MobileHelp Products and Pricing Details

Connect Premium, an add-on that normally costs $6 per month, is completely free for veterans. It covers the cost of any lost, stolen, or damaged equipment, which could save you hundreds of dollars. With Connect Premium, you’ll also receive discounts on extra equipment, accessories, and services, and your monthly rates will be locked in for life.

Caregiver Support

With any plan that includes a mobile GPS medical alert device, MobileHelp Connect Premium (free for veterans) offers 60 location requests per month for caregivers. Those who don’t have Connect Premium only receive 30 location requests per month.

When testing MobileHelp, we were able to ping our system and get an exact GPS location at any time. That is an excellent feature if your loved one is prone to wandering or you just want to check in from time to time.

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R

GPS is a very helpful tool, especially for people who are active or like to travel. Whether you’ve had a fall or other medical emergency, it is important for emergency services to know exactly where to go to offer help.

We loved that MobileHelp includes the GPS feature for veterans at no extra charge, but we don’t like MobileHelp’s location-tracking system. We couldn’t simply open an app and see the device’s location at any time (like we could with Aloe Care Health). We had to send a location request via the web portal and get a text with the device’s location.

It works pretty well in practice, but it’s not great for older adults who wander since it just sends a screenshot of their location at the time of the request. Moreover, you get only 60 requests per month with Connect Premium. That’s a solid amount, but it is limiting.

» Further Reading: 2025 MobileHelp Review

Response Times

Testing out MobileHelp's wearable help button

We initiated several test calls with the Duo package. The system comes with an at-home base unit, a wearable help button, and a GPS unit you can wear on the go. Calling for help was simple, no matter which piece of equipment we used. The base unit has a bright red emergency button, and the GPS unit has a large, gray call button. All we had to do was press the button, and the system’s two-way speaker said, “Call in progress, please stand by for an operator.” After an average of 25 to 30 seconds, we were connected to what MobileHelp calls a Critical Event Specialist, who asked if we needed any help.

MobileHelp’s average response time of 25 to 30 seconds was slower than the rest of the companies on this list. You’ll still receive a relatively fast response during an emergency, but not the fastest on the market.

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Our Editor-in-Chief testing out Alert1's home system

Veteran Discount: Discounted rates (up to 25 percent) for veterans; Alert1 Cares program donates unused services to veterans

Alert1 offers monthly discounts to veterans on their medical alert systems. Alert1’s prices are affordable even before discounts, starting at just $19.99 per month for 12-month payment plans, so adding a veteran discount makes it a solid option for those on a tight budget. Remember that month-to-month plans will cost a bit more.

» Pricing Guide: Alert1 Review and Pricing in 2025

Alert1 also has a service donation program to help veterans who can’t afford a medical alert system. If an existing customer cancels their service before reaching the end of their contract, the customer can choose to donate the unused service to a veteran in need. We appreciate that Alert1 goes above and beyond to give back to those who protected our country.

Alert1 is also a great option for non-native speakers. If you’re a veteran whose first language is not English or a veteran who speaks multiple languages fluently, Alert1 has you covered. Their systems offer emergency response and customer support in 190 languages!

Alert1 Products and Pricing Details

Alert1 offers both in-home and mobile systems, plus a bundle that provides both systems, which we tested. They have all the essential medical alert features, including waterproof equipment, fall detection (for an additional $10 per month), and a U.S.-based 24/7 monitoring center.

If you’re satisfied with your Alert1 service, you can refer your friends or fellow veterans, and you’ll both receive a free month of service. You can also save a lot on your monthly bill by paying for a year of service in advance.

You’ll need to contact Alert1 directly for the latest veteran discounts. Still, if you don’t mind signing up for a year of service in advance, you can save compared to costlier providers such as Aloe Care Health. Like LifeStation, Alert1 does not charge equipment fees, which can help make it easier to pay for a year in advance and enjoy lower premiums.

Caregiver Support

After testing the on-the-go and in-home systems for a week, we agreed they are primarily designed for couples or single seniors who prefer greater independence. Alert1 doesn’t have many caregiver features, which was disappointing.

Caregiver features such as GPS tracking and mobile apps have become standard with medical alert systems. The only feature we could find was the ability to establish a Circle of Care for family or friends who will be called in the event of an emergency.

»  Learn About: Best Medical Alert Apps

Alert1 doesn’t offer a mobile app like Aloe Care Health. We couldn’t even check on the device’s location via text like we could with LifeStation. If you’re a veteran who doesn’t want or need a caregiver checking on you, Alert1 is a great deal. Otherwise, you might be better off with a provider like Aloe Care Health or MobileHelp.

Expert Insights

From Linda Schlenker, M.S., M.A., O.T.R.

I love providers that offer good caregiver support. Many veterans I have worked with opted to use a medical alert system simply to give their loved ones peace of mind. It is very helpful for families to know they can use the mobile app to get notifications if there is an emergency.

Response Times

During our testing, we experienced an average response time of around 22 seconds with Alert1’s In-the-Home + Fall Detection system. To call for help, we pressed the help button on our wearable fall detection pendant. A friendly agent answered the call and asked if we needed help. We let him know we were just making a test call, and he reminded us that Alert1 is always there if we need them.

Testing out an Alert1 fall detection pendant

Alert1’s average response time was 2 seconds slower than LifeStation’s and Aloe Care Health’s averages, but it was 13 seconds faster than MobileHelp's. It places Alert1 in the middle when it comes to response times. Overall, we found Alert1’s response to be reliable and fast.

» Also Check Out: Best Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection for Seniors

Testing out the Aloe Care Health Smart Hub

Veteran Discount: One free month of service

Aloe Care Health offers high-tech systems with multiple features for caregivers. We’re big fans of the company’s mobile app. Caregivers and loved ones can make drop-in calls to Aloe Care Health’s base unit, called the Care Hub, and check in with the user. It is a great feature for seniors who don’t have a cell phone.

Family and caregivers can also view an activity and call log, monitor temperature changes, and write check-in notes that are sent to all caregivers. We also love Aloe Care Health’s sleek equipment, which blends right in and isn’t an eyesore like some of the systems we’ve tested.

» Learn More: Review of Aloe Care Health

Plans and Pricing

One downside is that Aloe Care Health’s monthly rates and equipment fees are quite high, particularly if you want the at-home and on-the-go bundle (Essentials Plus). Fortunately, Aloe Care Health offers a free month of service to veterans, which can help you save on your plan. Plus, all Aloe Care Health packages are contract-free, so you can easily change or cancel your subscription at any time.

Caregiver Support

We tested out the Essentials Plus system, which includes a mobile unit and the at-home Smart Hub. The mobile unit features free fall detection. That’s a huge bonus, since this feature is treated as a paid add-on with providers such as Alert1 and LifeStation. Keep that in mind when you consider Aloe Care’s higher monthly rates.

During our tests, we were happy to see that Aloe Care Health goes above and beyond for caregivers. The Aloe Care Health app is one of the most advanced we’ve ever seen, offering lots of up-to-date information about the user. If you have caregivers or family members who want to check in on your well-being, the mobile app is top of the line.

Aloe Care Health’s Smart Hub is equipped with motion sensors, recording the user’s activity and providing reports in the mobile app. If the user wasn’t up and moving at their typical time, we received an alert about inactivity. We could also see an activity log, view the indoor temperature and air quality at the Smart Hub’s location, receive alerts in an emergency, and call the Smart Hub directly.

Caregivers and loved ones can also send one another messages about how the user is doing. Even though MobileHelp and LifeStation offer decent caregiver support, we’ve found that Aloe Care Health is the top performer in this category.

» Also Check Out: Best Medical Alert Systems for Active Seniors

Checking in on the Aloe Care Health app

Response Times

To initiate a test on the Smart Hub, we used Aloe Care’s unique voice-activation feature. All we had to do was say “Emergency” three times. The system’s two-way speaker recognized the response and initiated a call. We think the loud two-way speaker is a great feature for veterans with hearing loss.

After making the call, we heard a chime, followed by an automated message asking us to say “Emergency” again if it wasn’t a false alarm. A response agent answered shortly after and asked if we needed help. I’m a big fan of this voice-activated feature. If you fall and can’t press your help button, it’s just one more way to call for help.

We recorded average response times of 30 seconds for Mobile Companion 2 and 10 seconds for the Smart Hub. That means the overall average for Aloe Care’s response times was 20 seconds.

The Smart Hub’s response times were twice as fast as the times we recorded with LifeStation. Response times were a bit slower when we tested the Mobile Companion 2, but we were impressed with Aloe Care Health’s response times and high-tech features.

Veteran Discount: Discounted rates for American Legion and VFW members

LifeStation currently offers a discount on its packages to members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), two U.S. veterans associations. LifeStation’s prices start at $36.95 per month before discounts with no equipment fees (although you may have to pay for shipping), making LifeStation a more affordable option than Aloe Care Health. LifeStation’s packages are a solid choice for veterans who want a simple, straightforward, and cost-effective medical alert system.

LifeStation’s systems pair with Amazon Alexa, so your loved ones can easily locate you and receive updates through Alexa-enabled devices with just their voice. The company also partners with Uber Health, which gives subscribers a live operator who can call them an Uber whenever they need to get to a VA appointment. Whether you’re looking for an at-home cellular system, a GPS unit for mobile use, or a smartwatch system, LifeStation should meet your needs.

LifeStation Products and Pricing Details

Some of LifeStation’s add-ons are cheaper than those of competitors. Fall detection costs $8 per month, for instance, which is $2 less than the same feature from Alert1. And to make things affordable for veterans, LifeStation has discounted plans exclusively for VFW and American Legion members, all of which include free shipping.

>> Compare Brands: LifeStation vs. Medical Guardian

Caregiver Support

I was disappointed that LifeStation doesn’t offer a dedicated caregiver app like Aloe Care Health, but it still has features to help caregivers stay informed. One of the best features is Find My Loved One. Simply text “Find” to a dedicated number or ask an Alexa-enabled smart-home device about the user’s location and receive a response with their location in seconds.

We could also ask Alexa to give information about recent pendant presses and the status of the device. Alexa could even run a test on our system and ensure everything was working properly.

It’s not quite as comprehensive as a mobile app (especially since we needed to use a smart-home device to use the voice feature). However, we found this feature easy to use, and the location tracking was accurate. If you’re a big Alexa user, these features will come in handy.

» Learn More: Best GPS Medical Alert Systems of 2025

It’s also easy to sign up for caregiver alerts when you purchase a plan. We just had to provide an email address during the sign-up process. After that, we could enroll in alerts to be sent to an email address or phone number in the event of an emergency. After we initiated a test on the LifeStation Sidekick system, we got an email and a text within 30 seconds.

Response Times

After initiating multiple test emergencies, we recorded an average response time of 20 seconds. The response times for LifeStation’s mobile system performed well compared to industry standards (average response times range between 15 and 45 seconds) and providers like Alert1. Twenty seconds is pretty fast to get an emergency response agent on the line.

» Provider Review: LifeStation Medical Alert System Review