What LifeFone does

LifeFone Medical Alert Services is a privately-held, family-owned medical alert services provider founded in 1976 and headquartered at 16 Yellowstone Avenue, White Plains, New York. The company operates a portfolio of subscription-based personal emergency response systems (PERS) targeting seniors, caregivers, and partner healthcare organizations in the United States. Its product lineup is divided into two categories: At-Home systems (Landline and Cellular variants) covering up to 1,300 ft with a 32-hour backup battery, and At-Home & On-the-Go mobile systems (VIPx2, VIP Active, VIP flex, and the Safe Watch Active smartwatch) using GPS/WiFi/Cellular location technology over AT&T and Verizon 4G LTE networks. All systems connect to US-based 24/7 Emergency Response Centers and offer optional automatic fall detection (advertised at ~95% detection rate).

The business model is subscription-based recurring revenue, with base monitoring priced between $24.95 and $43.95 per month on annual plans (no activation or equipment fees, lifetime price guarantee, 30-day money-back guarantee). Add-on services — fall detection ($5/month), caregiver app ($8/month), daily check-in ($19/month), activity assurance ($6/month), and a protection plan ($5/month) — layer incremental ARPU onto each subscriber. Hardware accessories (lock boxes, vanity pendants, charging cradles, wall-mounted help buttons) generate one-time revenue. Distribution is multi-channel: direct-to-consumer via phone (1-877-245-7998) and lifefone.com, healthcare provider referrals through an online partner portal, senior living community partnerships, government/Medicaid and PACE program reimbursement in many states, a white-label B2B distributor program, and an AWIN/ShareASale affiliate program paying $75 per sale.

The company's response operations are distributed across four US-based call centers — the primary White Plains, NY facility plus backup centers in Ogden, UT, Union, NJ, and Syracuse, NY — all Five Diamond Certified by The Monitoring Association, UL Certified, FM Approved, NFPA-compliant, and HIPAA-compliant. LifeFone has accumulated 50 years of continuous operation, an A+ Better Business Bureau rating since 1998, and Best Medical Alert System recognition from U.S. News & World Report (since 2022), Wirecutter, Forbes Health, and NBC Select. No outside funding rounds, parent company, or acquisitions are disclosed; management has publicly emphasized that, as a family-owned business, it does not answer to external shareholders.

Name

LifeFone

Legal name

LifeFone Medical Alert Services

Website

https://lifefone.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

LifeFone is a family-owned medical alert services provider founded in 1976, offering subscription-based at-home and mobile GPS emergency response systems with 24/7 US-based monitoring for seniors, caregivers, healthcare partners, and government/Medicaid programs nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Alert Monitoring Services

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161), Home Health Care Services (621610), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Wearable Medical Alert Devices (Pendants, Watches, Bands) (HSAHAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Personal Emergency Response (PERS) & Medical Alert Monitoring (HSAHAAAL), Home Patient Monitoring & Telehealth Devices (Vitals, Fall Detection, PERS) (HSABAKAE), Medical Alert / PERS Monitoring (Emergency Response) (BPAKAFAD)

Keywords

• Medical alert systems
• Personal emergency response
• Fall detection monitoring
• Senior alert services
• Mobile GPS medical alert

Headquarters

HQ city

White Plains

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Monthly Monitoring Subscriptions: Recurring monthly subscription fees for medical alert monitoring services with various pricing tiers from $24.95 to $43.95 per month depending on the system selected
2. Add-on Services: Optional additional services including fall detection ($5/month), caregiver app ($8/month), daily check-in ($19/month), activity assurance ($6/month), and protection plan ($5/month)
3. Accessories Sales: One-time purchases including lock boxes ($29.95-$39.95), vanity pendant ($49.95), wall-mounted buttons, and charging cradles

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LifeFone provides 24/7 emergency response medical alert monitoring services through at-home and mobile GPS-enabled wearable devices for seniors and at-risk individuals. Subscribers push a button to connect with US-based Emergency Care Specialists who dispatch help based on personalized Emergency Care Instructions. The company sells and leases its own hardware (pendants, smartwatches, base stations) bundled with recurring monitoring subscriptions.

Product overview

LifeFone is a medical alert services provider offering a portfolio of monitoring systems and caregiver tools. The product lineup comprises two main system categories: At-Home systems (Landline and Cellular) for fixed-location monitoring with up to 1,300 ft range and 32-hour backup battery, and At-Home & On-the-Go systems (VIPx2, VIP Active, VIP flex, and Safe Watch Active) for mobile protection with GPS/WiFi/Cellular location tracking. All systems offer optional fall detection ($5/month) and connect to US-based 24/7 monitoring centers. Add-on services include a Caregiver Mobile App for VIPx2 ($8/month), Daily Check-in Calls ($19/month), Activity Assurance ($6/month), and Location Services. Accessories include lock boxes, vanity pendants, and additional help buttons. The company operates on AT&T and Verizon 4G LTE cellular networks and provides equipment with lifetime warranties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VIPx2 Medical Alert System Advanced mobile medical alert pendant with two-way voice communication, GPS/WiFi/Cellular location technology, optional automatic fall detection, and up to 18-day battery life. Designed for active seniors and elderly users needing protection both at home and on-the-go; works on AT&T or Verizon 4G LTE networks.
• VIP Active Medical Alert System Lightweight mobile medical alert device with GPS location, AT&T 4G LTE cellular service, optional fall detection, and a free Text-to-Locate feature for caregivers. Designed for active seniors needing on-the-go emergency response; up to 5-day battery life, water resistant.
• VIP flex Medical Alert System Compact mobile medical alert device with flexible wearing options including wristband, belt clip, and necklace. Uses GPS/WiFi/Cellular location, optional fall detection, up to 5-day battery, and works on AT&T or Verizon 4G LTE networks for on-the-go coverage.
• Safe Watch Active Medical Alert Smartwatch GPS-based medical alert smartwatch for active seniors with AT&T LTE cellular service, optional fall detection, heart rate monitoring, step tracking, daily weather display, and up to 24-hour battery life. Water-resistant design suitable for everyday wear.
• At-Home Landline Medical Alert System Landline-based medical alert system with a base station and water-resistant help button (pendant or wristband) for in-home emergency response. Offers up to 1,300 ft range, 32-hour backup battery, optional fall detection pendant, room temperature sensor, and remote phone answering capability.
• At-Home Cellular Medical Alert System Cellular-based home medical alert system that operates over AT&T's 4G network, eliminating the need for a landline. Includes a water-resistant help button, optional fall detection, and a signal strength indicator for optimal placement. UL and FCC certified equipment.
• Fall Detection Add-On Service Automatic fall detection add-on for any LifeFone system that detects approximately 95% of falls and sends an alarm to the Emergency Response Center when the user cannot press the help button. Sold as a separate $5/month subscription.
• VIPx2 Caregiver Mobile App Optional mobile app for caregivers of VIPx2 subscribers providing location tracking, step activity, button press history, first-motion-of-day monitoring, virtual boundaries with alerts, and low battery notifications. Available as an $8/month add-on subscription.
• Daily Check-in Call Service Daily outbound check-in call service where LifeFone care agents call subscribers at a customizable time with customizable content, providing regular wellness check-ins and connection. Priced at $19/month.
• Activity Assurance Service Daily activity assurance service for At-Home Landline and Cellular subscribers that prompts a button-press response from the subscriber; if no response is received within the window, LifeFone follows up. Priced at $6/month.
• Protection Plan Equipment protection plan covering loss, theft, or damage to LifeFone devices beyond manufacturer defects. Includes replacement of one base unit/pendant for a $29 deductible and up to two help buttons for a $6 deductible in any 12-month period. Priced at $5/month.

Quantifiable outcome

• Calls answered in 15 seconds on average
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AT&TcoreTechnology or IntegrationAT&T provides 4G LTE cellular network service for LifeFone's mobile medical alert devices including VIP Active, VIPx2, VIP flex, and Safe Watch Active. LifeFone uses AT&T's nationwide cellular coverage for its services rather than requiring subscribers to have their own cell phone service.
• VerizoncoreTechnology or IntegrationVerizon provides 4G LTE cellular network service for LifeFone's mobile medical alert devices including VIPx2 and VIP flex. LifeFone uses Verizon's nationwide cellular coverage for its services rather than requiring subscribers to have their own cell phone service.
• Healthcare Provider Partners (Hospitals, Home Healthcare Agencies, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealthcare organizations refer patients/seniors to LifeFone through online portal with preferred pricing, customized marketing materials, sales training, and ability to track customer status. Focus on reducing readmissions and lowering costs with 24-hour monitoring for safe transitions home.
• Senior Living Communities (Independent Living, Assisted Living, CCRC, Nursing Homes)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSenior living communities offer LifeFone services to residents for on and off-property coverage. Provides #1 medical alert system to residents with option for service both within community and while traveling.
• Government Agency Partners (Managed Care Organizations, PACE, HCBS, Medicaid Waiver Programs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGovernment agencies and managed care organizations provide LifeFone medical alert services to seniors under government healthcare programs including Medicaid and Medicare Advantage Part C.
• B2B Distributor PartnersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganizations can run their own LifeFone program including installation, servicing, and billing subscribers. Access to all products and services with monthly reporting. Can answer calls in their own program name through LifeFone Response Centers. No upfront equipment costs - rent LifeFone products.
• AWIN (Affiliate Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerAWIN is the affiliate network for LifeFone's affiliate marketing program. Web-based businesses and health/senior websites earn $75 per sale plus bonuses through 180-day tracking cookies.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Medical Guardian: Leading U.S. medical alert provider offering at-home and mobile PERS devices with fall detection and 24/7 monitoring — directly comparable product lineup, pricing tier, and target customer (seniors and their families).
• Bay Alarm Medical: Direct-to-consumer PERS provider with at-home, on-the-go, and smartwatch-form-factor devices plus caregiver tools — competes head-to-head with LifeFone on product range, price points, and senior demographic.
• MobileHelp: U.S. PERS company offering at-home cellular, mobile GPS, and smartwatch medical alert systems with subscription-based monitoring — directly comparable offerings and target market.
• Life Alert: Iconic U.S. medical alert pioneer with at-home and mobile PERS plus 24/7 monitoring — comparable product/market though known for higher pricing and longer contract terms.

Broad incumbents

• ADT Health (ADT Medical Alert): Medical alert arm of large home security incumbent ADT — offers PERS devices and monitoring bundled within broader home security portfolio; broader scale and brand but less specialized than LifeFone.
• Lively (formerly GreatCall, owned by Best Buy Health): Senior-focused mobile health/medical alert service sold via Best Buy Health retail and service channels — comparable PERS+health services portfolio with much larger corporate backing.
• Connect America / Philips Lifeline: One of the longest-established PERS brands (Philips Lifeline) now part of Connect America — large-scale at-home and mobile medical alert services with hospital/health-system distribution, broader geographic and capital base than LifeFone.

Emerging players

• Aloe Care Health: Tech-forward PERS startup offering smart hub + wearable + AI-driven fall prediction with caregiver dashboard — directly comparable end-user market with more modern product architecture.
• Apple (Apple Watch fall detection / Emergency SOS): Apple Watch's built-in fall detection and Emergency SOS on cellular models represents the most disruptive adjacent product — competes for the same end-user (active older adults, their families) at no incremental subscription.

Regional players

• Guardian Alarm: U.S. home security and medical alert provider with comparable PERS product/market but historically stronger regional concentration (Midwest) and broader home security offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LifeFone

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LifeFone