Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much does the Health Watch monitoring service cost?
A. Health Watch monitoring costs about a dollar a day, but the specific amount will vary depending on which equipment and services you use.

Q. Is Health Watch equipment easy to install?
A. Yes. Anyone who can plug in an answering machine can install a Health Watch system. The unit is completely set up at the factory, and installation takes three simple steps. Just follow the Easy Installation instruction sheet enclosed with the equipment. If you need any assistance, help is just a phone call away.

Q. How do I learn to use the Health Watch System?
A. It’s as easy as A-B-C. We enclose a handy “How to Use Health Watch” card in the equipment box with illustrated easy to follow steps and helpful hints. If you ever have any questions, call us and we will be happy to help.

Q. Is the Alarm Transmitter Pendant waterproof?
A. Absolutely. The Alarm Transmitter Pendant is completely waterproof so you can wear it in the shower or when you bathe. Because falls often happen in the bathroom, we strongly encourage subscribers to wear the Transmitter Pendant at all times.

Q. Do I need to sign a contract?
A. No. Unlike other competitors who require one to three year contracts, Health Watch's simple month-to-month arrangement can be cancelled at any time.

Q. Are there any hidden fees?
A. No. All you ever pay is your monthly fee for the Health Watch monitoring service. The equipment is provided free of charge, and there will never be any additional costs for items like installation, shipping or maintenance.

Q. Is Health Watch equipment guaranteed?
A. Health Watch Medical Alert Systems are manufactured to the highest standards and come with a lifetime warranty. If, under normal use, the equipment becomes dysfunctional in the home, it can be returned to Health Watch for a replacement.

Q. How do I get help with Health Watch?
A. You do not need to come to the phone to call for help. Whenever you need help, just press the red button on your "Amie" Personal Alarm Transmitter Pendant or the Help Button on the Console unit. The Help Console unit will send a signal to the Response Center and establish two-way voice communication. In seconds, a professionally trained operator will answer to ask what type of help you need. If it’s a minor problem, the operator will contact a designated family member or friend to come to your aid. If it’s an emergency, the operator will dispatch emergency assistance. If you are unable to speak, emergency assistance is sent immediately.

Q. Does Health Watch maintain its own monitoring center?
A. Yes. Health Watch maintains a fully staffed primary Response Center and a back-up Response Center that is located hundreds of miles away in another state. If a serious weather event or emergency occurs near our primary Response Center, your system connection is automatically shifted to the back-up Response Center to ensure there is no interruption of your service.

Q. What happens if my phone is off the hook?
A. The Help Console will automatically alert you with an audible voice prompt, flashing light or series of beep tones, depending on which system you have.

Q. What happens if my phone service or the Health Watch system isn’t working?
A. Health Watch systems are the only ones with the exclusive Automatic Daily System Self-test. Every 24 hours, the Help Console automatically sends a test signal to our Response Center. If your phone service or system isn’t working, we will know about it right away and take steps to correct the situation.

Q. What happens if my power goes off?
A. Health Watch Medical Alert Systems have a Back-up Battery that operates the system for up to 20 hours, then automatically recharges when the power comes back on.

Q. What happens if my Alarm Transmitter Pendant becomes damaged or the battery fails?
A. Our exclusive Alarm Pendant Supervisor continuously monitors the Pendant to check its battery status and condition. It will automatically alert the Response Center if the Pendant isn’t working or the battery is low so a replacement can be sent to you.

Q. What happens if I have fallen or had an emergency in another room than where the Help Console unit is installed?
A. Using our exclusive Emergency Communication Mode, the Response Center operator will increase the volume of the Console’s speaker and microphone to hear your voice and send assistance to you immediately, even if you are behind a closed door or in another room.

Q. How far can I be from the Help Console and still send a signal for help?
A. You can be in another room or on the second floor of your home. The Alarm Transmitter’s range may vary depending on the size of your home, construction materials, furnishings and the Console unit’s proximity to electronic or large metal objects, like a refrigerator. You should test your Transmitter to determine its range inside your home and if it works outside on your porch or in your garden.

Q. Will calling for help cause me to have higher phone bills?
A. No. All calls for help, even false alarms, are handled through a toll-free number.

Q. Can I have my monthly monitoring service fee billed to my credit card?
A. Yes. Health Watch accepts major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. We can also arrange to automatically debit your bank account, if you prefer this option.

Q. Can the Response Center serve me if I don’t speak English?
A. Yes. Many of our operators speak more than one language. In addition, we use the international Language Line service to enable us to answer emergency calls from subscribers in over 140 languages.

Q. Can the Response Center communicate with me if I am hearing impaired?
A. Yes. We use a TDD “typewriter” device to communicate with hearing impaired subscribers via the telephone. When you fill out your information form, let us know if you are hearing impaired and if a TDD device is installed in your home. For information on how to get a TDD device, please contact Health Watch.

Q. Do you offer different options for wearing the Alarm Transmitter Pendant?
A. Yes. The Transmitter Pendant can be worn like a necklace using a soft cord or on a wristband.

Q. Is the equipment hard to keep clean?
A. Not at all. Simply clean the Transmitter Pendant with a cloth moistened with mild soap and water. The Help Console can be wiped off using a cloth dampened with a simple household cleaner like Formula 409 or Fantastik. Never spray the cleaning solution directly on the equipment.

Q. Is Health Watch equipment UL approved?
A. Yes. Health Watch Systems meet UL standards 1635 and 1637.

MedicAlert® and Health Watch
Safe at Home, Safe Anywhere.