FAQs

COVID-19 – How MedicAlert Foundation Canada is helping »

We want you to feel confident when choosing MedicAlert. If there are any questions that haven’t been answered below, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 1-800-668-1507.

More about MedicAlert medical IDs

Can I get MedicAlert medical ID without activating a service plan?

Unfortunately, no. The MedicAlert medical ID you wear can’t tell your complete medical story. As a MedicAlert subscriber, your detailed and up-to-date health record is kept in a secure database with us, and made accessible to emergency responders in a crisis situation.

What will MedicAlert engrave on my medical identification?

We engrave your unique identification number, most critical conditions or special needs, and the phone number of our exclusive 24/7 Emergency Hotline for emergency responders. Any additional information will be included on your wallet card and in your complete medical record.

Shopping questions

How long does it take to receive my MedicAlert medical ID?

Stainless steel MedicAlert IDs typically ship within 2-3 weeks. Silver and gold IDs typically ship within 3-4 weeks.

This time includes 5-10 business days for custom engraving of your ID as well as shipping. Standard shipping takes 5-10 business days, and Xpresspost shipping takes 2-3 business days.

Where do I send my broken or wrong-sized MedicAlert medical ID?

Simply mail your medical identification back to us, and we'll contact you with repair or resizing updates.

Our address is:
MedicAlert Foundation Canada Inc.
Morneau Shepell Centre II
895 Don Mills Road, Suite 600
Toronto, ON
M3C 1W3

What if I lost or found a MedicAlert medical ID?

Please call 1-800-668-1507 to help ensure you, or another MedicAlert subscriber, is protected 24/7.

What MedicAlert ID identification is best for a baby or toddler?

We recommend the MedicAlert stainless steel medical ID bracelet with the small emblem. It's lightweight, easy to clean, and difficult to remove! As your baby grows, you can get a new chain or transfer the emblem to a kid-sized band.

Shop now >

Subscriber questions

What if my medical information changes?

You can change or update your medical information in three ways:

1. Log in to My MedicAlert
2. Call 1-800-668-1507
3. My MedicAlert mobile app

You should update your record whenever your medication, health or contact information (including email, phone number, and mailing address) changes. Even if there are no changes, we recommend you review your profile at least once a year to ensure the information is still correct and relevant.

How do I know when to renew my service plan?

You’ll receive a reminder by email or mail approximately 35 days before your service plan is due to expire. The expiry date is also printed on your wallet card and on the My MedicAlert section of this website. To ensure you continue to enjoy protection from your MedicAlert service plan, we recommend you renew at least 15 days before your plan expires.

Renew here or call 1-800-668-1507.

How do I cancel MedicAlert protection?

Please call us at 1-855-227-8644 to cancel your subscription. You’ll be asked to email or mail us a written cancellation request within five days indicating that you’re canceling your service plan and agreeing to no longer wear a MedicAlert medical ID. To learn more please read your Subscriber Statement.

Donation questions

What happens with my donation information? I want to make sure my privacy is protected.

We take your privacy seriously and treat your personal information with the utmost respect.

MedicAlert does not rent or sell our mailing list as other organizations might. You have the option of making any contribution anonymously if you would like to retain your privacy as a donor.

You can find our Privacy Policy here.

I can’t find my tax receipt. How can I request a duplicate copy?

Don’t worry - the fundraising department will be happy to produce a duplicate for you!

In order to request a duplicate copy of your tax receipt, please contact us at 1.800.668-1507.

How secure is your online payment system?

MedicAlert complies with the Payment Card Industry Standard for the protection of credit card information.

MedicAlert is committed to protecting consumer credit card data in compliance with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Our alignment with this standard is reflected in the people, technologies and processes we employ.

We conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests in accordance with the PCI DSS requirements for our business model. We attest to our PCI compliance annually, and our most recent self-attestation was completed in June 2020.

Can you tell me about how you manage your finances?

We understand that knowing how we use your contribution is important for you to understand. Our aim is to direct the maximum amount of your donation to the recipients of our charitable programs. It is also essential that we care for and treat our highly qualified staff fairly and provide them with the resources they need continue doing their outstanding work.

MedicAlert Foundation Canada is a registered Canadian charity and Social Enterprise dedicated to responsible fundraising and asset stewardship, in addition to earned income through the sale of subscriptions. We are governed by a Board of Directors which works in the service of long-term preservation and enhancement of the organization while maintaining our aim to protect more Canadians through the MedicAlert program. Directors of the board are responsible for ensuring MedicAlert Foundation Canada operates in conformity with its legal purpose outlined in its Letters Patent.

As a team, we are dedicated to the responsible management and oversight of MedicAlert’s financial resources. We strategically seek Board Members and Staff who are highly qualified. Currently we have representation with the following certifications: Chartered Accountant (C.A.), Chartered Professional Accountant (C.P.A.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA), Fellow of Chartered Accountants (FCA), and Institute of Corporate Directors, Director (ICD.D). We are confident that a high level of financial acumen is represented throughout the organization and we are operating in an ethical and efficient manner that will ensure the strength and permanence of MedicAlert.

Please be assured that we spent our revenue and donations responsibly.

How can I unsubscribe from your emails about donations or have myself removed from your direct mail list?

We are grateful for your support and will make sure that you are contacted in the way you prefer. Please contact us at 1.800.668-1507 or donations@medicalert.ca and let us know which communications you do not wish to receive.

Even if you are not in a position to donate we hope that you will remain connected to MedicAlert as a champion of the important work we do.

I’d like to make a contribution by donating securities. Where can I learn more?

It’s very easy to make your donation using a transfer of securities. There are also great benefits for donors in taking advantage of this form of payment.

Gifts of appreciated securities are exempt from capital gains tax including transfers of stocks, bonds, mutual fund unites and employee stock options. For example, if a person donates stock originally purchased for $400 and now has a fair market value of $1,000, the tax receipt will reflect the current day value upon sale, meaning that the donor will not have to pay tax on the capital gain of $600.

If you would like to make your contribution through a transfer of securities, please contact Sarah Morison, our Director of Annual, Leadership and Foundation Fundraising at smorison@medicalert.ca.

How can I get a refund? I didn’t mean to donate that amount or I donated twice by mistake.

Mistakes happen and we can refund your donation easily by doing a ‘charge-back’ to your credit card.

We must make sure that your tax receipt has been voided. Please forward your digital tax receipt to us at donations@medicalert.ca with your request and an assurance that you will erase all copies you have on file. If you received your tax receipt by post, please void it and return it to us by mail.

I represent a corporation, how can I help to support your organization?

Thank you for the offer! There are a variety of ways that you can help MedicAlert from making a corporate donation, payroll giving, participating in an employee match program or by subsidizing MedicAlert subscriptions for your employees.

If you would like to explore charitable contributions, please contact Sarah Morison, Director, Annual, Leadership and Foundation Giving at smorison@medicalert.ca.

If you would like to establish a Corporate Partnership or provide MedicAlert subscriptions to your staff, please contact William Turnbull, Director, Growth New Markets, at wturnbull@medicalert.ca.

I am having an event and I’d like to invite guests to donate to MedicAlert. Could you provide me with printable table cards that I can display at my party?

Thank you for the generous offer. We are so grateful when our champions share their MedicAlert story and encourage others to donate. You are our best allies and we hope that you’ll share your story on social media and tag us. Email us for a printable package at donations@medicalert.ca.

How can I become a monthly or sustaining donor?

Monthly donations are precious to MedicAlert because they provide us with a predictable form of income that we can rely on. They also help us to forecast our financial reality more accurately for the future!

We annualize all donations made in the calendar year and send one aggregated tax receipt in the first two months of the following year.

Connect with our friendly customer service representatives at 1.800.668-1507 to enroll. Alternatively, you may sign up through your My MedicAlert login or through our secure donation form.

I can’t log into My MedicAlert to make my contribution because I misplaced my password!

The instructions for resetting your password are here; however, if you’d like to make your contribution quickly then the fastest route is by calling 1.800.668-1507 or using our public donation form.

What can I expect after I donate to MedicAlert?

Thank you for considering us for a donation. We are grateful for our loyal supporters and want you all to know what your dedication achieves.

You can expect a prompt thank you letter and tax receipt. If we have your email on file then you’ll receive this right away; otherwise, printed tax receipts will be sent by post and will arrive within two weeks. We send a welcome package to our new donors and this also arrives separately within a couple of weeks - either by mail or by email. Every year we report on our good work through a monthly e-newsletter and our annual report.