📑 FX Med Support SMS Billing Policy Update
Effective [08-27-25]
FX Med Support is updating our SMS billing policy to align with Twilio’s industry-standard pricing model. This change ensures fairness and transparency as practices scale their messaging and helps account for the technical nature of SMS delivery.
📲 New Billing Model Overview
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Billing is based on message segments.
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A single SMS is limited to 160 characters per segment.
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Messages longer than 160 characters are automatically split into multiple segments for delivery.
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The maximum length of any SMS message is 1,600 characters (10 segments).
📏 Segment Calculation
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1 Segment = up to 160 characters
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Each additional 160 characters = 1 additional segment
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Charges are based on the total number of segments, not the total number of characters.
📊 Example Billing Breakdown
| Message Length | Segments Used | Equivalent Messages Charged |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Segment (≤160 characters) | 1 | 1 |
| 2 Segments (≤320 characters) | 2 | 4 |
| 3 Segments (≤480 characters) | 3 | 9 |
| 4 Segments (≤640 characters) | 4 | 16 |
| 5 Segments (≤800 characters) | 5 | 25 |
| 6 Segments (≤960 characters) | 6 | 36 |
| 7 Segments (≤1120 characters) | 7 | 49 |
| 8 Segments (≤1280 characters) | 8 | 64 |
| 9 Segments (≤1440 characters) | 9 | 81 |
| 10 Segments (≤1600 characters) | 10 | 100 |
⚖️ Policy Summary
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Every 160 characters = 1 segment.
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The billing multiplier is calculated as:
📌 Total Messages Billed = (Number of Segments)²
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This “cascading” multiplier reflects Twilio’s pricing model and ensures accurate per-message billing.
🧾 Example Scenario
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If you send a 420-character SMS:
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It equals 3 segments.
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Billing = 3² = 9 messages.
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If you send a 1,200-character SMS:
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It equals 8 segments.
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Billing = 8² = 64 messages.
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📌 Notes & Recommendations
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Keep messages under 160 characters whenever possible to minimize costs.
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For longer communications, consider using email or patient portal messages.
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Messages cannot exceed 1,600 characters (10 segments).
✅ This policy applies to all FX Med Support clients effective immediately. By continuing to use our SMS platform, you acknowledge and accept this updated billing model.
