How much does a medical answering service cost?
Medical answering services range from about $25 to $100 per month for low-volume basic plans up to $1,000–$3,000+ per month for high-volume services with HIPAA coverage, after-hours triage, and bilingual support. Pricing is driven by four factors: call volume (per-call or per-minute), whether the vendor signs a Business Associate Agreement (HIPAA coverage adds 10–30% versus non-covered plans), after-hours and holiday differential rates, and bilingual or specialty staffing. Per-minute pricing typically runs $1.00–$3.50 per minute for live human agents; per-call AI services typically run $0.30–$1.50 per call. For a 5–10-physician practice handling 200–500 calls a month, a budget of $400–$1,500 per month is realistic. Aira uses per-call pricing for predictable bills — see Aira pricing. See how medical answering pricing models compare.
Medical answering service pricing — 2026 ranges
Pricing varies by delivery model (live human, AI, or hybrid), HIPAA coverage, and after-hours differential. Below are typical 2026 ranges across the category. Verify the exact terms with the vendor — published rates often exclude usage overages, holiday differentials, and BAA fees.
| Service type | Pricing model | Typical monthly cost | HIPAA BAA included? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live human answering (basic) | Per-minute, $1.00–$1.75/min | $25–$300/mo for low volume | Sometimes — verify per vendor |
| Live human answering (medical-specialized) | Per-minute, $1.50–$3.50/min | $300–$1,500/mo for typical practice volume | Yes (medical specialists usually do) |
| Virtual medical receptionist | Per-hour or per-minute, $25–$50/hr | $800–$3,000+/mo | Yes |
| AI medical answering (per-call) | Per-call, $0.30–$1.50/call | $25–$500/mo for typical volume | Varies — verify per vendor |
| Hybrid AI + human escalation | Per-call + per-minute escalation | $200–$1,200/mo | Varies — verify per vendor |
Ranges reflect 2026 published category rates. HIPAA BAA coverage typically adds 10–30% to the non-covered base price.
What actually drives the monthly bill
- Call volume
- Largest single driver — usage overages exceed plan price routinely
- HIPAA BAA
- Adds 10–30% over non-covered plans at most vendors
- After-hours premium
- Many vendors charge 1.25–1.5× rate for nights/weekends/holidays
- Bilingual or specialty staffing
- Spanish or specialty-trained agents add $0.25–$0.75/min
- Setup and onboarding
- $0–$500 one-time at most vendors; AI services usually $0
- Per-minute vs per-call
- Per-minute exposes practice to long-call surprises; per-call caps the per-call cost regardless of duration
How Aira's pricing differs
Aira uses per-call pricing across all plans, so a long call costs the same as a short call and the monthly bill is predictable. Plans start at $24.95/mo on the Starter tier and scale up by call volume, not by minute. There are no after-hours or holiday differentials — the price for a call at 2pm on a Tuesday is the same as a call at 2am on a Sunday.
Aira does not currently sign Business Associate Agreements, so it is not the right fit for practices whose call workflows involve PHI handling. For appointment coordination, scheduling, after-hours triage routing, and general inquiries — the non-PHI majority of most practice call volume — Aira is typically the lowest-cost option in the category.
Related questions
- What is a medical answering service?A medical answering service handles patient calls when your office is closed or staff is busy. Here's what one does, who staffs it, and what HIPAA requires.
- When should a doctor's office use a phone answering service?A doctor's office should use a phone answering service when calls go unanswered, after-hours coverage is needed, or the front desk is overloaded. Here's the decision framework.
- Is an AI answering service HIPAA compliant?An AI answering service is HIPAA compliant only when the vendor signs a Business Associate Agreement. Here's what to check, what's at stake, and where Aira stands.