Good Faith Estimate
Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate of Expected Healthcare Costs
Under Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act, healthcare providers and facilities are required to inform individuals who are not enrolled in an insurance plan or coverage, or who are not submitting a claim to their plan or coverage, that they have a right to receive a "Good Faith Estimate" of expected charges for medical items and services, including psychotherapy services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services, including psychotherapy, specialized evaluation, and counseling services.
Important Details Regarding Your Right to an Estimate:
Requesting Your Estimate: You can ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service or at any time during your care.
The Timeline: If you schedule a service at least 3 business days in advance, your provider must give you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a service at least 10 business days in advance, your provider must give you a written estimate within 3 business days after scheduling.
Disputing an Invoice: If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your written Good Faith Estimate, you have the legal right to dispute the bill through a federal dispute resolution process.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your written Good Faith Estimate for your personal financial records.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or to learn more about the dispute process, visit the official Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website at www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call the federal helpdesk at 1-800-985-3059.