Your right to receive a Good Faith Estimate
A federal patient right under the No Surprises Act
If you are uninsured, or insured but paying for your care yourself, federal law gives you the right to know what your care is expected to cost before you receive it.
What this is
A written estimate, before the care happens.
Under federal law, patients who do not have health insurance, or who have health insurance but choose not to use it to pay for their care, have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the expected cost of their health care.
The estimate is based on the information available when it is prepared and reflects the items and services reasonably expected to be provided. Your actual care and charges may differ if your clinical needs change or additional services are required.
At a glance
- Who it covers
- Patients without health insurance, and insured patients who choose not to use their insurance for the care in question.
- It is not a bill
- A Good Faith Estimate tells you what care is expected to cost. Nothing is owed because you received one.
- $400 dispute threshold
- A bill at least $400 above the estimate from that provider or facility may be eligible for federal dispute resolution.
Your rights
You have the right to:
An estimate of expected charges
A Good Faith Estimate of the expected charges for the health care items and services you are scheduling or requesting.
An estimate before you schedule
You can ask for a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling care. Request one first and it will generally be provided in writing within 3 business days.
A written estimate when you book ahead
When you schedule care in advance, the written estimate follows on a set federal timeline. The deadlines are below.
Paper or electronic delivery
You can receive your Good Faith Estimate on paper or electronically, whichever suits you.
When it arrives
Three deadlines, set by federal law.
Which one applies depends on when you ask and how far ahead the care is scheduled.
3
business days
If you ask before scheduling
Request an estimate before you schedule and it will generally be provided in writing within 3 business days of the request.
1
business day
Care scheduled 3 to 9 business days out
The written estimate will generally be provided within 1 business day after you schedule.
3
business days
Care scheduled 10 or more business days out
The written estimate will generally be provided within 3 business days after you schedule.
If your bill is higher
$400
The amount a bill must exceed the estimate by before the federal dispute process becomes available.
You can dispute the difference
If you receive a bill from a provider or facility that is at least $400 more than the Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you may be eligible to dispute the bill through the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.
Keep a copy of your Good Faith Estimate so you can compare it with any bills you receive.
How to request one
Ask us for a Good Faith Estimate.
Contact Seacoast Spine & Sports Injuries Clinic and tell us that you would like a Good Faith Estimate for your anticipated care. Either method below reaches the office directly.
You can also reach us through the contact page.
More about your rights
For additional information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit the federal medical bill rights site or call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.