Good Faith Estimate
Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate
If you don’t have insurance—or are choosing not to use it—you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) explaining how much your medical care will likely cost.
Under the No Surprises Act, we give uninsured or self-pay patients a GFE for the total expected cost of non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.
When Will I Receive My Estimate?
For scheduled appointments, GFE delivery timeframes are based on scheduling:
- If an uninsured or self-pay patient’s appointment is scheduled 3 to 9 business days in advance, they will receive their Good Faith Estimate within 1 business day after scheduling.
- If an uninsured or self-pay patient’s appointment is scheduled 10 or more business days in advance, they will receive their Good Faith Estimate within 3 business days after scheduling.
If an uninsured or self-pay patient requests a Good Faith Estimate without scheduling an appointment, we will provide it to them within 3 business days of their request.
Please note: A GFE is generally not required for services scheduled less than 3 business days in advance (e.g., walk-in urgent care or emergency services).
Why Is This Important?
Your Good Faith Estimate helps you understand and plan for your health care costs. While the estimate includes expected charges, it may not include unexpected services or complications that arise during care.
If you receive a bill that is $400 or more above your Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the charges.
Keep a Copy
Be sure to save a copy or take a photo of your Good Faith Estimate for your records.
Learn More
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 402-471-3121.