I have a medical bill
Paying for care yourself? What is a Good Faith Estimate?
Photo: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels
A written estimate of expected charges that providers must give you when you are uninsured or paying for yourself. If the final bill is at least $400 more, you can dispute it within 120 days.
What to do
- Tell the provider you're uninsured or won't use insurance, and ask for a Good Faith Estimate in writing. Book at least 3 business days ahead so you're owed one.
- Ask which other providers, like anesthesia or a lab, will bill you separately, and ask each for its own estimate.
- Keep every estimate, then compare the final bill with it line by line.
- If a bill is at least $400 over that provider's estimate, start the federal dispute process within 120 days of the bill date. There is a $25 fee.
What to say
I'm paying for this myself. I'd like a Good Faith Estimate in writing before the appointment. Will any other provider bill me separately?
Ask when you schedule, or as soon as you know you will be paying yourself.
What to watch out for
This is a sensitive stepSmall details here can change the outcome, and some mistakes are hard to undo. We highly recommend a free 15-minute call with us before you decide.
Throwing the estimate away. Without it you cannot use the dispute process, and the bill is much harder to question.
Better done together
We’re here to help
Estimates are easy to get wrong and hard to compare. We help you ask for the right estimate, read it, and check the final bill against it, so you know when you have the right to dispute.
Every situation is different, and these are sensitive moments, so we look at yours with care. We often see what others miss, and we never take commissions from insurance companies: the only thing we are working for is what is right for you.
Free · 15 minutes · No pressure
The rule behind it
Under the No Surprises Act, for care since January 1, 2022, providers must give uninsured and self-pay patients a Good Faith Estimate when care is booked at least 3 business days ahead, or when you ask. If a provider bills at least $400 more than its estimate, you can ask for patient-provider dispute resolution within 120 days of the bill date. An independent reviewer decides what you owe, and the bill can't go to collections while the dispute is open.
Sources
- CMS.gov — Good Faith Estimate guide
- CMS.gov — Dispute a bill (patient-provider dispute resolution)
- Your Good Faith Estimate and your final bill
Amanda Alcodia
Education, not medical, legal or insurance advice.
Useful next steps
Start with the free Kit. If your situation needs a person, the intro call is free too.