COSTS + YOUR RIGHTS
Good Faith Estimate.
If you are uninsured or choose not to use insurance for your care, you have the right to receive an estimate of what your services are expected to cost.
What is a Good Faith Estimate?
Under the federal No Surprises Act, individuals who do not have health insurance or who choose not to use their health insurance to pay for services generally have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of the expected cost of their care.
A Good Faith Estimate is not a bill or a contract. It is an estimate based on information that is reasonably known at the time the estimate is created.
When will I receive one?
If you are uninsured or plan to self-pay for services, you may request a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling care.
You are also generally entitled to receive an estimate when services are scheduled at least 3 business days in advance. The timing of the estimate depends on how far in advance your services are scheduled.
- If services are scheduled 3–9 business days in advance, the estimate is generally provided within 1 business day.
- If services are scheduled 10 or more business days in advance, the estimate is generally provided within 3 business days.
- If you request an estimate before scheduling services, it is generally provided within 3 business days.
What will the estimate include?
Your Good Faith Estimate will include the expected charges for services that are reasonably anticipated based on the information available at the time the estimate is prepared.
Because therapy is individualized, it may not always be possible to know in advance exactly how many sessions you will attend or how long treatment will continue.
Your estimate may therefore be based on the expected frequency and duration of services at that time. If your treatment plan, frequency of sessions, fees, or other circumstances change, the estimate may be updated.
What if my bill is higher than the estimate?
Keep a copy of your Good Faith Estimate so you can compare it with the bills you receive.
If the amount you are billed by a provider is at least $400 more than the amount listed on that provider’s Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible to use the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.
You may also contact Rella Counseling directly if you have questions about a charge or believe there is an error.
How does the dispute process work?
The federal patient-provider dispute resolution process allows eligible uninsured or self-pay individuals to ask an independent third party to review certain bills that are substantially higher than the Good Faith Estimate they received.
Eligibility requirements and deadlines apply. Current information, instructions, and dispute resources are available through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Visit CMS Medical Bill Rights →A few things to know.
- A Good Faith Estimate is an estimate, not a guarantee of the exact final cost of treatment.
- The estimate is based on information reasonably available when it is prepared.
- Changes in treatment needs, frequency, duration, or services may change the expected total cost.
- Receiving a Good Faith Estimate does not require you to begin or continue treatment.
- You may request a Good Faith Estimate even before deciding whether to schedule services.
QUESTIONS ABOUT COST?
You can ask before we get started.
If you are uninsured, plan to pay privately, or would like a Good Faith Estimate for services, contact Rella Counseling. Questions about fees and expected costs are always welcome.