Good Faith Estimate: 

 You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost 

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services. 

• You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees. 
• Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. 

• When a GFE is requested by a self-pay patient (i.e., nothing has yet been scheduled), the convening provider must furnish the GFE to the patient no later than three business days after the date of the request. 
• If the primary item or service is scheduled at least 10 business days before such item or service is scheduled to be furnished, the convening provider must furnish the GFE to the patient no later than three business days after the date of scheduling. 
• If the primary item or service is scheduled between three and nine business days before such item or service is scheduled to be furnished, the convening provider must furnish the GFE to the patient no later than one business day after the date of scheduling.
• If the primary item or service is scheduled less than three days before such item or service is scheduled to be furnished, the convening provider is not required to deliver a GFE. 

Make sure to save a copy of a picture of your Good Faith Estimate. 

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit CMS website or call 1-800-985-3059.