Under the law, 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 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.

• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

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

• Providers cannot balance bill a patient unless patient was notified prior to services and signed an agreed upon consent to waive protections.

• Any State laws supersede Federal protections against balance billing.

Listed below is contact information for individuals who feel a facility or provider has violated the state or federal requirements against balance billing.

Department of Health and Human Services: www.cms.gov/nosurprises or 877-696-6775

Texas: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/medical-billing/surprise-balance-billing.html or 800-252-3439