If you are uninsured or “self-pay” (or not planning to submit your medical bills to a health insurance company), it can be helpful to know what you will be charged for your medical care.

The No Surprises Act gives patients important tools to know what their medical costs will be, before they get treatment.

You may also ask to be screened for hospital financial assistance programs or public health insurance coverage.

Suzy sits on the sofa with her mother, Angelina, in an embrace. Angelina wears a yellow cardigan over a patterned long dress. Suzy wears a salmon pink sleeveless blouse. The room in warmly lit. The family overcame medical debt thanks to charity care.
Mano a Mano: Suzy's Story
Suzy’s mother, Angelina, required life-saving brain surgery — but the cost was insurmountable. Suzy was determined, and found the organization Mano a Mano, which connected her family with charity care. Today, Suzy works for Mano a Mano to help families like her own. “I know that there are thousands of others throughout the state who need access to health insurance. It is important that there is a coverage option for everyone, for all ages,” Suzy said.
Know your health care costs

Can I know my health care costs before I receive care?

Ask for a “good faith estimate” and keep it in a safe place 

Providers must use a form similar to this one and provide expected costs for treatment in writing. The form must include the provider’s name and list the services included in the estimate — including the billing codes for each treatment, medication, laboratory test, or medical services. It must list a total amount and an itemized breakdown of what you will owe for each expected service and/or medical treatment. 

For example: Request a “good faith estimate” for things like a pre-surgery checkup or post-surgery physical therapy. Also ask if the surgeon’s estimate includes the cost of the anesthesia and the anesthesiologist. 


Quick tip: You will likely need to ask for a separate “good faith estimate” from each doctor and each health care facility to better understand the entirety of expenses related to your care. A “good faith estimate” is not a contract and does not obligate you to use those doctors and/or hospitals.

Providers must provide a “good faith estimate” within a certain amount of time

If you do not have insurance or are “self-pay,” you can ask your doctors and hospitals for a “good faith estimate” at any time — even if you aren’t ready to schedule your treatment. 

If you request a “good faith estimate,” your provider must provide one, in writing, within three business days after your request. Getting a “good faith estimate” is one way to shop around for costs from different providers. If you delay your care for more than a month, check back in with that provider to make sure the “good faith estimate” is still accurate. 

When you are ready to schedule care, doctors and hospitals must provide a “good faith estimate” in writing:

  • Within one business day: if the care scheduled is within the next three to nine days.
  • Within three business days: if the care scheduled is at least 10 days in advance.

Make sure your “good faith estimate” contains your name and address, your provider’s name and address, billing codes, and a plain-language explanation of the treatment and estimated price you are expected to pay. 

Were you denied a “good faith estimate”?

If you do not receive the “good faith estimate” that you are entitled to by law, contact the No Surprises Help Desk online or call 1-800-985-3059.

What should I do after I receive a medical bill?

What should I do after I receive a medical bill?

  • Open your bill(s) immediately. 
  • Be sure you understand the charges. If you don’t, call the facility’s billing department for an explanation of anything that is confusing. Billing departments and insurance companies can make mistakes — so if something doesn’t look right, it’s good to check. Keep notes of your conversation: include the date, time, name of the person you’re speaking with, and what they tell you. 
  • Save all bills and documents from your provider and health insurance company, and keep them together in the same, easy-to-find place.
  • Mark the due date for your first payment on your calendar to help you remember to send your payment on time. (Late fees may be charged otherwise.)
  • Compare each “good faith estimate” with your final bills. If the bill is $400 or more than the “good faith estimate,” you can dispute your bill. (Learn how to dispute your bill in the section below.)

Are you unsure about a bill?

If you think you’ve been sent a bill you should not have to pay, file a complaint with your state attorney general’s office or consult your local legal aid office.

How do I dispute bills that are $400 or more than the “good faith estimate”?

How do I dispute bills that are $400 or more than the “good faith estimate”?

Start by contacting the doctor or hospital to notify them that they have sent you a bill that is $400 or more than the “good faith estimate.” Then ask them to adjust the bill to the amount in the “good faith estimate.”

If the provider does not lower the bill, you have a right to use the Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution system. Here are some additional tips to understand whether you can dispute your bill. 

If you officially dispute a bill:

  • You must file within 120 days (about 4 months) of the date of your first medical bill. 
  • You must submit a copy of the bill and the “good faith estimate.” 
  • You must pay $25 to dispute the bill. If you win the dispute, this fee will be returned to you as a $25 credit toward your medical bill. 

How do I “officially” dispute my bill?

You may start a dispute online or by mail or fax. Once you do so, you have entered what’s called the “Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution” period.

Under the No Surprises Act, your doctor or hospital is prohibited from sending your medical bills to collection agencies during the Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution period. During this time, check your credit report. If you see the medical bills from an ongoing Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution listed on your credit report, submit a complaint online to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or call 855-411-2372.

At the end of the Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution, if you still have an unaffordable medical bill, ask to be screened for the hospital’s financial assistance program. DO NOT sign up for a medical credit card or medical loan. (See Guide 5: I Am Unable to Pay for My Care Up Front.)

For a deeper dive: Learn more about your rights to dispute a bill.

Know Your Rights in Medical Billing

I Have Health Insurance and Need Emergency Care

In emergency situations, you often don’t choose the ambulance or the hospital. You have legal protections against emergency room, out-of-network surprise medical bills — which are described below.

Get started

I Have Health Insurance and Need to Schedule Hospital Care

Health care can be expensive. When you have health insurance and need to schedule hospital care, there are some things you can do to lower the amount that you will have to pay out-of-pocket.

Get started

I Am Uninsured and Need Medical Care

If you are uninsured or “self-pay” (or not planning to submit your medical bills to a health insurance company), it can be helpful to know what you will be charged for your medical care.

Get started

I Received a Medical Bill I Cannot Afford to Pay

Whether you are insured or uninsured, medical bills can be expensive and surprising. This guide explains how to ensure the bill is correct and what to do if you cannot afford to pay it.

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I Am Unable to Pay for My Care Up Front

Negotiate with your health care provider to lower the amount you have to pay for your bill upfront or overall. Patient advocate departments at hospitals or community organizations can help you apply for financial assistance programs, set up a no-interest repayment plan, or reduce your bill.

Get started

My Unpaid Medical Bill Was Sent to Collection Agency

If you don’t pay your medical bill, the provider can sue you for payment or sell your debt to a collection company. If you fail to pay your bills, it can also hurt your credit score. However, some states have laws that prohibit health care providers from using certain collection practices against patients to collect unpaid medical bills. 

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Community Stories

Waiting for the Bill: Kaylynn’s Story (Opens in a new tab) Kaylynn, who has long, wavy light brown hair. leans against a wall with gray siding. She is one of tens of millions of Americans faced with medical debt. Kaylynn

Waiting for the Bill: Kaylynn’s Story (Opens in new window)

Planting Seeds for Change: SOWEGA Rising (Opens in a new tab) Sherrell Byrd, Founder & Executive Director of SOWEGA Rising, which builds community power in southwest Georgia. Sherrell started the non-profit after her experience with medical debt.. Sherrell

Planting Seeds for Change: SOWEGA Rising (Opens in new window)

Between Life and Debt: Aracely’s Story (Opens in a new tab) Aracely is standing in their home next to a chair, wearing a dark teal button-down blouse with rolled up sleeves to reveal a delicate tattoo that covers most of their right forearm. Kitchen cabinets and a countertop, and a collection of art in black frames on a wall, are in the background. Aracely, who wears large, light gray glasses, has dark, shoulder-length hair and wears a black-knotted headscarf that covers part of their head. Aracely has a slight smile with a closed mouth. Aracely

Between Life and Debt: Aracely’s Story (Opens in new window)