GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE
Your Right to Receive an Estimate of the Cost of Your Care
Under federal law, health care providers are required to provide patients who do not have insurance or who are not using insurance with an estimate of the expected cost of their care in certain circumstances. This is called a Good Faith Estimate.
A Good Faith Estimate can help you understand the expected cost of your therapy services before receiving care.
Who can get a Good Faith Estimate?
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate if you do not have health insurance or do not plan to use your health insurance to pay for your care.
This includes people who are paying for therapy entirely out of pocket, even if they have insurance but choose not to use it for the services included in the estimate.
You may also ask Honeybee & Hive Counseling for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service.
When will I receive my Good Faith Estimate?
The timing depends on when you schedule services or request an estimate:
If you schedule services 3–9 business days in advance:
You should receive your Good Faith Estimate no later than 1 business day after scheduling.
If you schedule services 10 or more business days in advance:
You should receive your Good Faith Estimate no later than 3 business days after scheduling.
If you request a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling services:
You should receive it no later than 3 business days after your request.
If services are scheduled fewer than 3 business days in advance, a Good Faith Estimate is generally not required under the federal timing rules.
What will by Good Faith Estimate include?
Your Good Faith Estimate will include the expected charges for the therapy services that are reasonably expected to be provided to you based on the information available when the estimate is prepared.
For ongoing therapy, a single Good Faith Estimate may cover recurring sessions. The estimate will describe the expected frequency and number of sessions and the period of time covered. A Good Faith Estimate for recurring services will not cover more than 12 months.
Your Good Faith Estimate is an estimate, not a bill. The actual services you receive or the number or frequency of sessions may change based on your needs and treatment decisions.
What if my bill is higher than my Good Faith Estimate?
If you receive a bill from a provider or facility that is at least $400 more than the amount listed on that provider's or facility's Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible to use the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.
Through this process, an independent third party will review the Good Faith Estimate and the bill and determine the appropriate amount you should pay.
You generally must begin the dispute process within 120 calendar days of the date on your initial bill.
You may also contact your provider directly to discuss the bill or ask whether the bill can be adjusted.
For more information about your rights or to start a dispute, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medical Bill Rights website or call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.Requesting a Good Faith Estimate from Honeybee and Hive
If you are uninsured or do not plan to use your health insurance to pay for therapy, Honeybee & Hive Counseling will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate as required by federal law.
You may also request a Good Faith Estimate at any time before scheduling services.
To request an estimate or ask questions about the expected cost of your care, please contact us:
Honeybee & Hive Counseling, PLLC
909 Davis Street, Suite 500
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 701-5072
info@honeybeeandhivecounseling.com
PLEASE NOTE
A Good Faith Estimate is based on information known at the time the estimate is created. It does not require you to receive the services listed in the estimate. Your treatment needs may change over time. If the expected services or costs change significantly, you may receive an updated Good Faith Estimate as appropriate.
Keep a copy of your Good Faith Estimate. You may need it if you receive a bill that is substantially higher than the estimated charges.