Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate

If you do not have health insurance, or you choose not to use your insurance for your care, you generally have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges.

You may ask SIPS for a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling care. If you schedule an item or service at least 3 business days in advance, SIPS generally must provide an estimate within the time required by federal law.

Timing

If care is scheduled 3 to 9 business days in advance, the estimate generally must be provided within 1 business day after scheduling. If scheduled at least 10 business days in advance, it generally must be provided within 3 business days. If you request an estimate before scheduling, it generally must be provided within 3 business days.

What the estimate covers

A SIPS estimate lists expected charges from SIPS. A hospital, ambulatory surgical center, anesthesia group, laboratory, imaging provider, device supplier, or other separate provider or facility may issue its own estimate.

Keep your estimate. If a bill from a provider or facility is at least $400 more than that provider’s or facility’s Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible for the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.

To request an estimate, call SIPS at 601-891-5524. For federal information, call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.