Federal No Surprises Act & Good Faith Estimates
Your Rights and Protections Against Unexpected Medical Bills
The No Surprises Act is a federal law designed to protect consumers from certain unexpected medical bills and to provide greater transparency about the cost of health care.
The protections that apply to you may depend on whether you are using health insurance or paying for services yourself.
If You Are Uninsured or Paying for Services Yourself
If you do not have health insurance, or if you have insurance but choose not to use it to pay for your care, you generally have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your health care is expected to cost.
You may request a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling services. You will also generally receive one when services are scheduled at least three business days in advance.
Your Good Faith Estimate will include the expected charges for the services reasonably anticipated as part of your care.
Please keep a copy of your Good Faith Estimate so that you can compare it with any bills you receive.
If Your Bill Is Higher Than Your Good Faith Estimate
If you receive a bill from a provider that is at least $400 more than the amount listed on that provider’s Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible to use the federal Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution process.
The dispute generally must be initiated within 120 calendar days of the date on your initial bill.
For information about eligibility and how to begin the dispute process, visit:
If You Are Using Health Insurance
The No Surprises Act also provides protections against certain unexpected out-of-network medical bills, particularly those involving:
- Emergency services
- Certain non-emergency services received at an in-network hospital, hospital outpatient department, or ambulatory surgical center
- Air ambulance services
When these protections apply, you generally cannot be charged more than the applicable in-network cost-sharing amount.
Because protections can vary depending on your health plan and the circumstances in which care is received, you may contact the No Surprises Help Desk with questions about whether the federal law applies to your situation.
Questions or Concerns About a Medical Bill
If you believe you have been wrongly billed, have questions about your rights under the No Surprises Act, or would like to submit a complaint, you may contact:
No Surprises Help Desk
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
1-800-985-3059
Get Help With Your Medical Bill
The No Surprises Help Desk can answer questions about the federal law, assist with submitting a complaint, and direct you to other agencies or resources when appropriate.
For additional information about your rights under federal law, visit:
