If you don’t have insurance, or you choose not to use it, you should know what your care will cost before you start. Federal law gives you the right to a written estimate, and we’re glad to give you one.
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost
Under the law, health care 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 health care 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.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
Who can get an estimate
You can get a Good Faith Estimate if you are paying for your care yourself. That includes people who have no insurance and people who have insurance but choose not to use it for their care with us. If we bill your insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, your plan’s rules apply instead, and our office can help you check your benefits.
How to ask for one
Call us at 734-215-5853, or tell our office when you schedule. You don’t need to have scheduled yet to ask. Please don’t send health details by regular email.
We’ll send your estimate in writing:
- within 1 business day after scheduling, if your first visit is 3 to 9 business days away;
- within 3 business days after scheduling, if your first visit is 10 or more business days away;
- within 3 business days after you ask, if you ask before scheduling.
What your estimate covers
Your estimate lists the services we expect to provide and what we expect to charge for each one. For example:
- Therapy: the first appointment and ongoing sessions. Because therapy continues over time, your estimate can cover up to 12 months, based on how often we expect to meet. If your plan changes, we’ll give you an updated estimate.
- Psychological testing: the interview, testing time, scoring, the written report and the feedback session.
- Medication management: the first evaluation and expected follow-up visits. Medicines are billed by your pharmacy, not by us.
A Good Faith Estimate is not a contract. It doesn’t require you to receive any service from us.
If your bill is higher than your estimate
Please talk with us first. Many questions can be settled with a call to 734-215-5853. If your bill is at least $400 more than your estimate, you can also start the federal patient-provider dispute process. You generally must start within 120 calendar days of the date on the bill. Starting a dispute won’t affect the care you get from us.
Questions
Joy Family Center, PLLC d/b/a Joy Mental Health Group
Phone 734-215-5853 · Fax 855-952-2422
office.manager@joyfamilycenter.com
2350 Washtenaw Ave, Suite 3, Ann Arbor, MI 48104