Billing and Insurance

Your Rights Under the Law

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your health care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers must notify patients, who are uninsured or have health care coverage but wish to self pay and not use the coverage, of the availability of an estimate of their bill for health care items and services before those items or services are provided.

• If you meet the above criteria, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any health care items or services upon request or when scheduling such items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and facility fees.

• If you schedule a health care item or service at least 3 business days in advance, and you wish to have a Good Faith Estimate, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 1 business day after scheduling. If you schedule a health care item or service at least 10 business days in advance, make sure your health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after scheduling. You can also ask any health care provider or facility for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service. If you do, make sure the health care provider or facility gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing within 3 business days after you ask.

• If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more for any provider or facility than your Good Faith Estimate from that provider or facility, you can dispute the bill by calling the Patient Relations Department at 865-584-4747.

• Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate and the bill.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call 1-800-985-3059.