What you are entitled to
Under the federal No Surprises Act, health care providers must give patients who are uninsured or self-paying a written estimate of the expected charges for non-emergency care.
- You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency treatment
- You can ask for one, in writing, before you schedule anything, and asking will not affect your care
- If you schedule an item or service, the estimate follows within the timeframe the law sets after scheduling
- Keep a copy of your estimate. If you are billed substantially more than it says, you have a right to dispute the bill
How to ask for one here
Call or text (713) 668-8383, or ask at the front desk during a visit. Tell us what treatment you are considering and that you are uninsured or paying yourself, and we will prepare the estimate for you in writing.
This fits how the practice already works. Dr. Valter explains what treatment costs before it starts, not after, and a written estimate simply puts that in your hands to take away and think about.
If your bill is much higher than your estimate
If you are billed significantly more than your Good Faith Estimate, federal rules give you the right to dispute the bill through a patient-provider dispute resolution process. There is a defined threshold and a deadline for starting a dispute, and information about both is available at the federal No Surprises Act help resources, or by asking us.
Talk to us first if you can. Billing questions usually turn out to be a coding or coverage issue that the front desk can resolve faster than any formal process.
A note about insurance
If you are using dental insurance, this particular right does not apply in the same way, because your plan's estimate of benefits governs. We will still tell you what we expect your portion to be before treatment, and we will submit the claim for you.
Note to the practice: the No Surprises Act requires providers to post notice of the Good Faith Estimate right where it is prominently visible, including on the practice website, and to furnish estimates within the timeframes the rule specifies. Confirm the current thresholds, deadlines, and required notice wording with your attorney or your dental association, and update the specifics on this page accordingly.
Common questions
Does asking for an estimate mean I have to go ahead with treatment?
No. An estimate is information, not a commitment. Ask for one, take it home, and decide in your own time.
I have insurance. Can I still get an estimate?
Yes. Even when insurance is involved we will tell you what we expect your out-of-pocket portion to be before treatment begins. Call (713) 668-8383 and ask.
Will the final cost always match the estimate?
Usually it is close, but an estimate is based on what we expect to find. If the treatment plan changes once work begins, we stop and talk to you about it rather than continuing and surprising you on the bill.
