Yes - a federal right since 2022: if you are uninsured or self-pay, providers must give a written good faith estimate when you schedule at least 3 business days ahead, or whenever you ask, per the No Surprises Act.
It must itemize expected services, including pieces billed by other providers (imaging, labs, anesthesia), and it has teeth: a final bill $400 or more over the estimate can be challenged through a federal dispute process - keep the document. Insured patients can ask their plan for an advance cost quote, and hospitals must publish standard charges online under price transparency rules. The script: schedule, request the estimate in writing, compare against posted prices, and hold it for any later dispute. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, and can help you plan the ask.
What to do
Common questions
Can I get a cost estimate before a medical procedure?
Yes - and since 2022 it is a federal right, not a favor. Under the No Surprises Act, if you are not using insurance (uninsured or choosing to self-pay), providers and facilities must give you a written good faith estimate of expected charges when you schedule a service at least 3 business days in advance - or whenever you simply ask for one. The estimate must itemize the expected services, including the pieces other providers will bill (imaging, labs, anesthesia), and it is more than informational: if the final bill comes in $400 or more above the estimate, you can challenge it through a federal patient-provider dispute process - so keep the document. Insured patients can ask their plan for the pre-treatment equivalent: an advance explanation of benefits or a cost quote for planned procedures, and hospitals are separately required to publish their standard charges online under the price transparency rules - worth a search before any elective procedure. The practical script: schedule the service, request the estimate in writing, compare it against the hospital's posted prices, and bring the estimate to any billing dispute later. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you plan the ask.