AnimasYour rights
Good Faith Estimate
If you don't have insurance, or you have it but aren't using it, you have the right to know what your care will cost before it starts.
Under the federal No Surprises Act, health care providers must give people who are uninsured or self-paying an estimate of the expected charges for their care. Animas Mental Health is a private-pay practice, so this applies to everyone I see.
What you're entitled to
- A Good Faith Estimate in writing, explaining the expected cost of the services you're scheduling. Ask and I'll provide one — you don't have to justify the request.
- The estimate before you schedule, if you ask for it at least three business days ahead. If you schedule at least three business days out, I'll provide one whether or not you ask.
- A copy you can keep, and time to consider it.
What it will cover
For ongoing therapy, the estimate reflects my current rates — $150 for the initial intake and $125 for each session after — together with the number of sessions we expect at the outset. Therapy is not a fixed-length procedure, so that number is a good-faith projection rather than a promise, and we'll revisit it as the work goes on. Any sliding-scale arrangement will be reflected in your estimate.
If the bill comes in higher
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute it. The federal dispute process generally requires you to start within 120 calendar days of the date on the bill.
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
A note on this page
This is a plain-language summary of a federal requirement, provided for your information. It isn't legal advice, and it doesn't replace the written estimate itself. If anything here is unclear, ask me directly at (970) 335-9811.