ClearCarePulse › Care Rights › Good-Faith Estimate Dispute

Billed $400+ more than your estimate? You can dispute it federally

The answer: 45 CFR §149.610 — uninsured/self-pay patients are ENTITLED to a good-faith estimate: within 1 business day when scheduled ≥3 business days out; within 3 business days when scheduled ≥10 days out or on request. When the final bill runs $400 or more above that estimate, you qualify for the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process (45 CFR §149.610(a) — billed charges at least $400 above the good-faith estimate qualify for the federal dispute process) — but you must file within 120 calendar days of the initial bill (45 CFR §149.620(c)(1) — dispute must be initiated (postmarked) within 120 CALENDAR DAYS of the initial bill).

Filing the dispute

The administrative fee is $25 (Administrative fee set by HHS guidance under §149.620(g)(2) — $25 as commonly published [GUIDANCE-SOURCED, not CFR-fixed; re-verified per build]); it is credited against what you owe when you prevail. If the dispute entity rules for you, you pay the LESSER amount; the provider cannot send the disputed bill to collections while the dispute is pending

Below the $400 threshold

A bill less than $400 over the estimate does not qualify for the federal dispute process (45 CFR §149.610(a) — billed charges at least $400 above the good-faith estimate qualify for the federal dispute process) — the estimate right itself still applies, but the dispute lever does not.

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Generated 2026-07-07 by ClearCarePulse (The Aslan Group LLC) from the same source-cited legal reference data our paid engine uses. Informational, not legal or medical advice — rules change; verify with the cited CFR/USC sections. Contact: info@theaslangroupllc.com