Who this applies to
This applies if you are uninsured, or if you have insurance but are choosing not to use it for therapy. If you are using one of the insurance plans I accept, your costs are set by your plan rather than by an estimate from me, so this page is not the relevant one.
What you have a right to
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining how much your care will cost. Under the law, health care providers must give people who are uninsured or not using insurance an estimate of the expected charges for services.
- You can ask for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule anything, and at any point afterward.
- If you schedule a service at least three business days in advance, you will receive the estimate in writing without having to ask.
- The estimate is yours to keep. Save a copy or take a photo of it.
- If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute it.
What an estimate from me looks like
Therapy is open-ended by nature, so an honest estimate names the price per session and an expected range of sessions rather than pretending to know a final total. Mine sets out the session fee, how often we expect to meet, and a projected cost over a defined period, usually twelve months. If the plan changes, the estimate can be updated.
My current self-pay rates are $150 for an individual session and $250 for a couples session, each about 53 minutes. The initial consultation is free.
An estimate is an estimate. It is not a contract, it does not commit you to a number of sessions, and you can stop at any point.
If your bill is higher than your estimate
You can start a dispute resolution process with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if the billed amount is at least $400 above the estimate. You have 120 calendar days from the date of the bill to start it. Starting a dispute will not affect the care you receive.
How to get yours
Ask me. You can raise it in the free consultation, or write to nathan.mft@proton.me or call (323) 880-0902 and I will put one together. There is no cost to asking and no obligation attached to it.
Where to learn more
For questions about your rights under this law, or to start a dispute, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-985-3059.
This page summarises rights under the federal No Surprises Act for general information. It is not legal advice. Nathan Hohsfield, AMFT #161406, supervised by Mike Chang, LMFT #86321.