What is a good-faith estimate and can I ask for one?

A good-faith estimate is a written cost estimate a hospital or provider gives you before scheduled care. Uninsured and self-pay patients have a right to one under federal rules; insured patients can still ask their provider and insurer for an advance cost estimate. Always ask for it in writing.

Why should I ask for the billing codes specifically?

Codes (CPT/HCPCS) are how prices and claims are described. If you have the codes, you can look up and compare published prices yourself and check that the estimate matches what will actually be billed. Ask which codes are expected for your procedure.

What is a facility fee and why does it matter?

A facility fee is a charge for the use of the hospital or its outpatient department, separate from the clinician's fee. The same procedure can cost much more in a hospital outpatient department than in a standalone clinic largely because of it. Ask whether a facility fee applies and how much it is.

Does a published or estimated price mean that's my final bill?

No. A published price is a reference figure and an estimate is not a guarantee. Your final bill depends on your insurance, the exact services performed, and complications or add-ons. A blank published price means the hospital did not disclose one — never that it is $0.

Guide

What to ask your hospital or insurer before a procedure

A published price gets you a real number to start from. These are the questions that turn that number into a bill you can actually plan for — no medical advice, just money.

By HospitalPricer Data TeamUpdated July 15, 2026Sources & methodology

Once you have looked up published prices — see how to compare prices before you call — the next step is asking the right questions. Below are two short checklists: one for the hospital’s billing office, one for your insurer. Bring the billing code and the published price you found so every answer can be checked against a real number.

Ask the hospital’s billing or pre-registration office

Which billing codes do you expect? Ask for the CPT/HCPCS codes so you can compare them on the code pages and the relevant procedure page.
What is the cash / self-pay price for those codes? Then check it against the hospital’s published file on its page here.
Does a facility fee apply, and how much is it? The setting drives a lot of the difference in price.
Will there be separate bills from the anesthesiologist, radiologist, pathologist, or other providers?
Can I get a written good-faith estimate? Ask for it in writing, with the codes listed.
Is there a self-pay or prompt-pay discount if I am uninsured or pay upfront?

Ask your insurer

Is this hospital in-network for my plan? Network status usually matters more than the cash price if you are insured.
What is the negotiated rate for these codes at this hospital, and what is my share after my deductible and out-of-pocket status?
Do I need prior authorization for the procedure or the setting?
Are all the providers in-network, including anesthesia and pathology?
Where would this cost less in-network — for example a hospital outpatient department versus a standalone facility?

Bring the numbers with you

Use HospitalPricer to note the published cash price and, where disclosed, the negotiated rate for two or three nearby hospitals before you call. Compare only the same code and the same price type — our compare-safely guide explains why, and gross charge vs cash price vs negotiated rate covers which number to quote.

Keep expectations honest

Everything above is about cost, not care — this is not medical advice, and price is never a measure of quality. A published price and even a written estimate are starting points; your actual bill can still differ. A blank price means the hospital did not publish one, not that the service is free.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good-faith estimate and can I ask for one?: A good-faith estimate is a written cost estimate a hospital or provider gives you before scheduled care. Uninsured and self-pay patients have a right to one under federal rules; insured patients can still ask their provider and insurer for an advance cost estimate. Always ask for it in writing.
Why should I ask for the billing codes specifically?: Codes (CPT/HCPCS) are how prices and claims are described. If you have the codes, you can look up and compare published prices yourself and check that the estimate matches what will actually be billed. Ask which codes are expected for your procedure.
What is a facility fee and why does it matter?: A facility fee is a charge for the use of the hospital or its outpatient department, separate from the clinician's fee. The same procedure can cost much more in a hospital outpatient department than in a standalone clinic largely because of it. Ask whether a facility fee applies and how much it is.
Does a published or estimated price mean that's my final bill?: No. A published price is a reference figure and an estimate is not a guarantee. Your final bill depends on your insurance, the exact services performed, and complications or add-ons. A blank published price means the hospital did not disclose one — never that it is $0.