At VitalCare Health, we believe patients should have clear and transparent information about the expected cost of their healthcare services. In accordance with the federal No Surprises Act, uninsured and self-pay patients may be entitled to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of the expected charges for scheduled healthcare services.
Good Faith Estimate
What Is a Good Faith Estimate?
A Good Faith Estimate is a written estimate of the expected charges for healthcare items and services that VitalCare Health reasonably expects to provide as part of your scheduled care.
A Good Faith Estimate is not a bill and does not guarantee the final cost of your care. Actual charges may differ if your healthcare needs change or additional services become necessary.
Who Can Receive a Good Faith Estimate?
You may request a Good Faith Estimate if you:
- Do not have health insurance; or
- Have health insurance but choose not to use it to pay for your care.
You may request an estimate before scheduling services. If you schedule services at least 3 business days in advance, VitalCare Health will generally provide a written Good Faith Estimate within the applicable federal timeframe.
What Does the Estimate Include?
Your Good Faith Estimate will generally include the healthcare items and services that VitalCare Health reasonably expects to provide, together with the expected charges for those services.
Depending on your care, the estimate may include:
- Office or primary care visits
- Telehealth visits
- Follow-up visits
- Wellness services
- IV hydration and wellness services
- Vitamin and mineral injections
- Therapy services
- Other services scheduled with VitalCare Health
The estimate applies to services provided by VitalCare Health. Services provided separately by another healthcare provider or facility may not be included in our estimate.
Your Final Bill
The Good Faith Estimate is an estimate of expected charges, not a final bill. Your actual charges may be different if additional services are required, your treatment plan changes, or circumstances arise that could not reasonably have been anticipated when the estimate was prepared.
We encourage you to keep your Good Faith Estimate and compare it with your final bill.
If Your Bill Is Significantly Higher Than Your Estimate
Under the federal No Surprises Act, an uninsured or self-pay patient may be eligible to use the federal Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution process if the billed charges from a provider are at least $400 more than the provider’s Good Faith Estimate.
During the dispute process, applicable federal protections may restrict certain collection activities while the dispute is being reviewed.
For information about your rights or the federal dispute process, visit the CMS No Surprises Act resources or contact the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.
How to Request a Good Faith Estimate
You may request a Good Faith Estimate before scheduling or receiving services.
VitalCare Health
2600 East 25th Street, Upstairs Suite
Minneapolis, MN 55406
Phone: +1 (612) 633-7898
Email: info@vitalcarehealth.org
Website: vitalcarehealth.org
When requesting an estimate, please provide enough information for us to identify the service you are considering. Please do not include confidential medical information, diagnoses, symptoms, or other sensitive health information in an unsecured website form or email.
Important Notice
A Good Faith Estimate is based on information available at the time it is prepared and represents VitalCare Health’s reasonable expectation of charges. It does not replace medical evaluation or guarantee that a particular service will be medically appropriate or necessary.
VitalCare Health is committed to transparent, understandable pricing and helping patients make informed decisions about their care.
This policy is intended as patient-facing information and should be reviewed by VitalCare Health’s healthcare compliance/legal counsel before publication to confirm compliance with applicable federal and Minnesota requirements.