Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to know what your care will cost before it begins. This page explains the Good Faith Estimate, who receives one, what it contains, and what to do if a bill is higher than expected.

Informational only. Individualized estimates are provided directly to clients before treatment begins. Last reviewed: August 2026

Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate

Under the federal No Surprises Act, which took effect on January 1, 2022, health care providers and facilities must give people who are uninsured or who are not using insurance a written estimate of the expected cost of care before services begin. This document is called a Good Faith Estimate.

The purpose is straightforward. You should be able to see, in writing and in advance, what your care is likely to cost, so that you can plan, ask questions, compare options, and make an informed decision without financial uncertainty sitting between you and the help you are seeking.

STX Therapy Co. PLLC provides Good Faith Estimates in accordance with these federal requirements.

Who Qualifies for a Good Faith Estimate

You are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate if you are uninsured, meaning you do not have health insurance coverage, or if you are self-pay, meaning you have coverage but choose not to use it or choose not to have a claim submitted to your health plan for your care.

You may also request a Good Faith Estimate at any time before scheduling, even if you have not yet decided whether to begin services. Asking for an estimate does not obligate you to schedule an appointment.

If you plan to use insurance benefits and want your claims submitted to your plan, the Good Faith Estimate requirement generally does not apply to you. Instead, your health plan is responsible for providing coverage and cost-sharing information, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. We are glad to help you understand what to ask your plan.

What a Good Faith Estimate Includes

A Good Faith Estimate from STX Therapy is a written document, provided in paper or electronic form at your preference, that identifies your name and date of birth, describes the primary service being scheduled or requested, and provides an itemized list of the items and services reasonably expected to be furnished as part of that care.

For each item, the estimate lists the expected charge, along with the applicable service codes and, where relevant, diagnosis codes. It also identifies the practice, including our name, address, and applicable provider identifiers, and it identifies any items or services that would need to be scheduled separately.

Because psychotherapy is an ongoing service rather than a single procedure, our estimates describe the expected fee for each session type, the anticipated frequency of sessions, and the expected duration of the initial course of care. Where a specific number of sessions cannot be known in advance, the estimate explains the assumptions used and states clearly that the total is an estimate based on clinical expectations at the time it was prepared.

Each estimate also includes the required federal disclaimers: that the estimate reflects reasonably expected charges and is not a contract, that you are not obligated to obtain the items or services listed, that actual charges may differ, and that you have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process if you are billed substantially more than estimated.

When You Receive Your Estimate

If you schedule a service at least three business days in advance, you receive a Good Faith Estimate no later than one business day after scheduling. If you schedule at least ten business days in advance, you receive it no later than three business days after scheduling. If you request an estimate without scheduling, you receive it within three business days of your request.

If the expected cost of your care changes materially, for example because the recommended session frequency changes or a different service is added, you receive an updated Good Faith Estimate before those services are provided.

Estimates are provided in writing and are reviewed with you so that you can ask questions before care begins.

Self-Pay Rights

Choosing to pay privately is a legitimate and often thoughtful decision. Some clients prefer private pay because it avoids a mental health diagnosis being submitted to an insurer, because it allows treatment to be guided by clinical judgment rather than utilization review, or because it offers additional flexibility in scheduling and session length.

If you are self-pay, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate before care begins, to ask questions about any item on it, to know our fees for each service before you are charged, to receive written notice of our cancellation and late-cancellation policies in advance, to decline any recommended service, and to request an updated estimate at any point during treatment.

You also have the right to change your mind. Deciding to use insurance later, or deciding not to proceed with care, does not affect your right to have received clear cost information.

Out-of-Network Information

Insurance credentialing and contracting are in progress at STX Therapy. Until network participation is confirmed for your specific plan, services may be considered out of network.

If you have out-of-network behavioral health benefits, your plan may reimburse a portion of what you pay. On request, we can provide a superbill, which is an itemized receipt containing the information most plans require for out-of-network reimbursement. Submitting a superbill is your choice, and it does require a mental health diagnosis to be included.

We encourage you to contact your plan before beginning care and ask whether you have out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits, what percentage of the allowed amount is reimbursed, whether an out-of-network deductible applies and how much of it remains, whether prior authorization is required, whether telehealth is covered on the same basis as in-person care, and how to submit a claim.

Please contact us for the most current information about insurance availability and network participation.

If Your Bill Is Higher Than Your Estimate

Federal law gives you a formal way to dispute a bill that substantially exceeds your Good Faith Estimate.

If you receive a bill that is at least four hundred dollars more than the total expected charges on your Good Faith Estimate for a given provider, you may start the patient-provider dispute resolution process administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You must begin the dispute within one hundred twenty calendar days of the date on your bill. An independent third party reviews the estimate and the bill and determines the amount you owe. A modest administrative fee applies, and the disputed charges cannot be sent to collections while the dispute is pending.

Before starting a formal dispute, we encourage you to contact us. Most differences between an estimate and a bill have a simple explanation, and we would rather resolve a question directly and quickly.

For questions about your rights or to begin a dispute, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call the No Surprises Help Desk at 1-800-985-3059.

About This Page

This page is informational. It explains a right you hold and how STX Therapy fulfills it. It is not itself a Good Faith Estimate, and no figure on this page should be treated as a quote.

Individualized Good Faith Estimates are prepared for each client, reflect that client's specific circumstances and recommended course of care, and are provided in writing before treatment begins.

Request an Estimate or Ask a Question

If you would like a Good Faith Estimate, have questions about fees, or want help understanding your options before scheduling, please contact us. Cost questions are welcome and are best asked early.

STX Therapy Co. PLLC San Antonio, Texas Email: contact@stxtherapy.com

This page is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal, financial, or insurance advice. Federal requirements may change. This page is reviewed at least annually and updated as those requirements change.