US Medical Term · billing
Good Faith Estimate
Estimado de Buena Fe
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Good Faith Estimate |
| Spanish (Español) | Estimado de Buena Fe |
| Chinese (中文) | 善意费用估计 |
| Korean (한국어) | 선의의 비용 추정서 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ước tính chi phí thiện chí |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Good Faith Estimate |
| Portuguese (Português) | Estimativa de boa-fé |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ประมาณการค่าใช้จ่ายโดยสุจริต |
| Japanese (日本語) | 誠実な費用見積もり |
What it means
A Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is a written cost estimate that healthcare providers are required to give uninsured or self-pay patients before a scheduled service costing at least $400. The estimate must list expected charges for the primary service and related items—such as labs, anesthesia, or facility fees—reasonably expected at the same time. Under the No Surprises Act, if your final bill exceeds the Good Faith Estimate by more than $400, you have the right to dispute the charge through the patient-provider dispute resolution process. Always request a GFE before any planned procedure to budget your out-of-pocket costs and identify unexpected add-ons in advance.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
GFE—good faith cost estimate
estimado de buena fe de costos
No Surprises Act cost estimate
estimado de costos de la Ley de Sin Sorpresas
pre-service written cost estimate
estimado escrito de costos antes del servicio
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026