This page explains your right to a written good faith estimate — a federal cost-estimate rule that applies when you do not have health insurance, or you have insurance but you are not using it to pay for care here. It is about a written estimate of what we expect to charge for psychotherapy — not about emergency-room or hospital bills.
Anxiety Center of Annapolis is a private outpatient psychology practice. Sessions are scheduled with Dr. Sarah Rovnak. Your costs here are the fees we discuss with you (and, if you use insurance, whatever your plan requires you to pay).
Good faith estimates
If you are uninsured, or you have coverage but you are paying us directly and not asking us to bill your plan, you have a right to a written good faith estimate of expected charges.
You can ask for an estimate before you book. You should also receive one when you schedule care at least three business days in advance. You do not have to use the words “good faith estimate.” Asking what therapy will cost is enough.
A good faith estimate is not a bill. It lists the services we reasonably expect to provide and what we expect to charge, based on what we know at the time. Therapy length varies. We may estimate an evaluation, a period of weekly sessions, or both. If the plan changes — for example, we meet more often, or the fee changes — we will give you an updated estimate.
Please keep a copy (or a photo) of your estimate so you can compare it with what you are charged.
If we bill your insurance
Dr. Rovnak participates with some health plans. If we are in-network for your plan and we will submit a claim for your sessions, this good-faith-estimate rule does not apply to those visits. You will still owe whatever your plan assigns to you (copay, coinsurance, or deductible). Those amounts come from your insurer, not from this estimate process.
Please confirm your benefits with your plan before we start. A current list of plans we participate with is on our Fees & Insurance page.
If we are out of network for your plan
If your plan is not one we participate with, you may still choose to see us and pay our fee. On request, we can give you the paperwork many plans need if you want to seek out-of-network reimbursement. Whether your plan pays — and how much — is between you and the insurer.
Before we begin, we will tell you that we do not participate with that plan and what we expect the charges to be.
If you will pay us directly and you are not using insurance for these visits, ask for a good faith estimate. If you want us or you to submit a claim, tell us that when you schedule so we handle your estimate correctly.
If you are paying on your own
That includes people with no health coverage, and people who have coverage but choose not to use it here.
Tell us that when you inquire or book. We will give you a written estimate. Current session fees are listed on Fees & Insurance. Your estimate will be individualized and may cover more than one visit.
If a bill is much higher than the estimate
If you received a good faith estimate and later receive a bill from us that is at least $400 more than that estimate, federal law lets you ask for an independent review. That process is run by the federal government, not by this office. There is a filing window (generally 120 days from the initial bill) and a small administrative fee. Starting a review does not change the quality of your care.
Details: Learn more about the dispute process
You can also call us first. Many differences are easier to sort out in the office than through a formal dispute.
What this page is not about
Hospital and emergency “surprise billing” rules do not apply to a scheduled therapy session at this office.
This page does not change your insurance contract, guarantee that a plan will pay, or lock in a set number of sessions.
How to request an estimate
Email info@annapolisanxiety.com and say you would like a cost estimate (or a good faith estimate). Please include your name and date of birth; whether you have health coverage, and whether you want a claim submitted; and the service you are asking about (evaluation, individual therapy, or couples).
We will send the estimate in writing, by email or on paper — tell us which you prefer.
A note on estimates
A good faith estimate is not a contract. It does not require you to start or continue care here. It is our good-faith picture of expected charges, not legal advice and not a guarantee of your insurance benefits.
Federal rule: cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers Rights when you are not using insurance: https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights/know-your-rights/no-insurance Maryland Insurance Administration: https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Pages/Federal-No-Surprises-Act.aspx