No Surprises Act

Our Commitment to Cost Transparency

Good Faith Estimate (COMING SOON!)

You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the expected costs of your healthcare services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services that are reasonably expected at the time of scheduling. This estimate may include related costs such as diagnostic testing, hearing devices, hearing rehabilitation services, and other items reasonably expected as part of your care.
  • For patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance, make sure your provider provides a Good Faith Estimate of scheduled services in writing at least 1 business day before receiving the medical service or item.
  • Even if you plan to use insurance benefits for services or items, you can also ask any provider you choose for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.

Aurora Audiology is committed to cost transparency and routinely provides treatment estimates before hearing rehabilitation services begin. Because insurance coverage and patient responsibility can vary, we encourage patients to discuss any financial questions with our team before scheduling treatment.

​​Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

Aurora Audiology is committed to providing clear, upfront information about treatment costs, insurance benefits, and expected patient responsibility. Before hearing rehabilitation services begin, we provide written treatment recommendations and cost estimates so you can make informed decisions about your hearing healthcare with confidence.

What is “balance billing” (sometimes called “surprise billing”)?

When you receive healthcare services, your insurance plan may require you to pay a portion of the cost through copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles. If you receive care from a provider who is out-of-network with your insurance plan, you may be responsible for additional costs beyond what your insurance pays. This is sometimes referred to as balance billing, which occurs when the amount charged for a service exceeds the amount your insurance plan allows or reimburses.

“Surprise billing” is an unexpected balance bill. This can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emergency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.

At Aurora Audiology, we believe transparency is essential. We are committed to helping patients understand their insurance benefits, estimated financial responsibility, and available treatment options before services are provided so they can make informed decisions about their hearing healthcare.

You are protected from balance billing for:

Emergency services

If you have an emergency medical condition and get emergency services from an out-of-network provider or facility, the most the provider or facility may bill you is your plan’s in-network cost-sharing amount (such as copayments and coinsurance). You can’t be balance billed for these emergency services. This includes services you may get after you’re in stable condition, unless you give written consent and give up your protections not to be balanced billed for these post-stabilization services. 

When balance billing isn’t allowed, you also have the following protections:

When federal and state balance billing protections apply, you cannot be charged more than your normal in-network cost-sharing amounts for covered services.

In these situations:

  • You are responsible only for applicable copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
  • Your health plan is responsible for paying covered amounts directly to the provider.
  • Any payments you make for covered services generally count toward your deductible and annual out-of-pocket maximum.
  • Your insurance plan must calculate your cost-sharing based on its in-network payment methodology when required by law.

If you have questions about your insurance benefits, financial responsibility, or billing protections, we strongly encourage you to contact your insurance carrier directly to better understand your plan’s in-network and out-of-network coverage.

While our team is happy to help explain your benefits and provide available estimates, Aurora Audiology is considered out-of-network with most commercial insurance plans. Because coverage policies and reimbursement rates vary significantly among insurers, your insurance carrier remains the best source for specific information regarding your benefits and potential out-of-pocket costs.

If you think you’ve been wrongly billed, visit this website or call 1-800-985-3059

Visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers for more information about your rights under federal law.