u/Old-Chemical-6881

I received medical service with a specialist in Texas. I have made long since known that I am going to be seeing them as a Self-Pay patient, and have always put down that I do not have health insurance and well be paying out of pocket.

From what I know, from seeing my OTHER doctors and specialists that work in the same hospital. I should be entitled to a Good Faith Estimate prior to the visit. So here I come to reddit to ask about this.

What should I do? I've been seen by the specialist three separate times. And given no information regarding payment about my visit. Every single time I go to the clinic, I go up to the front desk. Tell them I don't have insurance and that I'm self pay. Meet with my doctor, and then speak with the front desk and tell them that I'm ready to pay.

However, each time I say that. I was told that I will be mailed for it. Which I took to mean that I would be given all the information and bill. None of which has ever been sent out to me as of yet. I would only receive recently a text message with a $600 outstanding balance on my patient portal.

Steps I've tried:

- Using my Patient portal to contact my clinic. No response.
- Attempt to call the front desk, no response at first but eventually told that I would be e-mailed these Good Faith Estimates. Never received.
- Attempt to contact Billing. They directed me back to the front desk with scheduling.
- Attempt again to get my Good Faith Estimates mailed to me, with the address that was on file. My estimate sent was for the future visits and the total charges were incorrect.
- Call with administration showing the incorrect Good Faith Estimate as they told me that they couldn't retrieve this information and try with Billing.
- Spoke with Billing and asked about the specifically older Good Faith Estimates and was told to speak with administration again.
- Spoke with administration, and was told they still couldn't provide the older Good Faith Estimates and refused to offer assistance as I had begun to record the call to try and keep my bearings of this run around.

Is this normal? I doubt it. Even the admin said it was not normal. I feel like I'm in some sort of clerical nightmare. That everything had gone wrong, and it all ends with me just paying off the bill. Which granted I can pay. I have no issues with paying the requested amount. But I feel like I am owed these Good Faith Estimates. I have done my do diligence in recording and leaving a paper trail with everything. Mentioning that I would pay the exact moment I had gotten these older documents to me. However, I just want to know if there is any person I should contact or say or get in touch with to make it happen.