Estimate FAQs

Estimates are estimated out-of-pocket costs, including co-pays, of the medical service a patient is scheduled to receive, based on factors such as the staffing and equipment needed to provide the service.

Estimates include co-pays and applicable discounts.

• For example, a patient on financial assistance will have the discount they qualify for automatically factored into their estimate.
• Applicable discounts include: financial assistance discounts, uninsured discounts or cosmetic discounts (e.g., Midsota discounts).

CentraCare sends estimates to all uninsured patients who schedule an appointment at least three days in advance.

CentraCare strives to send estimates to all insured patients who schedule an appointment at least three days in advance.

CentraCare is committed to supporting your health care journey. Our goal is to ease financial stress through price transparency. Since 2021, one way we have done this is by providing estimates to patients prior to their scheduled visits.

While CentraCare has sent estimates since 2021, in January of 2022 with the passing of the No Surprises Act, it became mandatory to send estimates to all self-pay patients (with the few exceptions mentioned above, under “Who receives estimates?”).

No, an estimate is not the same as a bill. Estimates are created when a medical service is scheduled, to provide price transparency before a visit. Final bills are generated after a patient receives the service. While not a bill, patients are encouraged to discuss financial support options and pay prior to receiving care.

Estimates are based on the services a patient is scheduled to receive; sometimes those services change during the actual visit, which would then change the final cost.

If you overpay an estimate and have a balance due with CentraCare, the overpayment amount will first go toward that balance. If you are a guarantor to others who have an outstanding balance, the overpayment amount will go to that balance. Any remaining amount will be refunded to you.

You can pay an estimate using a variety of options, including debit card, credit card, FSA, HSA, electronic check payment (ACH), Apple Pay, Google Pay, check or money order. Please do not send cash by mail.

To make a payment, patients can:

• Click the link if you receive a text message and/or email notification, and follow the payment instructions.
• Follow the information provided if you receive a paper estimate by mail.
• Visit previsit.centracare.com. Enter information from your statement, and follow the payment instructions.
• Mail a check or money order with the payment slip included with your estimate statement.

Only select services require an estimate to be paid prior to care. In these cases, a financial counselor will reach out to the patient to assist. You can, however, pay an estimate, and we encourage you to discuss financial support options and pay prior to receiving care.

To securely view and pay your estimate online, visit previsit.centracare.com, and enter your identifying information. Alternatively, if you receive electronic estimate notifications via text message and/or email, click on the link in the message to directly access your account.

No. CentraCare offers the opportunity to pay online as a guest. Please have your estimate available.

• Explanations of benefits (EOB) come from the patient’s insurance provider, not a health care facility, and are generated after services are rendered. They show the actual services provided and explain how a patient’s medical claim was processed through their insurance.
• By contrast, estimates come from a health care organization and are provided prior to services rendered, based on the patient’s scheduled services.
• Those who are insured will receive an explanation of benefits and might receive an estimate. Those who are not insured will receive an estimate but not an EOB.

Yes. If insured patients don’t automatically receive an estimate, they can request one here. There is also a tool available in MyChart for patients to create an estimate.

No, neither self-pay nor insured patients can opt out of receiving estimates.

As of January 2022, the law requires that self-pay patients receive estimates. Because insured patients will be included in this law in an upcoming phase, CentraCare’s system functionality is not in place for them to opt out either.

Co-pays are accurate 100% of the time because they are unchanging amounts set by the patient’s insurance provider.

Information can be found here. Or contact our financial counselors at 320-255-5616.

If you reschedule your visit, the payment will carry over to the new visit date. If you cancel your visit, the payment will be applied to any outstanding balance or refunded.

To manage electronic estimate notification settings, access your account at previsit.centracare.com. Click the circle with your initials, then click My Account. There you can view and edit your contact information, as well as modify estimate notification settings.

Call our Customer Service line at 320-255-5622. They’ll be happy to answer your question or direct you to someone who can.