What To Do If Health Insurance Claim Is Denied

How To Appeal A Denied Claim

Denied health insurance coverage? Appeal it.

Your health plan will review your coverage for a treatment, service, or prescription either before or after your claim is filed. If your health plan wont pay for medically necessary services, treatments, or medicines, you have the right to appeal the decision through your plans internal appeal process.

Step 1: Review Your Plan

Check your health plan documents or contact your health plan or employer for details on your plans appeal process. A health plan will usually require you to fill out forms or write a letter to appeal the decision.

Step 2: Submit Your Appeal

You will usually have to file your appeal within 180 days of receiving notice that your claim was denied.

You may send any other info that you want the health plan to consider.
Your appeal does not need to be technical, but you should say what claim denial you are appealing and why you believe the company should review the denial.

Step 3: Keep Copies

Make sure you keep copies of all info about your claim and the plans denial, including info the plan gave you. This includes:

Your Explanation of Benefits forms
Copies of any info you send to the company
Notes from any conversation you have with your health plan about the appeal

Step 4: Requesting an Independent Review

When you have exhausted your health plans internal appeal process, you may have the right to have the decision reviewed by an outside independent review organization .

Learn The Deadlines For Appealing Your Health Insurance Claim Denial

Read your health plan and understand the rules for filing an appeal.

“You want to know how under the gun you are,” Stephenson says.

If it’s a complex case and you’re concerned about meeting the deadline, send a letter stating you’re appealing the denial and will send further information later, Stephenson says.

S To Take To Make A Claim

If you decide to make a claim, contact your insurance agent, broker or company as soon as possible. Most insurance companies have time limits within which you must submit your claim. The limit usually varies from 90 days to 12 months from the date of the loss or event. Check your policys terms and conditions for the time limit.

Provide your insurance agent, broker or company with all supporting documents required by your policy.

For example, you may need to provide:

an accident report for a car insurance claim
a death certificate for a life insurance claim

Your insurance company will review your policy. They will let you know if you can make a claim under the terms of your contract.

In some cases, the insurance company may look into the circumstances surrounding your claim. This is to confirm that it involves no fraud. This is a claim investigation. During a claim investigation, your insurance company may ask you to provide:

medical records

Your insurance company will use this information to determine if it will pay your claim.

If Your Health Insurance Claim Is Denied

Its not unusual for insurers to deny some claims or say they wont cover a test, procedure, or service that doctors order. You can appeal many types of health insurance decisions sometimes even things that are written into your health plans contract. You can appeal Medicare claim denials, too.

Find out how long you have to file an internal appeal. If the insurer denies a claim, it must explain to you your right to appeal the decision. If you ask for it, they must give you all the information about the decision.

If your claim is denied, you might ask for more information from a customer service representative or case manager at your insurance company before you make a formal appeal.

Sometimes you can re-submit the claim with a copy of the denial letter and your doctor’s explanation, along with any other written information that supports using the test or treatment that has been denied. Sometimes the test or service will only need to be coded differently.

How Does The Health Insurance Appeal Process Work

healt insurance claim form on a wooden surface Tario & Associates, P.S.

The first step in the appeal process is an internal appeal . An internal appeal is usually initiated by notifying your health insurance company in writing. Either complete all required forms from your health insurer, or send them a letter explaining your situation along with your name, claim number and health insurance ID. Include supporting documents, such as a letter from your doctor that may help your claim. You must file this claim within 180 days of receiving notice that your claim was denied. Once filed, the insurance company is required to review its decision.

If you have not yet received care and your health concern is urgent, you will be notified of your internal appeal result within 4 days, and you also have the option to file an external claim review at the same time.
If you have not received care and the medical situation is not urgent, you will be notified of their coverage decision within 30 days.
If you have already received treatment, you will be notified of the internal appeal decision within 60 days.

Don’t Miss: Health Insurance Starbucks

Health Insurance Claim Denial Reasons

An insurer might deny your claim for several reasons:

A provider or facility isnt in the health plans network.
A provider or facility didnt submit the right information to the insurer.
A health plan needed more information to pay for the services.
A health plan didnt deem a procedure medically necessary.
A clerical error.

Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of access initiatives at Families USA, a nonprofit that advocates for accessible, affordable health care, says clerical error is often to blame.

“A large group of claims is denied based on billing or coding errors that the doctor’s office can readily straighten out,” she says.

Fish-Parcham adds that you can dispute denied claims that the insurer alleges isn’t covered by the policy.

“People should look to see what the plan documents actually say about whether a benefit is covered and get help from their insurance department or an expert consumer assistance program if there is any doubt,” says Fish-Parcham.

The denial rate of health insurers varies. The American Medical Association concluded that between 1 and 4% of claims were denied among seven major insurers. The Department of Labor estimated a larger number — one out of every seven claims.

Who Can Help You File An Appeal

There is no need to feel alone when preparing to file your claim appeal. Your health care teamcan provide information to support the appeal. Working together will increase your chances for success. If your health care provider is unsure of whether a treatment is covered, contact the insurer to find out. Ask if there is anything that needs to be done before treatment to make sure its covered.

Health care providers can provide you with an Appeal Filing Form to begin the process of appealing the insurance claim denial. Let them know about the Tip Sheet for health care providers by The National Association of Independent Review Organizations .

Others who can help:

More information:

Works Cited

Martin, Jacqueline Nace, Elaine Grossman Joel Merlini, Meredith Hodgkiss, Thomas and Smith, Gilbert.Do You Know How to Assist in Recovering Costs for Your Patients Claim Denials? Benefits Live Magazine.February, 2012. www.nairo.org.

Muller, Joyce Smith, Gilbert Nace, Elaine and Giorgio, Terri. Mastering External Appeals: A Guide For Health Plans. November 2012. www.nairo.org and www.urac.org.

Smith, Gilbert Martin, Jacqueline and Hodgkiss, Tom.Know Your Healthcare Appeal Rights: A Q& A on the Health Insurance Appeals Process for Consumers. November 2011. www.nairo.org.

Smith, Gilbert Senz, Chris. How to Interpret the New Internal and External Appeals Regulations. September, 2010. www.nairo.org.

Was this article helpful?

Also Check: Evolve Health Insurance

Understand The Health Insurance Appeal Process

If a medical claim is denied and one or more internal appeals to the insurance company are unsuccessful, consumers have the right to request an external review that meets state and federal requirements. Its a lot of effort but may be worth the hassle. In fact, consumers who appeal outside of their private insurance companies win their cases an average of 45 percent of the time, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

When submitting your appeal, keep in mind that the best defense is a good offense. As you put together an appeal packet, include as much supporting detail and as many relevant documents as possible. Also, keep a close eye on any deadlines specified by your insurance company.

Your policy will outline the specific timeline and process for contesting a denied claim. If you fail to appeal in a timely manner, however, you have no recourse. There are three levels of appeals, so even if your first attempt does not go in your favor, continue the process, paying close attention to why the appeal was denied and the required time frame for additional appeals.

How Ajust Can Help With Your Denied Medical Claim

How to Appeal Denied Medical Insurance Claims | NBC4 Washington

Does all of this sound daunting and complicated? Thats because it is, and aJust has your back throughout it all. As a professional medical billing advocate, aJust is prepared to take over negotiations and save you time and money.

They can step it at any time in the denied claim process, filing an appeal on your behalf, seeking an external review, or lowering your costs if appeals are not successful.

With aJust on your side, you can save up to 90% on your medical billwhich may just make all the difference!

Don’t Miss: Does Starbucks Offer Health Insurance

What To Do If Your Health Insurance Claim Is Denied

Created by FindLaw’s team of legal writers and editors

A health insurance claim denial can threaten your financial security and ability to access medical care, but it doesn’t need to be the end of the story. The following article reviews the reasons why a health insurance claim may be denied and actions you should take following a denial.

Statutes Of Limitations For Bad Faith Claims

Each jurisdiction assigns legal claims a deadline, called the statute of limitations, beyond which a person cannot normally file a lawsuit. Breach of contract, torts, and other claims each have their own statutes of limitations. As you appeal and negotiate with your insurer, you should be aware of your potential legal claims and your jurisdiction’s statutes of limitations to ensure you don’t lose your right to sue.

Don’t Miss: Why Do Doctors Hate Chiropractors

What To Do When Health Insurance Wont Pay

Health insurance claims are denied for a host of reasons, good and bad. Your claim might not be covered by your policy, you may have left out some important documents or supporting information, or your insurance provider could be denying your claim in bad faith even though it should be covered. If your health insurance claim was denied, there are a few helpful steps to take. Reach out to a dedicated Los Angeles health insurance denial lawyer for help regarding a California health insurance claim.

Want To Complain About Your Insurance Company Start Here

What You Should do if Your Insurance Claim is Denied · Napoli Shkolnik

If you bought your policy through an agent, you can enlist that person as an advocate to help with your complaint.

If you are having difficulty getting payment you are owed or any other trouble, your first line of defense is your local agent, says Corinne Kligmann, a partner at Lift Financial, a financial advisory firm in South Jordan, Utah. Their interests lie with yours, not with those of the insurance company. They can be a great ally and they are by far the easiest way to reach a good outcome.

If that doesnt work, Kligmann recommends contacting the agents manager. Thats the next step up to navigate the process. If your agent cant help you, there is nearly always a manager to speak to for help. In most cases, it does not need to go any further than this, she says.

Also Check: Starbucks Insurance Cost

Make Sure To Provide Enough Information

Insurance carriers have guidelines that they use to decide if they will cover a claim or not. If your claim is denied, it could be that your healthcare provider didnt provide enough information to demonstrate that the service was medical necessity. In this case, you can work with your doctors office to help provide as much information as possible to show your insurance carrier that your claim falls within the guidelines they have set to pay for services.

Was Your Health Insurance Claim Denied Heres What You Should Know

Medical advancements have made it possible to address many health issues that were deemed incurable even a few years back. However, the cost of treatment has also soared and if you wish to get treated at a hospital of repute, you must have considerable savings to meet the expenses. Or if you have been smart, a good health insurance plan can do the trick. But if your health insurance claim gets rejected by your provider, then you might be in serious financial trouble. So, heres what you should know about the reasons for such rejection so that you can avert the same.

Don’t Miss: Starbucks Medical Insurance

Sample Letter For Appealing A Health Insurance Claim Denial

Wondering what you should write when appealing a health insurance claim denial? Following is a sample letter for appealing a health insurance claim denial:

Patient:

Policy: Insured: Treatment dates: Amount:

Dear ,

You recently denied a claim on the grounds that the care provided by on was not medically necessary.

Denial of this claim was not justified and I am appealing the denial. The explanation of benefits did not give adequate information to establish the validity of this decision. Therefore, please provide the following information to support the denial of this treatment.

Please furnish the name and credentials of the insurance representative who reviewed the treatment records. Also, please provide an outline of the specific records reviewed and a description of any records that would be necessary in order to approve the treatment.

Also, please furnish copies of any expert medical opinions that have been secured by your company regarding treatment of this nature so that the treating physician may respond to its applicability to .

Please review this claim again. The information is correct to reflect the appropriate diagnosis and treatment. If you need further information or a medical report, please inform me within 10 days.

I can be reached at the following telephone number:

Daytime:

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

What To Do When Health Insurance Wont Pay A Claim

What to do if health insurance denies your claim?

When Jeannine Cainâs 20-year old son complained to her about feeling fatigued, having a headache and a stiff neck, she told him to see a doctor because she was worried that he might have spinal meningitis. However, it was March 2020, and the U.S. had gone into lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus. So getting a doctorâs appointment was a challenge.

He went, instead, to an urgent care clinic but was turned away because the clinic wasnât equipped to diagnose or treat meningitis. His next stop was the emergency room, where his blood was drawn and a spinal tap was performed. Fortunately, he didnât have meningitis. The diagnosis was âother viral syndrome,â Cain said.

The news from her sonâs health insurance company wasnât so good, though. The insurer denied the claim, and her son was going to be stuck with a $14,000 billâthat is, if Cain hadnât used her years of experience working in medical claims to appeal the insurerâs decision.

If you or your aging parents are ever hit with a surprise medical bill the insurer refuses to pay, you donât have to take âNoâ for an answer. Cain offers these tips to appeal a denied health insurance claimâand the letter she wrote to appeal the denial.

Recommended Reading: Starbucks Health Insurance Benefits

Heres What You Can Do If Your Health Insurance Claim Is Denied

1. Study the reasons carefully and speak to the insurer to get clarity. The insurance company will provide you with all the required information on how you can appeal the rejection notice.

2. If you are not clear with the documentation or struggling with the claim, consult a claim expert for assistance. You dont want to take any chances at this stage and only an expert can guide you through the process.

3. Organised your paperwork for the concerns raised by the insurer and represent your case clearly. You need to understand that a human being is handling the claim on the other side and he/she may make mistakes in interpreting the case. So, its important that you present the facts in an organised manner for seamless claim processing.

4. You need to quote all the provisions in the policy that you are using to contest the claim denial. For example, the insurer may deny the claim saying that the treatment is not covered. So, you need to pick appropriate provisions in the policy to contest the denial.

5. Make sure youre neither emotional nor abusive when dealing with the insurer. Be factual and crisp with your statements. Make sure you submit your grievances in a written format emails or letters. This will ensure that you have all the records and you must also remember to take an acknowledgement letter from the insurer.

Sharing with Social Networks

Understand The Reason For The Denial

If health insurance denies a claim, the first step is understanding why. The claim could be for medications, tests, procedures, or other treatments your doctor orders. Common reasons for denying a claim include:

Benefit is not included in your plan or you are not eligible for it.
Care is not medically necessary.
Care is considered as experimental or investigational.
Care requires prior authorization or referral.
Provider is not in-network.

There can also be simple reasons for the denial. Clerical errors in coding or even a typo could cause a rejection. It could also happen if the wrong company receives the claim. For example, a doctors office billing your previous plan could result in a denial because you are no longer an enrollee. A brief chat with your doctors billing staff may identify the problem. They can resubmit the claim electronically, and the problem is solved. By law, insurance companies must tell you the reason for the denial. This information will be included in a denial letter. You can also find it on an EOB . The company sends you an EOB for each claim it processes. An EOB looks similar to a medical bill, but it isnt. Instead, it outlines the portion of the claim the company will cover on your behalf.