Medical Emergency · Financial guide

What to do when insurance denies a claim?

Quick answer

40-60% of insurance claim denials are overturned on appeal.

40-60%Denial appeals succeed
180 daysInternal appeal deadline
$1.2K-$8KAvg recovered on appeal
100%External review cost covered (ACA)

The full picture

40-60% of insurance claim denials are overturned on appeal. The process: (1) Request the denial in writing with the specific reason code. (2) File an internal appeal within 180 days.

(3) If denied again, file an external appeal with your state’s insurance department. (4) External reviews are decided by independent physicians, not the insurance company. Under the ACA, insurers must cover the cost of external review.

The average denied claim that gets appealed recovers $1,200-$8,000 in coverage.

Model this decision with your actual numbers

The PivotReset Decision Support Engine shows you the 12-month financial projection for each path.

Analyze Medical Emergency Decisions →

Related questions

How to negotiate medical bills? →

Does medical debt lead to bankruptcy? →