What to do if insurance won't cover treatment?

Asked by: Nestor Barrows  |  Last update: September 26, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (42 votes)

Your right to appeal Internal appeal: If your claim is denied or your health insurance coverage canceled, you have the right to an internal appeal. You may ask your insurance company to conduct a full and fair review of its decision. If the case is urgent, your insurance company must speed up this process.

What to do when insurance won't cover?

If your insurance plan refuses to approve or pay for a medical claim, (including tests, procedures, or specific care ordered by your doctor) you have guaranteed rights to appeal. These rights were expanded as a result of the Affordable Care Act. There are multiple levels of appeal.

What if a procedure is not covered by insurance?

If an insurance company denies a request or claim for medical treatment, insureds have the right to appeal to the company and also to then ask the Department of Insurance to review the denial. These actions often succeed in obtaining needed medical treatment, so a denial by an insurer is not the final word.

What to do when your insurance doesn't cover therapy?

Know your rights and know what healthcare laws like the Parity Act and Affordable Care Act require your insurance company to cover. Fight back if your claims are denied by filing a formal appeal. If you're not finding good in-network providers, consider using out-of-network benefits (if you have them).

Why is my health insurance not paying anything?

When your insurance doesn't pay the reasons are usually 1- your ins plan required a prior authorization that was not done, 2- you haven't met your deductible, 3- something was coded wrong, 4- the care was not a covered service.

Consumer Reports: How to appeal a denied insurance claim

22 related questions found

Why does my health insurance not cover anything?

Summary. There are a variety of reasons a health plan might deny a prior authorization request or a medical claim. The service might not be covered by the health plan, or the health plan might require specific procedures to be followed in order to have coverage (a referral from a primary care physician, for example).

What to do if insurance doesn't pay enough?

What Can I Do If My Insurance Company Won't Pay Me Enough for My Insurance Claim?
  1. Understand Why Your Claim May Be Underpaid. ...
  2. Review Your Policy in Detail. ...
  3. Document Everything. ...
  4. Request a Re-Evaluation or Second Opinion. ...
  5. Dispute the Claim in Writing. ...
  6. File a Complaint with Your State's Department of Insurance.

How can I get insurance to pay for therapy?

If you plan to use your insurance to cover your therapy costs, ask your provider what billing codes they use to code their sessions. Then, call your insurance's customer service number and ask if your plan covers those billing codes.

What happens if you can't pay for therapy?

Ask your therapist about sliding scale options, discounted rates, or shorter sessions. If you don't have health insurance or your therapist doesn't take insurance, you may still have options.

What is a treatment that is not covered by an insurance policy?

Most health insurance will not cover elective or cosmetic procedures, beauty treatments, off-label drug use, or brand-new technologies. If health coverage is denied, policyholders can appeal for exceptions or allowances based on an individual's situation and prognosis.

Can you sue insurance for denying treatment?

You can file a bad faith lawsuit against your insurance company if it fails to meet its legal obligations under the terms of the insurance policy. Common violations include the following: Wrongful claim denial. The untimely and incomplete claim process.

Who pays for uninsured patients?

Hospitals do get help with the unpaid bills – from taxpayers. The majority of hospitals are non-profits and are exempt from federal, state and local taxes if they provide a community benefit, such as charitable care. Hospitals also receive federal funding to offset some of the costs of treating the poor.

Which health insurance denies the most claims?

According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.

What to do if your insurance company ignores you?

5 Steps to Take When an Insurance Company Ignores You
  1. Make a Follow-Up Call. ...
  2. Document & Keep Everything. ...
  3. Stay Calm If or When You Do Make Contact with an Adjuster. ...
  4. Do NOT Feel Pressured to Accept a Settlement. ...
  5. Request All Follow-Up Contact to Be in Writing. ...
  6. Talk to a Lawyer.

What types of procedures usually are not covered by insurance?

common procedures insurance won't cover, as well as provide a brief explanation why.
  • Cosmetic Surgery. This one is pretty obvious. ...
  • Lasik. ...
  • Infertility. ...
  • Experimental and Off-Label Treatments. ...
  • Organ Transplants. ...
  • Chronic Disease. ...
  • Dental Cosmetics.

What are the odds of winning an insurance appeal?

Only half of denied claims are appealed, and of those appeals, half are overturned! Undivided's Head of Health Plan Advocacy, Leslie Lobel, says that if you have a winner argument and patience to get through all the levels of "no," there is a good chance you can get your denial overturned.

How to get therapy when insurance doesn t cover it?

10 Affordable Therapy Options Without Insurance
  1. Medicaid. ...
  2. Sliding Scale Therapists. ...
  3. Online Therapy. ...
  4. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) ...
  5. College Healthcare Centers. ...
  6. Disability Benefits. ...
  7. Group Therapy. ...
  8. Support Groups.

What happens if you can't pay for treatment?

You can take steps to make sure that the medical bill is correctly calculated and that you get any available financial or necessary legal help. If you do nothing and don't pay, you could be facing late fees and interest, debt collection, lawsuits, garnishments, and lower credit scores.

How to get therapy when you have no money?

Potential Options to Consider if You Can't Afford Therapy
  1. Check your insurance coverage. If you have health insurance, check your coverage. ...
  2. Group therapy. ...
  3. Sliding scale fee. ...
  4. Health clinics at colleges. ...
  5. Online therapy. ...
  6. Community health centers. ...
  7. Employee assistance program. ...
  8. Faith-based groups.

Why is mental health not covered by insurance?

The parity law does not require insurers to provide mental health benefits—rather, the law states that if mental health benefits are offered, they can't have more restrictive requirements than those that apply to physical health benefits.

How much does Blue Cross Blue Shield cover for therapy?

If you choose a therapist who is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, your therapy sessions likely cost between $15 - $50 per session, after you meet your deductible. The $15 - $50 amount is your copay, or the fixed amount that you owe at each therapy visit.

What is the copay for therapy?

A copay is the set fee you pay at every medical session, including therapy. When you see a therapist who is in-network with your insurance plan, you pay them a copay at each therapy session. Then, your therapist sends a claim to the insurance company to receive the remainder of the fee they're owed.

How do I fix lack of insurance coverage?

Suggested government actions to achieve universal health cover
  1. Legislate to match state funding for cover of adults on incomes up to 1.5 times the federal poverty threshold.
  2. Allow small businesses and uninsured people to purchase cover through the Federal Employees Health Benefits programme.

What is it called when an insurance company refuses to pay?

If you have submitted a valid claim to your insurance company, and it is refusing to pay or settle your claim, the insurance company may be acting in bad faith.

What happens if insurance doesn't cover medical bills?

File an appeal with your insurance company. The reason for denial should be stated on the letter you receive from your insurance company. If you disagree with the decision, file an appeal in accordance with the company's procedure. This appeal should be in writing and may require information from your doctor.