When can a long-term care policy deny a claim?

Asked by: Else Wuckert II  |  Last update: December 3, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (58 votes)

One of the most common reasons a long-term care insurance claim is denied is insufficient evidence or documentation. Insurance companies are entitled to adequate records and documentation for them to determine claim eligibility. Poor or insufficient records will result in a claim denial.

For which of the following would a long-term care policy deny coverage?

Pre-existing health conditions or disabilities

In fact, one of the biggest reasons people are denied long-term care insurance is because they have a pre-existing medical condition or disability that makes it more likely they'll require care sooner.

Which of the following are common reasons claims can be denied?

Process Errors
  • The claim has missing or incorrect information. Whether by accident or intentionally, medical billing and coding errors are common reasons that claims are rejected or denied. ...
  • The claim was not filed in a timely manner. ...
  • Failure to respond to communication. ...
  • Policy cancelled for lack of premium payment.

When can health insurance deny claim?

Reasons your insurance may not approve a request or deny payment: Services are deemed not medically necessary. Services are no longer appropriate in a specific health care setting or level of care. You are not eligible for the benefit requested under your health plan.

Which of the following exclusions applies to long-term care coverage?

Many long-term care policies exclude coverage for the following: Mental and nervous disorders or diseases (except organic brain disorders) Alcoholism and drug addiction.

Do YOU Need Long-Term Care Insurance?

30 related questions found

When can a long-term care policy deny a claim for losses?

One of the most common reasons a long-term care insurance claim is denied is insufficient evidence or documentation. Insurance companies are entitled to adequate records and documentation for them to determine claim eligibility. Poor or insufficient records will result in a claim denial.

What does long-term care not cover?

Long-term care insurance typically doesn't cover care provided by family members. It also usually doesn't cover medical care costs⁠—those are typically covered by private health insurance and/or Medicare.

What are three reasons why an insurance claim may be rejected or denied?

Let's take a look at the nine most common reasons for a claim being denied and how to keep them from happening to you.
  • Incomplete information. ...
  • Service not covered. ...
  • Claim filed too late. ...
  • Coding or billing error. ...
  • Insurer believes the procedure wasn't necessary. ...
  • Duplicate claim filed. ...
  • Pre-existing condition not covered.

What pre-existing conditions are not covered?

Is there health insurance for pre-existing conditions? Choosing a health plan is no longer based on the concept of a pre-existing condition. A health insurer cannot deny you coverage or raise rates for plans if you have a medical condition at the time of enrollment.

What is a dirty claim?

The term dirty claim refers to the “claim submitted with errors or one that requires manual processing to resolve problems or is rejected for payment”.

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 are the circumstances under which the claim may be denied?

Some common causes for claims being rejected are non-disclosures, partial disclosures and wrong disclosures of important details such as age, nature of occupation, income, current insurance plans, major ailments or pre-existing medical conditions.

What are the 3 most common mistakes on a claim that will cause denials?

Here, we discuss the first five most common medical coding and billing mistakes that cause claim denials so you can avoid them in your business:
  • Claim is not specific enough. ...
  • Claim is missing information. ...
  • Claim not filed on time (aka: Timely Filing)

What is the biggest drawback of long-term care insurance?

One of the biggest drawbacks of getting long-term care insurance is the risk of losing all the premiums you have paid over the years. If you end up not needing long-term care services, you won't be eligible for coverage. This means the money you've spent for coverage goes down the drain.

What to do if long-term care insurance is denied?

Regardless of the reason your insurer provides for your claim denial, you should speak with our California long-term care insurance denial lawyer. We provide free, 30-minute consultations and will let you know if you have a case. Give our team at Kantor & Kantor a call today at 818-886-2525 to learn your legal options.

What are the common universal exclusions in a long-term care policy?

Some of the more common exclusions in policies covering long term care services are: Mental illness, however, the policy may NOT exclude or limit benefits for Alzheimer's Disease, senile dementia, or demonstrable organic brain disease. Intentionally self-inflicted injuries. Alcoholism and drug addiction.

How far back is a pre-existing condition?

A pre-existing medical condition is a disease, illness or injury for which you have received medication, advice or treatment or had any symptoms (whether the condition has been diagnosed or not) in the five years before your joining date. Health insurance doesn't usually cover 'pre-existing conditions'.

How far back do insurance companies look for pre-existing conditions?

To determine if a condition is pre-existing, insurers examine medical history, treatment records, and diagnosis reports. They may use “look-back periods,” which are specific timeframes—typically six months to a year before coverage begins—to review medical history.

Can Medicare deny coverage for preexisting conditions?

Does Medicare Advantage cover preexisting conditions? Yes. Medicare Advantage (MA) plans won't reject your enrollment if you have a preexisting condition. But since MA plans are offered by private insurance companies, coverage levels and costs can vary from company to company.

What to do if claim is denied?

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.

Which of the following is a reason a claim would be denied?

Insurance claims can be denied for a number of reasons, such as: billing or coding errors. a lack of medical necessity. pre-existing conditions, and.

How often do claims get denied?

We find that, across HealthCare.gov insurers with complete data, nearly 17% of in-network claims were denied in 2021. Insurer denial rates varied widely around this average, ranging from 2% to 49%. CMS requires insurers to report the reasons for claims denials at the plan level.

Which of the following is not covered by long-term care insurance?

Among the options listed: adult day care, custodial care, hospital acute care, and respite care, the one that is NOT typically covered by long-term care insurance is Hospital Acute Care.

What disqualifies someone from assisted living?

If a senior could jeopardize the safety and health of other residents, the senior may be denied admission to an assisted living facility. Some of the most common conditions for disqualification include seniors who have severe memory impairments, who need extensive medical care, or who are bedridden.

How many days will Medicare pay 100% of the covered costs of care in a skilled nursing care facility?

You pay nothing for covered services the first 20 days that you're in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). You pay a daily coinsurance for days 21-100, and you pay all costs beyond 100 days. Visit Medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to get current amounts.