Why would a health insurance company deny coverage?

Asked by: Prof. Tatum McDermott  |  Last update: October 9, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (37 votes)

Perhaps the most common reason a health insurer may deny your application is because you have one or more pre-existing medical conditions. A pre-existing condition is any health condition, diagnosed or undiagnosed, you have at the time of applying for an insurance policy.

Why are insurance companies denying coverage?

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.

Why do health insurance companies deny their patients?

There is a wide range of reasons for claim denials and prior authorization denials. Some are due to errors; others are due to coverage issues; and still more are due to a failure to follow the steps required by the health plan, such as prior authorization or step therapy.

Why would a medical insurance claim be denied?

Provider credentialing issues, • Non-covered services, per insurance carrier, • Services are found to be medically unnecessary, • Missing referral from primary care physician to specialist when required, • Missing provider data, • Incorrect patient information, and • Incorrect point-of-service code (usually a two-digit ...

Can a health insurance company refuse to insure you?

Insurers cannot refuse to pay for essential health benefits for any pre-existing conditions. Additionally, once you are enrolled, the plan cannot deny you coverage or raise your rates based solely on your health.

Is that right? Why your insurance company may deny your coverage

34 related questions found

Why am I getting declined for health insurance?

Perhaps the most common reason a health insurer may deny your application is because you have one or more pre-existing medical conditions. A pre-existing condition is any health condition, diagnosed or undiagnosed, you have at the time of applying for an insurance policy.

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 two main reasons for denying a claim?

Common Reasons for Claim Denials
  • Process Errors.
  • Coverage.
  • Services Not Appropriate or Authorized.

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 of the following are common reasons claims can be denied?

Incorrect or duplicate claims, lack of medical necessity or supporting documentation, and claims filed after the required timeframe are common reasons for denials. Experimental, investigational, or non-covered services are also likely to be denied.

How often do health insurance companies deny coverage?

Companies' denial rates vary more than would be expected, ranging from as low as 2% to as high as almost 50%. Plans' denial rates often fluctuate dramatically from year to year.

Why didn't my insurance cover my hospital bill?

Health insurers deny claims for a wide range of reasons. In some cases, the service simply isn't covered by the plan. In other cases, necessary prior authorization wasn't obtained, the provider wasn't in-network, or the claim was coded incorrectly.

Can a company deny you health insurance?

Federal law requires certain protections for people in job-based group health plans. For example, individuals and their family members generally cannot be denied eligibility or benefits, or charged more than similarly situated individuals, because of a health factor under an employer-sponsored group plan.

Can you sue an insurance company for denying coverage?

When the insurance company fails to honor your policy or refuses to compensate you for your losses, you have the right to file a lawsuit. Insurance companies are typically profit-driven, but while denying your claim may be in your provider's best interest, it's not in yours. You have damages that require compensation.

What is the most common source of insurance denials?

The top 4 mistakes that lead to claims denials
  • Incomplete or inaccurate patient information.
  • Healthcare plan changes.
  • Claims submission errors.
  • Untimely claims submissions.

Why will insurance not cover me?

there is an exclusion clause in the policy which means that you can't claim for what's happened. you've missed some of the instalments of your premium. you didn't tell your insurer about a change in your circumstances. you haven't followed the claims process correctly.

What should you not say in a claim?

Some key phrases to avoid saying to an insurance adjuster include:
  • “I'm sorry.”
  • “It was all/partly my fault.”
  • “I did not see the other person/driver.”

What is claim scrubbing?

Claim scrubbing is the process of finding and eliminating coding errors on medical claims before practices submit them to insurers. Claim scrubbers, whether automated or manual, verify the data on medical claims before submitting them to payers.

What is the difference between rejection and denial?

Let's start by tackling the difference between rejections and denials. A claim rejection occurs before the claim is processed and most often results from incorrect data. Conversely, a claim denial applies to a claim that has been processed and found to be unpayable.

What should be done first if the insurance claim has been rejected?

If your health insurer refuses to pay a claim or ends your coverage, you have the right to appeal the company's decision and have it reviewed by a third party. You can ask that your insurance company reconsider its decision. Insurers have to tell you why they've denied your claim or ended your coverage.

Can you bill the patient if an insurance denies a claim?

If you fail to go through preapproval as outlined in your contract and then the payer denies the claim, you can't pass the costs on to the patient, since you missed a step in the billing process.

How to successfully appeal an insurance denial?

Steps to Appeal a Health Insurance Claim Denial
  1. Step 1: Find Out Why Your Claim Was Denied. ...
  2. Step 2: Call Your Insurance Provider. ...
  3. Step 3: Call Your Doctor's Office. ...
  4. Step 4: Collect the Right Paperwork. ...
  5. Step 5: Submit an Internal Appeal. ...
  6. Step 6: Wait For An Answer. ...
  7. Step 7: Submit an External Review. ...
  8. Review Your Plan Coverage.

How often do health insurance companies deny claims?

38% of survey respondents said that at least one in ten claims is denied. Some organizations see claims denied more than 15% of the time. That's a lot of rework and lost revenue that providers were counting on.

Why do insurance companies deny claims?

Unfortunately, filing an insurance claim and recovering fair compensation based on the available coverage is not always as easy as it should be. Insurance companies deny claims for many reasons, such as insufficient evidence, missed deadlines, or policy exclusions.