You pay monthly health insurance premiums for a reason, and you want to be certain you'll receive the benefits your policy covers when the need arises. But when your insurance company rejects a claim for an expensive medical procedure that you're certain was covered and medically necessary, do everything you can to change the insurer's mind and get the bill paid. Learn here fight a rejected insurance claim and breathe a sigh of relief.
Instructions
1. Read your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description thoroughly. In other words, get to know your policy, and learn what your limitations and exclusions are. Look at whether the medical procedure you need or desire is fully or partially covered before you go through the hassle of trying to get a potentially rejected claim overturned.
2. Figure out why your insurance company rejected your claim. Compare the rejection notice or Explanation of Benefits form your insurance company sent you with your medical bills and check for charges or expenses that may have been coded incorrectly. Usually, the rejection notice will only give a basic reason and won't describe the rejection in detail. Call your insurance company and get a deeper explanation.
3. Notify your doctor or hospital immediately if you find charges on your bills for procedures or services you never got. Get the bill adjusted and call your insurance company immediately about any errors you find.
4. Follow your insurance company's rules as much as possible, no matter how cumbersome they can be. For example, pre-approval may be needed before certain medical procedures will be covered. You may be asking for a claim rejection before you even send the claim in if you don't get permission for the medical service you're seeking.
5. Talk to a customer service representative and inquire about the appeal process if the insurer won't budge in overturning its rejection. Ask where you can get the appropriate forms, and what your time limits are for filing an appeal. Ask about the full appeal procedure and don't let anything slip by. Insurance companies will scrutinize everything, and so should you.
6. Follow up with your insurance company with a letter from your doctor if the insurer says your claim had no medical necessity or was experimental. A letter from your doctor will hold a lot of weight, and will serve as hard evidence explaining why you needed the procedure for the diagnosis he rendered. Your doctor should be very cooperative in providing the information you need to get your rejected claim paid.
7. Gather medical records, bills and canceled checks relating to your claim and file copies of them with your appeal in writing the same day you request a review over the phone. Send your appeal paperwork by certified mail, return receipt requested. Adhere to deadlines and follow your insurance company's rules exactly. If you lose your appeal, check with your state insurance department to determine if it will conduct an independent review of your claim.
