Journalism and research ยท KFF Health News
KFF Health News: seven tips for fighting a health insurance denial
A news article with seven tips for fighting a prior authorization denial, including knowing your plan type, working with your provider, staying organized, and asking for help. Written by a reporter, not by an agency.
Know before you go
The article opens with one patient's story and then lists tips. It explains that different kinds of coverage are regulated by different agencies. It is a news article, not legal advice, and it does not tell you the deadline for your plan, so read your own notice for dates.
- Cost
- Free to read.
- Where
- Nationwide
- How to start
- Read the tips, then use your denial notice to find your plan type and deadline.
- Have ready
- Your denial letter; The name of your plan and the agency that regulates it
Where this comes from
- Provider
- KFF Health News
- Source we read
- https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/health-insurance-denial-prior-authorization-7-tips-to-file-appeal/
- Date we read it
- . This is not a fresh check.
- Date the provider printed
- 2025-09-04
- What we checked
- We read the provider's public page. We have not verified availability, eligibility or outcomes for any individual.
Other starting points
- Program or service
Beneficiary and Family Centered Care Quality Improvement Organizations: find yours
The Medicare contractors that handle fast appeals when hospital or other care is ending too soon, and complaints about the quality of care. Each state is assigned to one of two organizations.
From Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Program or service
California Department of Managed Health Care: Independent Medical Review
California's regulator for managed care plans reviews denials of medical services, emergency payment and experimental treatment through Independent Medical Review. One form starts either a review or a consumer complaint.
From California Department of Managed Health Care
- Program or service
Center for Medicare Advocacy self-help materials
Downloadable self-help toolkits for Medicare denials involving home health care, outpatient therapy and skilled nursing facility care, from a nonprofit law organization. The page describes materials, not a helpline.
From Center for Medicare Advocacy