THE RULE BOOK

How to Fight Back

Has your health insurance plan denied you care or payment? First you should learn what steps you can take to try to prevent a denial in the first place. But if you are denied, you should not take no for an answer. Appeal, appeal and appeal again! Some states even allow you to appeal to an independent entity when your plan denies you care.

First, do all you can to choose the plan that may meet your needs.

Here we provide some resources to help you fight for the care to which you are entitled.

• “Make sense of your insurance statement,” from Health Care for America Now!


• “How to avoid expensive health-insurance errors: If you aren't vigilant, you could end up owing thousands,” from Consumer Reports


• “A Consumer Guide to Handling Disputes with Your Private or Employer Health Plan,” from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Consumer Reports


• “Your State’s Appeal Process,” from America’s Health Insurance Plans


• “Tips to effectively battle your insurance company,” from CNN


• “Guidelines When a Health Service or an Insurance Claim is Rejected or Denied,” from the National Spinal Cord Injury Association


• “Huge Medical Bills You Shouldn't Pay,” CBS Evening News And BusinessWeek Investigate Illegal ‘Balance Bills’


• “Appealing Medicare Private Health Plan (HMO, PPO, PFFS, PSO) Denials,” from the Medicare Rights Center