Which of the following may cause an insurance claim to be rejected?

Asked by: Mr. Ralph Pfannerstill  |  Last update: February 14, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (55 votes)

An insurance claim may be rejected for various reasons, including but not limited to:

What may cause an insurance claim to be rejected?

Insurance companies deny claims for many reasons, such as insufficient evidence, missed deadlines, or policy exclusions.

What are 5 reasons a claim may be denied?

Five common reasons for claim denials include incorrect patient/policy info, lack of prior authorization, services not medically necessary or covered, coding errors, and missed filing deadlines, all leading to payment refusal by the insurer. These issues often stem from clerical mistakes or misunderstandings about coverage, requiring correction or appeal to resolve. 

Which of the following may result in a denied claim?

Lack of Medical Necessity

One of the primary reasons claims are denied is that insurers determine that the treatment or service was not medically necessary. Health insurance providers typically require documentation from healthcare providers to justify the reason for a particular procedure, test, or treatment.

When can an insurance claim be rejected?

Why are insurance claims rejected? Claims are usually rejected due to incorrect information, missing documents, treatments not covered under the policy, lack of pre-authorisation, claims during the waiting period, or lapsed policies.

How to Recover a Rejected Insurance Claim! Insurance Claim Rejected Complaints #insurance #hindi

37 related questions found

In what situation can an insurer reject a claim?

you didn't tell your insurer about a change in your circumstances. you haven't followed the claims process correctly. you haven't kept to a condition of your policy. you have exaggerated the claim and are trying to claim for more than you should.

When can insurance deny a claim?

Policy-Based Reason for Denial

Failure to seek treatment or a delay in seeking treatment, which can lead to an injury worsening unnecessarily, may be grounds for denial. A health or disability insurance claim may also be denied when the claimant behaves recklessly after becoming injured.

Which of the following is a common reason for claims denials?

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. Information may be incorrect, incomplete or missing.

What are the three types of denials?

Three common types of denial, particularly in addiction and psychology, include Literal Denial (refusing something is happening), Interpretative Denial (accepting facts but twisting their meaning or importance), and Implicatory Denial (acknowledging facts and interpretation but ignoring the uncomfortable consequences). Another framework uses Type A Denial (lying to others about a known problem) and Type B Denial (lying to oneself, rationalizing the behavior). 

What is the primary reason for a claim to be denied?

Incomplete or Inaccurate Information

Incomplete or incorrect details on the insurance application are one of the most frequent causes of claim rejections. All forms must be completed with honesty and complete transparency.

What not to say to an insurance claim adjuster?

When talking to an insurance adjuster, never admit fault, apologize, speculate on injuries or the accident's cause, agree to a recorded statement, or give unnecessary details, as these can be twisted to weaken your claim; instead, stick to basic facts and state you're working with an attorney if possible. Avoid phrases like "I'm fine," "It was my fault," or discussing social media, and never accept immediate settlement offers. 

What is the most common claim denial?

Claim not filed on time (aka: Timely Filing)

If a proper claim is submitted, but it's not within the timing window, it may result in a denial. It is recommended that you check with your Payers regarding their filing deadlines.

What is the 80% rule in insurance?

The "80% insurance rule" in homeowners' policies requires you to insure your home for at least 80% of its total replacement cost to avoid coinsurance penalties and receive full coverage for partial losses; if underinsured (below 80%), the insurer reduces payouts proportionally, making you responsible for more of the cost, a concept also applied to some flood insurance policies. 

What are 5 reasons a claim might be denied for payment?

Five common reasons for claim denials include incorrect patient/policy info, lack of prior authorization, services not medically necessary or covered, coding errors, and missed filing deadlines, all leading to payment refusal by the insurer. These issues often stem from clerical mistakes or misunderstandings about coverage, requiring correction or appeal to resolve. 

What to do when insurance rejects a claim?

Contact your insurance company

If you still feel that your claim was unfairly rejected, contact your insurance company and tell them you're unhappy. All insurance companies are required by law to have a formal complaints process, so following this process will get you the fastest possible resolution.

What reasons are common for denials?

Common reasons for a denial and examples of appeal letters

  • Treatment that's not medically necessary. ...
  • Mental health and substance abuse. ...
  • Gender-affirming care. ...
  • Out-of-network providers. ...
  • Where you get health care (in-home care vs. ...
  • Policy canceled because you didn't pay. ...
  • When your appeal is denied by your insurer.

What are the three types of denial?

Sigmund Freud's Model

  • Simple denial occurs when someone denies that something unpleasant is happening. ...
  • Minimization occurs when a person admits an unpleasant fact while denying its seriousness. ...
  • Projection occurs when a person admits both the seriousness and reality of an unpleasant fact but blames someone else.

What are the four denials of responsibility?

In my Atlanta counseling and psychotherapy practice I talk with clients about the four types of denial of responsibility, which are denial of fact, impact, accountability and hope. This brief article describes how to recognize and respond to them.

What are types of claim denials?

Insurance carriers issue denials or underpayments for many reasons. The major denial or underpayment classifications are generally technical/administrative, coding/billing, medical necessity (including level-of-care or medical necessity of a procedure or service), and clinical validation.

What are the reasons for claim rejection?

Top 9 Reasons for Health Insurance Claim Rejection

  • Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation. ...
  • Non-Disclosure of Pre-Existing Diseases. ...
  • Claim Raised During Waiting Period. ...
  • Treatment Not Covered Under Policy. ...
  • Mismatched Information in Proposal Form. ...
  • Exceeding Sum Insured or Sub-Limit. ...
  • Fraudulent or Misleading Claims.

What is denial reason 5?

Denial code 5 means that the procedure code or type of bill submitted is not consistent with the place of service where the service was provided. In other words, the code or bill does not match the location where the service was performed.

What are the three 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 to say when insurance denies a claim?

When insurance denies a claim, you should first request the specific reason for denial, then file a formal internal appeal, providing a clear explanation, supporting documents (medical records, photos, estimates), and citing policy language, all while adhering to strict deadlines. If the internal appeal fails, you can escalate to an external review by an independent third party or contact your state's Department of Insurance, and even consult a lawyer for complex cases. 

Can I sue insurance for denying a claim?

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.

Can insurance refuse your claim?

You should get legal advice if your insurer refuses to pay your claim. Insurers may not pay if: The insurer was not given relevant information when the policy was taken out or renewed (for example, a driving conviction was not revealed). The crash wasn't reported to the police or to the insurer.