Guides and analysis

The Counterclaim blog

Practical, evidence-based guides to appealing a denied health insurance claim. Every article cites the law and the deadlines so you can act with confidence.

Appeals 10112 min read

How to appeal a health insurance denial: a step-by-step guide

The complete playbook for overturning a denied claim, from reading your denial letter to filing an external review - with the deadlines, documents, and statutes that actually move insurers.

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Denial reasons10 min read

Your prior authorization was denied. Here is exactly what to do.

Prior-authorization denials are among the most appealable. Here is how to challenge one, what your doctor's office should send, and the expedited 72-hour path for urgent care.

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Denial reasons11 min read

"Not medically necessary": how to appeal a CO-50 denial

A medical-necessity denial is an opinion, not a fact - and it is one you can rebut. Here is how to build the clinical and legal case that forces a real review of your claim.

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Deadlines8 min read

How long do you have to appeal an insurance denial?

Miss the deadline and you lose the right to appeal, full stop. Here are the internal and external review deadlines by plan type and state, and how to calendar them the day your denial arrives.

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Appeals 1019 min read

External review: the independent appeal most patients never use

After your insurer's internal appeals, an independent third party can overturn the denial - and they side with patients more often than you would expect. Here is how external review works and how to request it.

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Automated Tools10 min read

AI appeal letters: how to use artificial intelligence to fight insurance denials

Generative AI is changing how patients challenge health insurance denials. Learn how specialized pipelines compare to standard chatbots, and how to cite ERISA or the ACA for maximum leverage.

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Patient Rights9 min read

Patient rights & appeal laws: how to invoke ERISA, the ACA, and the No Surprises Act

Your health insurance denial is a legal determination. Learn how to invoke federal statutes to demand your claim files, challenge balance billing, and enforce mental health parity.

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Billing & Coding9 min read

Medical bill disputes: how to challenge billing codes and provider charges

Behind every denied medical bill is a series of clinical codes. Learn how to audit your bills, dispute CPT/ICD-10 coding errors, and challenge incorrect insurer processing.

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Automated Tools11 min read

The best AI health insurance appeal tools: a complete 2026 comparison

How does Counterclaim stand against Fight Health Insurance, Counterforce Health, Claimable, easyPA, and coveredhealth? We break down features, accuracy, privacy, and clinical pipelines.

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