Home › Blog › My Claim Was Denied — What Now?
A denial letter feels like the end of the road. It usually isn’t. A first denial is often a starting position, a paperwork problem, or a dispute you can answer — if you respond methodically instead of giving up.
Get the denial in writing with the specific reason. Common ones: a coverage or policy-language dispute, an allegation that you were at fault, a missed deadline or late notice, a claimed treatment gap, or simply missing documentation. You can't fix a denial you don't understand.
Insurers have an internal appeals process. Submit a clear written appeal that names the denial reason and attaches the evidence that answers it. Keep copies and a log of every call and letter.
If the insurer won't budge, the Insurance Information Institute advises escalating — to a claims supervisor and then to your state insurance department, which accepts consumer complaints. Many policies also include an appraisal or arbitration clause for valuation disputes.
If the denial involves injuries, disputed fault, or significant money, an attorney consultation costs nothing and can tell you whether the denial is defensible — and unreasonable denials can carry their own consequences for the insurer. Watch your state's filing deadline while you work the process; it keeps running.