New survey shows 1 in 5 privately insured adults faced coverage denials in past year

A survey commissioned by the American Hospital Association found 21% of privately insured adults had a claim or prior authorization denied in the past year. Among those, over half reported the denial led to delayed or foregone care. The data underscores a persistent friction point for billing teams: increased appeal volumes and patient complaints when payers reject doctor-recommended treatments. While the survey does not name specific payers, it signals that denial rates remain high across commercial plans, reinforcing the need for robust internal tracking of denial reasons by payer and service line.