Health Agent · Fight a denial
Your insurance said no. That's not the end of it.
A denied claim is a starting point, not a verdict — you have the right to appeal it, and the process rewards a correct, on-time response. Here is the whole path, in four free steps, in plain English. The core tools run on your own device — nothing you enter is sent anywhere; the one optional cloud generator, in the last step, is clearly marked.
The path
Four steps from "denied" to "appeal filed"
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Understand what the denial actually says
That code on your explanation of benefits — like CO-50 or PR-1 — tells you why the claim was denied and, just as important, whether you can even be billed for it. Decode it first; it points you to the right fix.
Decode your denial code → Know what the denial says but not what it's really doing? See the structure underneath it — whether it fits a known pattern like a procedural denial dressed as a clinical one. Lost in the medical wording itself? Paste it into the plain-language decoder — it defines terms in English and Spanish and never guesses. Got a surprise bill rather than a denial? Check whether it's protected under the No Surprises Act before you pay it. Don't recognize the codes on the bill? Decode the procedure codes (99213, 80053…) in plain language. -
Gather your records
A strong appeal — especially a "not medically necessary" fight — leans on the medical record. You have a federal right to it within 30 days. Build the request the law recognizes and start that clock.
Request your medical records → -
Find your deadline before anything else
A missed deadline can end an appeal before the merits are ever heard, no matter how strong the case. Enter the date on your denial notice and see exactly how long you have and who decides next.
Check your appeal deadline → -
Write the appeal
Put it together into a formal appeal letter with the medical-necessity argument and the right regulatory basis.
Draft it on your own computer → Prefer not to install anything? Use the cloud appeal generator instead. Was it a prior-authorization denial? Check what evidence the plan needs to overturn it before you file.
Why it's safe to use for a real denial
The core tools never send your information to a server
The four core tools run inside the page you load — the codes, the dates, the letter are all assembled in your browser, with no upload, so there is nothing to leak. Most steps need no account; saving your records-request letter to keep asks for a free account, and even then the letter is built on your device and never uploaded. The one exception to the on-device promise is the optional cloud appeal generator in Step 4, which does process your information on a server to draft the letter; it is clearly labeled wherever it appears. You don't have to take the on-device promise on faith: you can watch the network stay silent and break-test the proof yourself.
See the proof →Who this is for
Built for the person doing the fighting
- Caregivers managing a parent's or family member's care and the paperwork that comes with it.
- Patients who got a denial letter and don't know what the code means or what to do next.
- Medicare and Medicare Advantage members navigating the five-level appeal ladder.
- Anyone with private or employer insurance facing an internal appeal or external review.
Planning ahead rather than fighting a bill? Build a living will or healthcare power of attorney — in plain language, in your browser, recording your own wishes.
Questions
Common questions
Is any of this really free?
Yes. The denial decoder, the deadline checker, and the local appeal desk are free and need no account. The records-request builder is free to use too; saving its letter to keep asks for a free account. They run in your browser.
Where do I start if I just got a denial?
Start by decoding the code on your denial notice — it tells you why the claim was denied and whether you can even be billed. Then check your deadline, gather records if it's a medical-necessity denial, and draft the appeal.
Does this work for Medicare and private insurance?
Both. The deadline checker covers Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and commercial/ACA/employer plans; the decoder uses the standard codes every payer uses.
Is this legal or medical advice?
No. These are drafting and deadline aids, not legal or medical advice, and they do not file anything for you or guarantee an outcome. Confirm specifics at medicare.gov or with a licensed advisor. Health Agent is not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare.