Dispute Guides
Insurance Denial & Dispute Library
Select an active administrative guide below. New carrier, denial-code, and state guides will appear here as they are validated.
A carrier guide is a starting point, not a substitute for what's actually printed on your denial notice. The same national carrier might administer fully insured employer coverage, self-funded employer benefits, individual coverage, Marketplace plans, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, pharmacy benefits, and behavioral-health benefits, and those products can run on entirely different deadlines, forms, review levels, and submission channels.
Carrier Dispute Guides
- Cigna Appeal Process
General guidance describes a 180-calendar-day window for many appeals, and notes that state requirements can differ.
- UnitedHealthcare Appeal Process
Confirm whether this is pre-service, post-service, a grievance, a pharmacy issue, or an employer-plan claim before you go further.
- Aetna Appeal Process
Aetna's own member guidance cites a 180-day appeal window unless the plan brochure or SPD gives more time, but your own notice and plan documents control.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Appeals
BCBS is a federation of independent local companies. Identify the specific company named on your ID card and EOB, and use that company's instructions.
- Humana Appeal Process
Humana runs several distinct product lines. Commercial members should lean on the denial notice, member portal, ID card, and plan document rather than a generic national route.
For any carrier, start pulling together the same core documents: the denial notice, EOB, member ID card, claim number, date of service, plan document or SPD, supporting records, the deadline, and current carrier instructions. And before you escalate anywhere, confirm the plan type, because the carrier logo alone won't tell you whether the plan is fully insured or self-funded, and that distinction changes the regulator, the external-review process, and the employer's role.
Denial Codes & Reasons
Procedure Appeal Guides
State Patient Rights
Administrative Tools & Resources
- An Appeal Letter Is Only the Beginning
- Administrative vs. Clinical Denials
- What Human Review Catches
- Documentation Before Phone Calls
- What Happens After Submission
- Five Signs Your Appeal May Have Stalled
- Who Actually Denied Your Claim?
- Missing Prior Authorization After Care
- Missing Referral: What to Gather
- Timely Filing Denial Evidence
- Emergency Care Out of Network
- Why Remedy Support is $49
- Compare Advocacy Services
- Security & HIPAA Compliance
- AI Ethics Policy
- Appeal Rules by Plan Type
- Appeal Deadline Calculator
- Templates vs. Complete Packets
Common Questions
Carrier Guide FAQ
Can I use the same appeal form for every plan from one carrier?
No. Different product lines and states can use different forms and procedures.
Where should I fax my appeal?
Use the destination in the denial notice, EOB, member portal, or current plan instructions, not a number found elsewhere.
Is BCBS one insurance company?
No. Local BCBS companies operate independently under the national association.
Does the carrier determine my appeal deadline?
No. The deadline comes from the applicable plan and legal framework, and it should be printed on the denial notice.