Uncovered

How the Insurance Industry Denies Coverage to Patients

Health insurers reject millions of claims for treatment every year in America. Corporate insiders, recordings and internal emails expose the system and its harm.

Impact of Our Reporting

Michigan Lawmaker Introduces Bill Requiring State Health Plans to Cover Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatments

by Robin Fields and Maya Miller

March 5, 2024, 10:00 am EST

Health Plans Can’t Dodge Paying for Expensive New Cancer Treatments, Says Michigan’s Top Insurance Regulator

by Robin Fields and Maya Miller

January 9, 2024, 8:00 am EST

Congressional Committee, Regulators Question Cigna System That Lets Its Doctors Deny Claims Without Reading Patient Files

by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and Maya Miller and David Armstrong, ProPublica

May 16, 2023, 5:30 pm EDT

19 stories published since 2023

“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”

by T. Christian Miller

April 12, 2025, 5:00 am EDT
“Not Medically Necessary”: Inside the Company Helping America’s Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care

by T. Christian Miller, ProPublica; Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and David Armstrong, ProPublica

October 23, 2024, 1:30 pm EDT
A Doctor at Cigna Said Her Bosses Pressured Her to Review Patients’ Cases Too Quickly. Cigna Threatened to Fire Her.

by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and David Armstrong, ProPublica

April 29, 2024, 5:00 am EDT
After Promising to Make Government Health Care Data More Accessible, the Biden Administration Now Wants to Clamp Down

by T. Christian Miller

February 15, 2024, 6:00 am EST
Doctors With Histories of Big Malpractice Settlements Work for Insurers, Deciding If They’ll Pay for Care

by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and David Armstrong and Doris Burke, ProPublica

December 15, 2023, 6:00 am EST
Health Insurers Have Been Breaking State Laws for Years

by Maya Miller and Robin Fields

November 16, 2023, 7:00 am EST
Insurance Executives Refused to Pay for the Cancer Treatment That Could Have Saved Him. This Is How They Did It.

by Maya Miller and Robin Fields

November 15, 2023, 5:00 am EST
You Have a Right to Know Why a Health Insurer Denied Your Claim. Some Insurers Still Won’t Tell You.

by Maya Miller, with additional reporting by Ash Ngu

November 8, 2023, 7:05 am EST
Find Out Why Your Health Insurer Denied Your Claim

by Ash Ngu and Maya Miller

November 8, 2023, 7:00 am EST
Big Insurance Met Its Match When It Turned Down a Top Trial Lawyer’s Request for Cancer Treatment

by T. Christian Miller

November 7, 2023, 5:00 am EST
I Set Out to Create a Simple Map for How to Appeal Your Insurance Denial. Instead, I Found a Mind-Boggling Labyrinth.

by Cheryl Clark for ProPublica

August 31, 2023, 5:00 am EDT
How Often Do Health Insurers Say No to Patients? No One Knows.

by Robin Fields

June 28, 2023, 5:00 am EDT
Health Insurance Claim Denied? See What Insurers Said Behind the Scenes

by Maya Miller, ProPublica, with additional reporting by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and David Armstrong, ProPublica

May 10, 2023, 5:00 am EDT
ProPublica and The Capitol Forum Win April Sidney Award

ProPublica

April 12, 2023, 6:29 pm EDT
How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them

by Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum, and Maya Miller and David Armstrong, ProPublica

March 25, 2023, 5:00 am EDT
UnitedHealthcare Tried to Deny Coverage to a Chronically Ill Patient. He Fought Back, Exposing the Insurer’s Inner Workings.

by David Armstrong, ProPublica; Patrick Rucker, The Capitol Forum; and Maya Miller, ProPublica

February 2, 2023, 5:00 am EST
Do You Have Insights Into Dental and Health Insurance Denials? Help Us Report on the System.

by David Armstrong, Patrick Rucker and Maya Miller

August 18, 2022, 8:00 am EDT

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Uncovered

Impact of Our Reporting

Michigan Lawmaker Introduces Bill Requiring State Health Plans to Cover Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatments

Health Plans Can’t Dodge Paying for Expensive New Cancer Treatments, Says Michigan’s Top Insurance Regulator

Congressional Committee, Regulators Question Cigna System That Lets Its Doctors Deny Claims Without Reading Patient Files

“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”

“Not Medically Necessary”: Inside the Company Helping America’s Biggest Health Insurers Deny Coverage for Care

A Doctor at Cigna Said Her Bosses Pressured Her to Review Patients’ Cases Too Quickly. Cigna Threatened to Fire Her.

After Promising to Make Government Health Care Data More Accessible, the Biden Administration Now Wants to Clamp Down

Doctors With Histories of Big Malpractice Settlements Work for Insurers, Deciding If They’ll Pay for Care

Health Insurers Have Been Breaking State Laws for Years

Insurance Executives Refused to Pay for the Cancer Treatment That Could Have Saved Him. This Is How They Did It.

You Have a Right to Know Why a Health Insurer Denied Your Claim. Some Insurers Still Won’t Tell You.

Find Out Why Your Health Insurer Denied Your Claim

Big Insurance Met Its Match When It Turned Down a Top Trial Lawyer’s Request for Cancer Treatment

I Set Out to Create a Simple Map for How to Appeal Your Insurance Denial. Instead, I Found a Mind-Boggling Labyrinth.

How Often Do Health Insurers Say No to Patients? No One Knows.

Health Insurance Claim Denied? See What Insurers Said Behind the Scenes

ProPublica and The Capitol Forum Win April Sidney Award

How Cigna Saves Millions by Having Its Doctors Reject Claims Without Reading Them

UnitedHealthcare Tried to Deny Coverage to a Chronically Ill Patient. He Fought Back, Exposing the Insurer’s Inner Workings.

Do You Have Insights Into Dental and Health Insurance Denials? Help Us Report on the System.

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