So you get a health insurance quote and it looks good. You buy the policy and then you turn in a health insurance claim. In a couple of weeks you get a claim denial in the mail. You paid the premiums and you assumed that the expenses would be covered. There are several reasons that a health insurance claim might be denied.

Many health insurance plans require you to obtain an authorization for certain medical expenses such as an inpatient hospital stay. If you didn't request an authorization from your insurance company at the time you received the care, the claim could be denied.

Another denial is when the claim in considered preexisting. A preexisting condition is one that you were diagnosed or treated for before your health insurance policy took effect. Usually, these conditions will not be covered under your plan for 12 months.

A claim could be denied as not being medically necessary. Often these claims are for cosmetic procedures. Surgeries to help a patient lose weight may be denied or they may only be covered if medical necessity can be proven.

If you filed a claim for a new procedure that the insurance company considers experimental or investigational, then you may well get a claim denial in the mail. Most plans have exclusions for these treatments.

Some claims are denied due to a simple lack of information. If the insurance company asked you to complete a claim form and you didn't fill it out and send it, then they may site this as a reason for denial of the claim. Your insurer may request medical records from your doctor before paying your claim. If the medical records are not received, then the claim could be denied.

Health insurance plans that have a benefit maximum such as an annual or lifetime maximum could deny a claim it received after the benefit maximum has been reached. In this case, no additional benefits are payable and a claim denial is sent to the insured.

To avoid getting a claim denial in the mail and dealing with an appeal or the prospect of paying out-of-pocket for medical expenses, you can take some easy steps. First, read any health insurance quote thoroughly and ask questions. You want to be sure you know what you're buying.

Once you have the policy it is a good idea to contact the insurance company anytime you have to be admitted to the hospital, visit the emergency room, have surgery, or begin a new kind of treatment. Also, respond promptly to the insurer's request for a claim form or medical records and follow up to be sure they have received the information.