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Medical necessity denial

Denied as “not medically necessary”? A physician can answer that.

A licensed physician reads your records, decides whether your case has merit, and writes the letter that answers your plan on its own clinical terms.

No account needed to check. A physician tells you candidly if the case has no merit.

What this denial means

“Not medically necessary” is an opinion — and opinions can be answered.

When a plan denies care as not medically necessary, it is saying its written criteria were not met by the paperwork in front of it. That paperwork is usually a fraction of your chart: a claim form, a code, perhaps a short note. The reviewer rarely sees how your illness has moved, what you have already tried, or why your treating physician chose this option.

That gap is where an appeal does its work. Your plan's criteria are written down, and so is the clinical evidence behind your treatment. Setting the two side by side, in the plan's own language, is work that takes a clinician — which is exactly who Cove Health puts on your case.

What the letter argues

Written by a licensed physician, cited line by line.

Your record, in full

The history the reviewer never saw: diagnoses, prior treatments and how each one turned out, and the way the condition has progressed.

The plan's own criteria

Your plan publishes the medical-necessity criteria it applied. The letter walks them point by point and shows where your case meets them.

Guidelines and evidence

Specialty-society guidelines, labeling and peer-reviewed literature supporting the treatment your physician ordered — each cited, so nothing rests on assertion.

Why the alternative does not fit

Where the plan points to a cheaper or more conservative option, the letter explains clinically why it is not appropriate for you.

How Cove Health works

From your denial letter to a physician-signed appeal — in four steps.

1

Upload your records

Securely share your medical records and the denial or issue you're facing. It takes minutes.

2

We review the merit

A licensed physician evaluates your case. If it has merit, we move forward — and you tell us who to contact on your behalf.

3

We draft & cite

Our physician drafts a rigorous advocacy letter, citing every relevant fact and healthcare guideline that supports you.

4

We advocate

The letter goes to the party you designate — your plan, another physician, a government body, or a workplace program — making your case in writing.

Simple, honest pricing

One issue or many — we've got you.

Single Case
One issue, fully handled — review, drafting, and advocacy.
$100 flat fee
  • Licensed physician review of your records
  • One fully drafted, guideline-cited advocacy letter
  • Sent to the party of your choice
  • No subscription, no commitment
Start my case
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Cove Membership
For patients juggling multiple issues across plans and providers.
$29.99 / month
  • Ongoing advocacy across multiple issues
  • Priority physician review
  • Unlimited letters while subscribed
  • Continuous case tracking & follow-ups
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Cove Health provides non-legal patient advocacy. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal representation.

Frequently asked questions

Medical necessity denials, answered.

What does “not medically necessary” actually mean on my denial? +
It means the plan's reviewer concluded that the care your physician ordered did not meet the plan's written coverage criteria for your situation. It is not a finding that the care is useless or unsafe, and it is not your treating physician's judgment — it is the plan's, made from limited records.
Can a medical necessity denial be appealed? +
Yes. Plans are required to offer an internal appeal, and most patients also have a right to review by an independent external reviewer if the internal appeal fails. The deadlines and the address are printed on your denial letter, and those are the authority on your case.
Does Cove Health replace my doctor? +
No. Your treating physicians keep directing your care. Our physician's role is advocacy: assembling the record and the guidelines into a letter that argues, on clinical grounds, for the care your doctor already recommended.
What if my case does not have merit? +
We tell you candidly before writing anything. We would rather say so than send a letter we do not believe in, and where we can we will point you toward avenues that fit your situation better.
How quickly do I need to act? +
Sooner than most people expect. Internal appeal windows are commonly 180 days from the date of denial, and expedited review exists where waiting would put your health at risk. Check the deadline printed on your own denial letter first.

Still have a question?

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