Health care claim approvals face delays and denials.

The article reports that insured patients can face repeated denials or delays for recommended care, and that services such as Sheer Health assist with appeals after denials.

Marketing executive Mathew Evins lived with chronic back pain and his doctors recommended surgery, but his insurer repeatedly denied authorization, delaying care for months. The article places that experience in a wider context, noting reported denial rates and public concern about delays. It describes a private company, Sheer Health, that reviews policies and files appeals on behalf of patients. Experts quoted in the piece say these services reflect broader problems in the system. Key points: - The article describes Evins' case, where repeated insurance denials delayed a recommended surgery and his condition worsened before an appeal succeeded. - Jeff Witten is quoted saying about 20% of insurance claims are denied, and the article notes 73% of Americans view delays and denials as a major problem. - Sheer Health is presented as a paid service that reviews bills and policy language, files appeals, and resolved Evins' authorization, after which he received surgery and reported recovery. - Katherine Hempstead of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is quoted saying such services address symptoms of systemic issues rather than fixing underlying problems. Summary: Delays and denials of insurance approvals can prolong treatment timelines and lead some patients to use third-party appeals services. Undetermined at this time.