How to Appeal a Prior Authorization Denial for Your Medication: Step-by-Step Guide

When your doctor prescribes a medication and your insurance says no, it’s not just frustrating-it can be dangerous. You’re not alone. In 2024, prior authorization denials blocked access to over 18 million prescriptions in the U.S. But here’s the thing: 82% of those denials get reversed when you appeal. That means if you’ve been told no, you’ve probably been told wrong. And the fix isn’t as complicated as your insurer wants you to think.

Understand Why Your Medication Was Denied

The denial letter from your insurance company is your first clue. Don’t ignore it. Don’t toss it. Read it like a detective. Denials usually fall into three buckets:

• Incomplete paperwork (37% of cases): Missing forms, wrong IDs, or a fax that never went through.
• Lack of medical necessity (48%): The insurer claims your condition doesn’t justify the drug, even if your doctor says otherwise.
• Not covered by plan (15%): The drug isn’t on their formulary, or they want you to try cheaper alternatives first.

The most common mistake? People assume the denial is final. It’s not. In fact, 41% of denials are caused by simple clerical errors-like a typo in your member ID or a missing CPT code. Fix those, and you’re halfway there.

Gather Every Document You Need

Your appeal isn’t a letter. It’s a case file. You need proof. Start with:

• Your official denial letter (the EOB form)
• Full medical records from your doctor, including diagnosis codes (ICD-10) and procedure codes (CPT)
• Lab results, imaging reports, or specialist notes showing why this drug is needed
• A letter from your prescribing physician explaining why alternatives failed

This is where most appeals fail. People send a one-page note saying, “Please cover this.” That’s not enough. Insurers need clinical evidence. For example, if you’re on Humira for rheumatoid arthritis and they denied it because you didn’t try methotrexate first, you need to show you already tried methotrexate-and it didn’t work. Include dates, dosages, side effects, and how you felt. One patient on Reddit reversed a denial by attaching a two-page timeline of failed treatments with exact dates. It took seven days.

Know Your Insurer’s Rules

Every insurer has its own process. You can’t wing it. CVS/Caremark requires appeals to be faxed to 1-888-836-0730 and includes your full name, member ID, date of birth, drug name, and physician’s clinical statement. UnitedHealthcare demands online submissions through their provider portal. Medicare Advantage plans often let you appeal by phone. Check your plan’s website or call their member services and ask: “What’s the exact process and deadline for a prior authorization appeal?”

Time matters. You typically have 180 days from the denial date to file. But don’t wait. Most insurers give you 30 days to respond before they consider the case closed. If you’re unsure, call them every week. One physician survey found 78% of people had to follow up multiple times just to get someone to look at their appeal.

Write a Strong Appeal Letter

Your letter isn’t a request. It’s a rebuttal. Address each reason for denial directly. Use the insurer’s own language. If they say “medical necessity not met,” respond with: “Per your plan’s clinical policy on [drug name], medical necessity is established by [ICD-10 code] and documented treatment failure of [alternative drug].”

Include these five things:

1. Your full name, member ID, and date of birth
2. The exact drug name and NDC number
3. Why the denial is incorrect, point by point
4. Clinical evidence: test results, prior treatment failures, specialist opinions
5. A clear request: “I request immediate approval of [drug name] under my plan benefits.”

Pro tip: Have your doctor sign and date the letter. A physician’s signature adds weight. Keck Medicine’s 2024 analysis showed appeals with direct physician input had a 32% higher success rate.

Get Your Doctor Involved

Your doctor isn’t just a name on the form-they’re your strongest ally. Many don’t realize they can call the insurer’s medical review team directly. Ask them to do it. Tell them: “I’m appealing. Can you call the insurance company and explain why this drug is medically necessary?”

Doctors who do this see results. One endocrinologist in Arizona reported that after she started calling insurers herself, approval rates jumped from 45% to 85%. Insurers listen to clinicians-not patients. Your doctor can cite guidelines, reference studies, and explain why step therapy failed. If they refuse, ask for a written statement. If they still won’t help, find another provider who will.

Track Everything

Keep a log. Write down:

• Date you submitted the appeal
• Who you spoke with (name, ID, time)
• What they said
• Next follow-up date

Most appeals take 30 days. But if you don’t hear back, call after 20. Don’t wait. One in four appeals get lost in processing. If your appeal is denied again, you have the right to an external review. Under federal law, you have up to 365 days from the final denial to request one. State rules vary, but in most places, you can ask for an independent doctor to review your case.

What If You’re Still Denied?

If you’ve done everything right and still got a no, you have options:

• External review: Request one through your insurer. They must send you the form. An independent doctor reviews your case. This is your last shot inside the system.
• Medicare Advantage: If you’re on Medicare, appeal rates are 22% higher than commercial plans. Use that to your advantage.
• Financial assistance: Many drug manufacturers offer patient assistance programs. For example, AbbVie (Humira’s maker) has a program that can cover the full cost if you qualify.
• Legal aid: Some states have patient advocacy offices that help with appeals. Call your state’s insurance commissioner.

Real Stories, Real Results

One patient in Ohio was denied Ozempic for type 2 diabetes because the insurer said she hadn’t tried metformin long enough. She provided records showing she’d been on metformin for 14 months with no improvement. Her doctor called the insurer. Approval came in five days.

Another in Texas was denied a specialty infusion drug for multiple sclerosis. The denial letter didn’t mention any clinical criteria. He appealed with his full medical history, including three failed oral meds. He included a letter from his neurologist citing the 2023 AAN guidelines. Approved within 10 days.

These aren’t rare. They’re normal. The system is broken, but it’s not unbeatable.

What to Avoid

Don’t:

• Wait until your prescription runs out
• Send handwritten letters
• Use vague phrases like “my doctor says it’s needed”
• Forget to include your member ID
• Assume your doctor will handle it

And don’t give up. The average patient needs 3-5 attempts to get it right. You’re not failing. You’re learning the system.

Why This Matters

Prior authorization isn’t just bureaucracy. It’s a barrier to care. In 2023, 79% of physicians said patients abandoned treatment because of delays. People skip doses. They stop taking meds. They end up in the ER. That’s why appeals aren’t just paperwork-they’re life-saving.

The system is designed to say no. But you have the right to say yes. And with the right documents, the right timing, and the right voice, you can win.

Next Steps

Start today. Get your denial letter. Call your doctor. Write your letter. Send it. Follow up. Don’t wait for someone else to fix this. You’re the only one who can.

If you’ve been denied, you’re not alone. And you’re not powerless. The system is stacked against you-but you’ve got the tools to win.