In development

Clear guidance for denied health insurance claims.

AppealHub is in development. We are building an artificial intelligence engine that will help patients prepare an appeal by generating a draft letter, submitting it through the required channel, and tracking status and deadlines — all in one place.

The team behind AppealHub has spent the past two decades fighting denials for hospitals and patients, and we are bringing that experience into a patient-first platform.

Built from experience
Two decades of denial management work
What we are building
Letter drafting, submission workflow, and tracking
Privacy minded
Do not share private health information here

About AppealHub

AppealHub exists to give patients and families the same structure and persistence that hospitals rely on when they respond to denials. Our goal is to help you feel supported, not alone, when a claim is turned down.

Experience brought to patients

The AppealHub team has been fighting denials for the past twenty years for hospitals and patients, and we are excited to bring that experience into a product built for patients.

Before starting AppealHub, the founders built denial management and appeal software used by hospitals and large health systems. That experience has shaped how we organize information, track timelines, and present medical stories to health plans.

We are committed to changing how people experience denials by combining careful clinical review, clear explanations, and technology that stays out of your way.

AppealHub is in development. This site shares educational information and a way to contact us with general questions. The platform is being built to eventually automate parts of the appeal process for patients.

Denials are common. Appeals are worth it.

Denials happen at massive scale, but most people never appeal. When people do appeal, overturn rates can be high depending on the denial type and documentation.

Scale
~850 million
Claims are denied each year in the United States.
Most never appeal
Less than 1%
Of denied claims are appealed in some analyses.
Appeals can work
As high as 75%
Of appealed claims are overturned and paid.
Medicare Advantage
83.2%
Of appealed prior authorization denials were partially or fully overturned (2022).

Our team

AppealHub is led by people who have spent their careers building denial management tools, supporting hospitals, and caring for patients.

Brian McGraw

Brian McGraw

Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

  • Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AppealHub.
  • Founder of PayerWatch, an early denial management software platform for hospitals.
  • Founder of the Association for Healthcare Denial and Appeal Management.
Dr. Vivek Radhakrishna

Vivek Radhakrishna

Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer

  • Co-founder and technology leader for AppealHub.
  • More than twenty-five years in product development and patient-focused software.
  • System architect for PayerWatch, supporting processing of hundreds of millions of claims.
Dr. Kendall Smith

Dr. Kendall Smith

Co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and Clinical Strategy Lead

  • Co-founder and clinical leader at AppealHub.
  • Chief Medical Officer for the Association for Healthcare Denial and Appeal Management.
  • Senior Fellow in Hospital Medicine and former regional leader at Nuance Communications, a company later acquired by Microsoft.

How to appeal a denied insurance claim

This is general education. Your plan may have specific requirements and deadlines, so follow the instructions in your denial notice.

Step one

Read the denial notice closely

Identify what was denied, the reason given, the appeal deadline, and where the appeal must be sent.

Save the denial notice and write down key dates. Look for the plan’s appeal address or portal instructions.

Step two

Ask for details

Call the plan and ask what information they need to reconsider the decision. Keep a simple call log.

Write down the representative’s name and the call date. Ask if there is a reference number for your call.

Step three

Gather supporting records

Collect the documents that support medical need and address the denial reason.

Clinician notes and relevant test results. A clinician letter that responds to the denial reason.

Step four

Write a clear appeal letter

Keep it structured: summary, timeline, denial reason, and the evidence that supports the request.

List every attachment in the packet. Use plain language and stay focused on the denial reason.

Step five

Submit and keep copies

Send the packet using the plan’s required method and keep copies of everything.

Use trackable delivery when possible. Save any confirmation pages or email receipts.

Step six

Follow up and escalate if needed

If you do not receive a response, follow up. If denied again, ask about next-level review options.

Ask about internal and external review options. Keep your timeline and records organized.

Helpful tip

Keep a one-page cover sheet listing attachments. Use clear file names. Ask the clinician’s office for a concise letter that directly addresses the denial reason.

Contact

This form is for general questions or concerns about a denial. We are in development and may share guidance and resources where we can.

Important: Do not include any private health information, insurance member numbers, or documents in this form.
Please do not include full Social Security numbers. You will be able to share your denial letter and records securely after we connect.

What to ask

Please keep your message high level and non-identifying. We can gather more detailed information after we connect.

  • What was denied and the reason stated
  • Deadlines and where the plan says to send an appeal
  • What part of the process feels confusing
Status
In development

We are building a patient-first product informed by hospital denial management experience.