How do I appeal a Medicare claim denial?

When Medicare denies a claim, the denial letter you receive is actually your roadmap. It will tell you why the claim was denied and exactly how to appeal. Read it carefully before you do anything else.The appeals process has five levels. Most people start at level one, called a redetermination. You submit a written request to the Medicare Administrative Contractor, the company that processed your original claim, asking them to take another look. You generally have 120 days from the date on your denial notice to request this.If that doesn't go your way, level two is a reconsideration by a different independent organization. Level three takes your case to an Administrative Law Judge. Levels four and five involve the Medicare Appeals Council and federal court, though most appeals are resolved well before that point.For Part C (Medicare Advantage) or Part D (drug plans), the process is slightly different because your private insurance plan handles the first step, not Medicare directly. The same appeal rights apply, but you'll contact your plan first.A few practical tips: keep copies of everything, note every deadline, and don't give up after one denial. Many appeals succeed on the first or second try. If you want free help navigating this, a local SHIP counselor can walk you through it at no cost.