Processing errors decline, but denials on the rise

Conversely, medical claim denials are on the rise, and that trend "reverses a downward trend between 2008 and 2011," the AMA reports. "Every private health insurer except Humana increased denials this year. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield had the highest denial rate, at 5.07%, while Regence had the lowest denial rate of 1.38%," according to the association.

Private insurers reportedly improved response times to medical claims by 17% from 2008 to 2012. HCSC and Humana had the fastest median response time, 6 days. Aetna was the slowest, with a median response time of 14 days.