External Review Guides
State-by-state insurance appeal and external review guides
An external review is an independent review of a health insurance denial by a certified reviewer who does not work for your insurer. It usually happens after an internal appeal is denied, and it can be one of the most important escalation options patients have. Every state has its own rules for external review, including deadlines, eligibility standards, required forms, and which denials can be reviewed, so the exact process can differ meaningfully depending on where you live.
External review guides by state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Looking for general guidance first? Start with general appeals guidance on our blog and then return to this page for state-specific steps.