US Medical Term · billing
Denial Code
Código de Denegación
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Denial Code |
| Spanish (Español) | Código de Denegación |
| Chinese (中文) | 拒绝代码 |
| Korean (한국어) | 거부 코드 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Mã từ chối |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Code ng Pagtanggi |
| Portuguese (Português) | Código de Negação |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | รหัสการปฏิเสธ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 否定コード |
What it means
A denial code is a standardized alphanumeric code that appears on an Explanation of Benefits (EOB), remittance advice, or claim rejection notice to indicate why an insurance claim was denied, reduced, or adjusted. Common denial codes include CO-4 (incorrect procedure code), CO-50 (service not covered), PR-96 (non-covered charge), and CARC/RARC codes used by Medicare. Each code corresponds to a specific reason for non-payment. Understanding the denial code on your EOB is the essential first step in deciding whether to appeal a denial. Many denials result from administrative errors—such as a wrong billing code or missing information—that can be corrected and resubmitted. Ask your provider's billing office to identify the denial code and determine whether a corrected claim or appeal is the best path forward.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The EOB listed denial code CO-50, which means the service is not covered by my plan.
El EOB indicó el código de denegación CO-50, lo que significa que el servicio no está cubierto por mi plan.
I need to understand the denial code before I can write a proper appeal.
Necesito entender el código de denegación antes de poder escribir una apelación adecuada.
Ask the billing office what denial code appeared and whether a corrected claim can fix it.
Pregúntele al departamento de facturación qué código de denegación apareció y si un reclamo corregido puede solucionarlo.
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Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026