# How to Fight a Health Insurance Denial With a Little-Known Tool

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/paper-trail-7800276/how-to-fight-a-health-insurance-denial-with-a-little-known-tool
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/paper-trail-7800276/how-to-fight-a-health-insurance-denial-with-a-little-known-tool.md
Podcast: [Paper Trail](https://stenobird.com/podcast/paper-trail-7800276)
Published: 2026-05-28T09:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.propublica.org/podcast/health-insurance-industry-secret-external-review
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/16890/6e7f8f88-cd0d-47e7-978e-13750dec286e/PAPER-TRAIL_Mental-Health_MIX_v17.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/paper-trail-7800276/episodes/how-to-fight-a-health-insurance-denial-with-a-little-known-tool
Duration seconds: 2354

## Resource

ProPublica got a tip from a reader named Teressa. Her husband was having a severe mental health crisis, and her health insurance company was denying coverage for his hospital and inpatient treatment. She was fighting back against the denials — and recording every phone call with the company as she did. She brought reporter Duaa Eldeib along for the journey, which ended after Teressa was able to deploy what one source called the industry’s “best-kept secret.” Reporter: Duaa Eldeib How to file an external appeal: https://www.propublica.org/article/health-insurance-denial-external-review Support our journalism by donating at propublica.org/donate .

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## Transcript

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