A new study published in Health Affairs reveals that low-income patients and those from historically disadvantaged racial and ethnic groups face the steepest burdens from health insurance claim denials. Using a national dataset of remittance records and patient demographics, researchers found that these populations are less likely to contest denied claims and, when they do, receive smaller financial relief.
Patients with household incomes under \$50,000 were the least likely to challenge denied claims or see their cost-sharing obligations reduced. Even when racial minority patients did contest denials, they achieved lower average savings than non-Hispanic white patients. The study highlights how navigating the complex world of insurance billing requires resources—both in knowledge and time—that many vulnerable patients simply don’t have.
The authors argue that these disparities are not just administrative inconveniences but real barriers to equitable healthcare. They call for policy changes that would make it easier for patients to correct billing errors and reduce the frequency of claim denials in the first place.
The findings underscore a troubling pattern: those with the fewest resources are often left to shoulder the greatest financial strain. As the healthcare system continues to digitize and automate, the risk is that these inequities will deepen unless deliberate steps are taken to address them.
See: “Claim Denials: Low-Income Patients From Disadvantaged Racial And Ethnic Groups Experienced The Largest Burdens” (June 1, 2025)
