February 9, 2026
The Boston Globe recently published an article featuring Keith Ericson, Professor of Markets, Public Policy, and Law, discussing how most health insurance claim denials in Massachusetts result from administrative errors rather than medical decisions.
Data from the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission show that in 2024, roughly one in five commercial claims were denied. Of these – 81% – about 7.6 million claims, were rejected for paperwork mistakes, coding errors, incomplete submissions, or insurer-specific rules, while denials for medical reasons accounted for less than 1%.
These administrative denials create significant burdens for providers, insurers, and patients, often leading to delays in care and costly resubmissions. Ericson emphasizes that these inefficiencies are largely solvable through better systems and standardization.
While streamlining administrative processes alone won’t resolve the broader issue of high health care costs, it could reduce unnecessary expenses, ease provider workloads, and accelerate patient access to care, highlighting a clear opportunity for reform in Massachusetts’ complex insurance system.
