Experian Health Survey Finds Claim Denials Persist as AI Interest Grows
75% of providers report rising denials, while 64% plan to invest in AI to improve claims management and reimbursement
Healthcare organizations face growing pressure to protect revenue as claim denials rise and payer requirements become more complex, according to Experian Health’s 2026 State of Claims survey.
75% of providers report increasing denials, while 40% say denials affect more than 10% of claims. Nearly four in five (79%) say securing reimbursement has become more difficult, and 78% report that payer policies are changing more frequently.
For healthcare executives, these challenges translate into greater administrative costs, delayed cash flow and increased pressure on revenue cycle teams.
“Every denial means more staff time spent reworking claims, longer reimbursement cycles and revenue that may never be recovered,” said Mindy Fortson, chief operating officer at Experian Health.
Denials Pressure Revenue Cycle Performance
The survey highlights mounting operational challenges:
- 68% report higher denial rates than a year ago.
- 65% say submitting clean claims has become more difficult.
- 64% report longer reimbursement timelines.
Common denial drivers include noncovered services, missing insurance information, coding errors, changing payer policies and prior authorization issues.
AI Investment Gains Momentum
Healthcare leaders are evaluating technology to improve claims accuracy, reduce manual work and protect reimbursement. 64% of respondents plan to invest in AI for claims and denial management, while 83% would replace existing technology if a compelling return on investment were demonstrated.
Providers are also upgrading claims technology (48%), expanding automated claims reviews (40%) and digitizing registration and payer-policy tracking (37%).
The findings suggest that improving revenue cycle performance increasingly depends on identifying errors earlier and reducing preventable denials before claims are submitted.
The survey included 204 healthcare professionals responsible for financial, billing or claims management decisions.
Read the full 2026 State of Claims report from Experian Health for additional findings.
