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CO-96: Non-covered charges

UPDATED JULY 2026 · U.S. PLANS · NOT LEGAL OR MEDICAL ADVICE

The payer classifies the service as not covered under the plan. Sometimes a true exclusion; sometimes a miscategorization of a covered service.

CO-96 at a glance
  • Code group: CO — Contractual Obligation — in-network providers generally cannot bill you for CO adjustments.
  • Who usually fixes it: You (the member).
  • Worth appealing? Sometimes — depends on the facts.

What to do about a CO-96 denial

  1. Find the exact exclusion in your plan documents — ask the insurer to cite the provision.
  2. If the service was miscategorized (e.g., preventive billed as diagnostic), ask the provider to correct the coding.
  3. Appeal when the plan language actually covers your situation.

Best next read: How to appeal, step by step — the full guide (with a free letter template) for this denial type.

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