CommonContractual Obligation (CO)Eligibility & Coverage
CO-27: Expenses incurred after coverage terminated
The patient's insurance coverage was not active on the date of service. The service was performed after the patient's coverage termination date. This denial means the patient had no active insurance with this payer when the service occurred.
Common Causes
- Patient insurance coverage terminated before the date of service
- Patient changed employers or plans and old coverage lapsed
- COBRA coverage expired
- Patient was terminated from Medicaid/Medicare eligibility
- Retroactive coverage termination by the payer
How to Resolve CO-27
- 1Verify the patient's coverage dates with the payer
- 2Check if the patient has other active insurance to bill
- 3If the patient was covered on the date of service, appeal with proof of active coverage
- 4If no coverage existed, bill the patient directly with a self-pay statement
- 5Check if the patient qualifies for retroactive Medicaid coverage
How to Prevent CO-27 Denials
- Run real-time eligibility verification before every appointment
- Check eligibility again on the day of service for scheduled procedures
- Collect secondary insurance information at registration
- Set up automated eligibility batch checks 2-3 days before scheduled visits
Related Denial Codes
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