Aetna is Tops Say Docs

According to a survey by PayerView a medical billing provider information service operated by Athenahealth, Aetna, "pays physicians faster and denies claims less often than other health plans that were measured." The survey sampled 12,000 medical care providers throughout the U.S. Cigna placed second among the health insurers listed and Humana placed third.

The online survey results allow visitors to view different aspects of the survey. For example, Aetna, number one on the list, had a 5.9% denial rate in 2008, while Champus/Tricare, number eight on the list, posted a denial rate nearly twice as high at 11.9%. Other information includes the ability to look at specific regions. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ohio ranked number one in Midwest insurers. The time it takes claims to be paid differs by as much as twelve days between those at the top of the list and those in the eight through ten positions.

The survey provides a valuable look at the efficiency of the different health insurers. When considering health insurance for your business this data can be invaluable. It can determine whether employees will be pleased with their benefits or subjected to frustration by the insurer.