We used to expect a medical claim to process within 30 days. You went to the doctor, they billed your insurance, and you received an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) a few weeks later. In 2026, that timeline has dissolved. Patients are finding their claims stuck in “Pending” status for months. Simple procedures are taking upwards of 90 days to adjudicate.
This slowdown is not an accident. It is the result of a fundamental shift in how insurance companies operate. They have replaced human adjusters with algorithms that are designed to pause, rather than pay. Combined with a massive labor shortage, these new protocols have created a bottleneck that leaves you holding the bill. Here are the specific reasons your insurance claim is moving more slowly than ever this year.
The AI “Flagging” Paradox
Insurers promised that Artificial Intelligence would speed up claims. In 2026, it often does the opposite. New AI adjudication tools are programmed to be hyper-sensitive. They scan claims for the slightest anomaly. If a code does not perfectly match the diagnosis, the AI “flags” it.
A flagged claim cannot be processed automatically. It must be sent to a human review queue. Because the AI flags far more claims than humans ever did, these queues are overflowing. A claim that a human would have approved in seconds is now stuck in digital limbo waiting for a manual override that takes weeks.
The Shift to Pre-Payment Audits
Historically, insurers operated on a “pay and chase” model. They paid claims quickly and audited them later. In 2026, the industry has shifted to a “Review Before Pay” strategy. They are auditing claims for errors before releasing a single cent.
This means your claim is being scrutinized for medical necessity and coding accuracy while you wait. These pre-payment audits are legally allowed to pause the “prompt payment” clock. Insurers use this time to request medical records, which adds another 30 to 45 days to the process.
The Independent Dispute Backlog
The No Surprises Act was meant to protect patients. However, the mechanism for resolving disputes between doctors and insurers is broken. The Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) portal is facing a massive backlog in 2026. Hundreds of thousands of claims are stuck in arbitration.
If your claim involves an out-of-network provider or a questioning of “allowed amounts,” it might be caught in this federal traffic jam. Insurers often suspend processing on the patient’s portion until the arbitration is settled. You remain in the dark while they fight over the reimbursement rate.
The Adjuster Talent Crisis
The insurance industry is facing a severe “brain drain.” A wave of experienced adjusters retired over the last two years. The new workforce is smaller and less experienced. The talent shortage means there are fewer people available to handle complex denials.
When a claim is flagged by AI, it goes to a junior adjuster who may not have the authority to approve it. They must escalate it to a supervisor. This multi-tiered approval process slows everything down. You might call customer service and find that no one understands why your claim is denied.
The “Itemized Bill” Stall Tactic
To manage cash flow, some insurers are using administrative hurdles to delay payment. A common tactic in 2026 is the automatic request for an “Itemized Bill.” Even for standard hospital stays, the insurer will demand a line-by-line breakdown before processing.
This request stops the clock. The hospital must generate the document and upload it. The insurer then has 30 days to review it. If you do not actively push the hospital to send this document, your claim can sit in this “information requested” status indefinitely.
Check Your Status Weekly
You cannot assume “no news is good news.” If you haven’t received an EOB within 45 days, log in to your portal. If the status says “Pending Information,” call immediately. Ask the representative specifically: “What information are you waiting for, and who needs to send it?” In 2026, the only way to move a claim out of the queue is to act as your own project manager.
Has your insurance claim been “pending” for more than 60 days? Leave a comment below—tell us which insurer is making you wait!
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