CARC code 204 — This service/equipment/drug is not covered under the patient's current benefit plan

What CARC 204 means

Plan-exclusion denials mean the service is excluded under your plan's written terms.

How to appeal a CARC 204 denial

Plan-exclusion appeals are harder to overturn but not impossible. The appeal usually centers on reading the exclusion language carefully — exclusions are often narrower than they appear at first glance — and on whether your specific situation falls outside the exclusion.

What InsureDefense adds

Our triage classifies your specific denial into one of ten categories and tells you exactly what evidence appeals like yours typically need. For CARC 204 denials, we usually recommend the tier that fits the category of the denial — sometimes Strong ($249) is enough, sometimes Premium ($499) with plan-language citations and peer-reviewed support is the right path. The free triage shows you which.

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