FEHB plan member appeals process

Note: This appeals process applies to members of Priority Health Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans. Choose the Priority Health plan you have from the menu on the right to see the process that applies to you.

If you've called our Customer Service representatives and you're still not satisfied with the answers provided to you, you can formally request that Priority Health change the response or decision provided. You or someone on your behalf can appeal our decision.

When to file an appeal with Priority Health

You must file a formal appeal within 6 months of when Priority Health denied your first request.

Ask for documents

To help you prepare your appeal, you may review and copy, free of charge, all relevant materials and plan documents under our control relating to your claim, including those that involve any expert review(s) of your claim. To ask to review and get copies of our documents, call 800.446.5674 or write to:

Customer Service Department
MS 1145, Priority Health
PO.Box 269
Grand Rapids, MI 49501-0269

How long will the process take?

If you have not yet received the services:

We have 72 hours after you make your request to:

  • Let you know of our decision
  • Or, let you know we need more information before we make a decision

If you have already received the services:

We have 30 days from the date we receive your appeal request to:

  • Pay the claim
  • Or, write to you explaining that we still deny the claim
  • Or, ask you or your provider for more information

If we request more information: You or your doctor or other health care provider must send the information we ask for within 60 days of our request. We will then make our decision within 30 days of when we receive your additional information.

Level 1: File an appeal

icon material laptop

Submit your appeal online by filling out our online appeal form.

Online appeal form

icon material email OR, fill out a paper form. You can print the form now or call Customer Service at 800.446.5674 and ask us to mail one to you.
icon material file OR, type up your request without using the form and fax it, with documentation, to us at 616.975.8894, or email it to the appeals team.
icon material phone OR, call us at the number on the back of your membership card and we'll take down your information for you and help you get started.

Our review process

  1. A group of Priority Health employees who are experienced in coverage issues informally reviews your request.
  2. If they can't resolve it to your satisfaction, they send your appeal to the Priority Health Appeal Committee.
  3. The Appeal Committee includes Priority Health employees and a medical doctor, none of whom were involved in the initial decision we made or work directly for someone who made that initial decision. They make a decision about your appeal. The decision may be all or partly in your favor, or all against you.
  4. The Committee sends you a letter summarizing its findings and decision within 5 days after the committee meeting. We also call you.

Level 2: Request a review from OPM

If you are not satisfied with the resolution of your appeal, above, you may ask the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review it. You must write to OPM within:

  • 90 days after the date of our letter upholding our initial decision; or
  • 120 days after you first wrote to us, if we did not answer that request in some way within 30 days; or
  • 120 days after we asked for additional information.
  • Check our FEHB Appeals Process document for what information OPM needs and where to send your request.

Level 3: File a civil lawsuit

If you don't agree with the OPM decision, your only option is to file a lawsuit. If you decide to sue, you must file the suit against OPM in Federal court by December 31 of the third year after the year in which you received the disputed services, drugs or supplies. This is the only deadline that may not be extended. You may not file a lawsuit until you have completed the disputed claims process above.