Skip to content
medicalbilling101.com
  • Home
  • Denial Codes
  • Free Tools
    • Appeal Letter Generator
    • Timely Filing Deadline Calculator
    • All Free Tools
  • Careers
  • Coding & Billing Guides
  • Patient Guides
  • About
  • Contact

Cigna CO-197

I Called UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna About Their CO-197 Criteria

Updated: October 8, 2026
"Same code, two different denials" banner on CO-197 payer calls, with a phone and three response cards

A CO-197 denial means the service required prior authorization and either it wasn’t obtained or it wasn’t valid. That’s what the policy says.

© 2026 Medical Billing 101 – Free Denial Code & CPT Guides. All rights reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
For educational purposes only; not legal or medical advice. Editorial policy