OA-22: Coordination of Benefits
OA-22 means the payer believes another plan is primary, or the patient's COB information is out of date, so it won't pay until the order is resolved.
Why payers issue OA-22
- The patient has a second plan and the primary/secondary order is unclear
- The member's COB record on file is outdated
- The primary payer's EOB wasn't attached to the secondary claim
- Eligibility or coverage dates overlap
Is it recoverable? Usually a sequencing problem, not a coverage problem — once the order and primary EOB are in place, the claim pays.
Common questions
What does OA-22 mean?
OA-22 means the payer believes another plan is primary, or the patient's COB information is out of date, so it won't pay until the order is resolved. This care may be covered by another payer per coordination of benefits.
How do I appeal or fix a OA-22 denial?
Usually a sequencing problem, not a coverage problem — once the order and primary EOB are in place, the claim pays. Common causes: the patient has a second plan and the primary/secondary order is unclear; the member's COB record on file is outdated; the primary payer's EOB wasn't attached to the secondary claim; eligibility or coverage dates overlap.
Is a OA-22 denial worth appealing?
Usually a sequencing problem, not a coverage problem — once the order and primary EOB are in place, the claim pays. You only pay on what's actually recovered, so there's no cost to working the ones that are winnable.
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