Which term refers to the process of checking a patient's insurance coverage?

The correct term that refers to the process of checking a patient’s insurance coverage is insurance verification. This process is critical for healthcare providers as it ensures that the patient has active insurance coverage and identifies the specifics of that coverage, including deductibles, copayments, and any limitations or exclusions related to treatment.

During insurance verification, the healthcare provider typically contacts the insurance company or utilizes an online platform to confirm the patient's eligibility for services, the extent of the benefits, and the specifics regarding any prior authorization needed for particular procedures or treatments. This step is vital to avoid unexpected costs for patients and ensures that claims submitted for services will be reimbursed by the insurance company.

In contrast, patient intake involves gathering personal and medical information from a patient upon their arrival for an appointment. Claims processing relates to the administrative steps taken to submit and manage claims after services are rendered. Billing reconciliation focuses on reviewing and matching billing records, perhaps to identify discrepancies between billed services and payments received. Each of these processes is important in the overall patient billing cycle, but insurance verification specifically addresses the confirmation of a patient's insurance coverage prior to receiving care.