Health insurance denial & claim adjustment codes

What health insurance denial code 253 means on your EOB

A statutory federal reduction applied to what Medicare pays providers. It is a cut to the provider's payment, not an amount transferred to you, and it should never appear as patient responsibility on a bill.

What usually causes it

• Sequestration reduces Medicare payment to providers.
• It is a statutory percentage.
• It does not increase patient responsibility.

The documents that decide it

• Your Medicare Summary Notice.
• The provider's statement.
• The patient-responsibility amount.

What to do next

This is a reduction to the provider's payment, not an amount you owe. It should not appear on your bill.

This page explains what a code means. It is information, not advice — it does not tell you whether your specific claim should have been paid, and it is not legal, medical, or insurance advice. Your plan documents and your denial notice govern your situation.