When does the actual claim process begin for a patient?

The actual claim process for a patient begins when services are rendered. This marks the point at which the healthcare provider delivers care that can then be billed to the patient's insurance. Until services are actually provided, no claim can be generated because there is no service to report.

Although appointment scheduling and insurance verification are essential to the process, they do not initiate the claim itself. The appointment is primarily about ensuring the patient gets seen, and insurance verification is about confirming coverage and eligibility, which are preparatory steps. However, it is the rendering of services that triggers the need to submit a claim for reimbursement, thus marking the start of the actual claim process.