Other insurance information needed: what it means and what to do
The insurer thinks the patient has another dental plan that should pay first, or needs the other plan's explanation of benefits before it pays.
- “Coordination of benefits information needed”
- “Other carrier primary”
- “Submit to primary carrier first”
What to check first
- Which plan is primary. A patient's own plan usually pays before a spouse's; for children, the birthday rule usually decides.
- Whether the patient updated their other-insurance information with this insurer. Many insurers ask the member to confirm it.
What to do
File with the primary plan first, then send this plan the claim with the primary's explanation of benefits. Ask the patient to update their other-coverage details with the insurer.
Stop it next time
Ask every patient about other dental coverage at check-in.
Next steps
- Free tool: secondary insurance calculator
Insurers word these differently, and many print a numbered reason code too. Read the words on the explanation of benefits; they say which of these it is.
Sources
Read November 11, 2026. Where a source describes one insurer's plans, we say so.
Get the patient's share in dollars, from the benefits page
Most denials can be seen coming on the benefits page. Tabruns reads the coverage, deductible, yearly maximum, waiting periods and frequency limits from the insurer's portal and works out what the patient owes. Patient details stay on the office computer.
Not ready? Try the free patient portion calculator.
Other denials
- Frequency limit reached
- Yearly maximum reached
- Waiting period not met
- Not a covered benefit
- Alternate benefit applied
- Included in another procedure
- More information needed
- Patient not covered on the date of service
- Filed after the deadline
- Missing tooth clause
- Not supported by the records
- Replacement too soon
- Applied to deductible