State profile · IA · CMS + NAIC
Insurance in Iowa
How health insurers handle claims in Iowa, and what drivers pay for auto cover — measured from CMS Transparency-in-Coverage and NAIC data.
- 20.3%
- Avg claims denied
- #12
- denial rank of 31
- $869
- Avg auto / yr
- +23%
- Auto, 5-yr
- 3
- Insurers w/ data
The verdict
Marketplace insurers in Iowa deny 20.3% of claims — near the 21% national average, the 12th-highest of 31 states, and drivers pay an average $869 a year for auto cover, less than the $1191 national average.
- 20.3%
- avg claims denied
- #12
- of 31 states
- $869
- avg auto / yr
- 25%
- highest (Oscar Insurance Co)
Denial rates are aggregate marketplace figures from CMS filings; auto figures are NAIC average expenditures. State regulation, risk pool and plan design all shape these numbers.
Highest claim-denial rates in Iowa
Health insurers by share of marketplace claims denied (≥1,000 claims on file)
- Oscar
Oscar Insurance Company: 24.9% denied (51,685 of 207,959)
24.9 % of claims denied
- Medica
Medica Insurance Company: 23.1% denied (150,867 of 652,278)
23.1 % of claims denied
- Wellmark Health Plan of
Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc.: 19.7% denied (893,834 of 4,540,785)
19.7 % of claims denied
What this shows These carriers deny the largest share of marketplace claims filed in Iowa. Denial rates reflect plan design and network rules as much as carrier behaviour.
Health insurers in Iowa, by denial rate
3 insurers reporting marketplace claims in Iowa
| # | Insurer | Claim denial rate | Claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oscar Insurance Company D | 207,959 | |
| 2 | Medica Insurance Company D | 652,278 | |
| 3 | Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. C | 4,540,785 |
Auto insurance in Iowa
Auto premiums in Iowa are climbing
Average annual auto-insurance expenditure by year (NAIC)
- 2019
2019: $709 average expenditure
$709 avg expenditure
- 2020
2020: $708 average expenditure
$708 avg expenditure
- 2021
2021: $726 average expenditure
$726 avg expenditure
- 2022
2022: $777 average expenditure
$777 avg expenditure
- 2023
2023: $869 average expenditure
$869 avg expenditure
What this shows Iowa drivers' average auto cost rose 23% between 2019 and 2023.
What the data shows for Iowa
Iowa's marketplace insurers denied 20.3% of submitted claims in the CMS data, the 12th-highest rate of the 31 states with federal marketplace filings. Denial rates this far below the 21% national average usually reflect the state's mix of plan types and risk pool rather than any single carrier — Medicaid managed-care and narrow-network plans route more claims through utilization review.
On the auto side, drivers in Iowa pay an average $869 a year — less than the $1191 national average — split across $387 liability, $313 collision and $310 comprehensive premiums. That figure has moved up 23% since 2019, tracking the national surge in repair and medical-claim costs.
Because rate regulation, licensing and guaranty-fund coverage are set state by state, an insurer's record in Iowa can differ from its national average — which is why the state view matters for local consumers. Source: CMS Transparency in Coverage PUF PY2025, cms.gov. Source: NAIC 2023 Auto Insurance Database; state commissioner registry, NAIC member directory.
For Iowa residents
Use the state view before you buy or appeal a denial here.
- Check a specific carrier's full national and per-state record. Browse insurers
- Compare Iowa's auto costs against the rest of the country. Auto rankings
- Denied a claim in this state? Walk through the appeal process. Appeal a denial
Verify coverage availability and terms directly with any insurer or a licensed agent. Informational only — not insurance advice.
Data: CMS Transparency in Coverage PUF PY2025 (per-state claim denials) · NAIC 2023 Auto Insurance Database. State commissioner links from the NAIC member directory. Not affiliated with NAIC or CMS. Read our methodology.