AR Caller interviews have a technical side that regular BPO interviews don't. Along with the usual HR and English rounds, the operations round often tests whether you understand basic US healthcare billing terms. Freshers aren't expected to know everything, but knowing the basics makes you stand out.
Here are the questions that come up most often, with short answers you can understand and explain in your own words. New to the role? Start with our guide to AR Caller jobs: meaning, salary and shift.
Basic questions (for freshers)
1. What is AR calling?
AR calling means calling US insurance companies to follow up on medical claims that are unpaid or denied, finding out why, and taking the steps needed to get them paid. AR stands for accounts receivable, the money a doctor or hospital is still waiting to receive.
2. What is RCM?
RCM (Revenue Cycle Management) is the full process a US healthcare provider uses to get paid: patient registration, eligibility checks, coding, charge entry, claim submission, payment posting, and AR follow-up with denial management.
3. Who are the provider, payer and patient?
The provider is the doctor, clinic or hospital that gives the treatment. The payer is the insurance company that pays the claim. The patient is the person treated, who is also called the member or subscriber of the insurance plan.
4. What is a claim?
A claim is the bill a provider sends to the insurance company, listing the patient, the diagnosis, the services given and the charges.
5. What is the difference between CPT and ICD-10 codes?
CPT codes describe the procedures or services the doctor performed. ICD-10 codes describe the patient's diagnosis, meaning why the service was needed.
6. What is an EOB?
An EOB (Explanation of Benefits) is the document the insurance company sends explaining how a claim was processed: what was billed, what was allowed, what was paid, and what the patient owes. An ERA is the electronic version.
7. What are deductible, copay and coinsurance?
- Deductible: the amount the patient must pay each year before insurance starts paying.
- Copay: a fixed amount the patient pays for a visit or service.
- Coinsurance: a percentage of the cost the patient pays after the deductible.
8. What is in-network and out-of-network?
An in-network provider has a contract with the insurance company and agreed rates. An out-of-network provider has no contract, so the claim may be paid less or not at all.
Intermediate questions
9. What is the timely filing limit?
It is the deadline by which a claim must be submitted to the insurance company. It differs by payer. If a claim is sent after this limit, it can be denied.
10. What is prior authorization?
Approval from the insurance company that some services need before they are given. Without it, the claim may be denied.
11. What is COB (Coordination of Benefits)?
When a patient has more than one insurance plan, COB decides which plan pays first (primary) and which pays next (secondary).
12. What is AR aging?
AR aging groups unpaid claims by how long they have been pending, for example 0–30, 31–60, 61–90 and 90+ days. Older claims usually get priority because they risk crossing the timely filing limit.
13. What is an appeal?
A formal request asking the insurance company to review a denied claim again, usually with supporting documents such as medical records.
Common denial codes you should know
Denials come with codes. CO means Contractual Obligation (the provider must adjust it) and PR means Patient Responsibility (the patient may be billed).
- CO-16: claim lacks information or has billing errors. Find what is missing, correct it and resubmit.
- CO-18: duplicate claim or service. Check whether the original was already processed.
- CO-22: another payer may be primary (coordination of benefits). Confirm the patient's other insurance.
- CO-27: service given after the patient's coverage ended. Check eligibility dates.
- CO-29: timely filing limit has expired. Check for proof the claim was sent on time.
- CO-45: charges exceed the allowed or contracted amount. Usually a normal contractual adjustment.
- CO-50: not considered medically necessary. May need an appeal with medical records.
- CO-97: the service is included (bundled) in another service already paid.
- CO-197: prior authorization or pre-certification missing.
- PR-1, PR-2, PR-3: the patient's deductible, coinsurance and copay amounts.
Call scenario question
14. "A claim is unpaid for 45 days. What will you ask the insurance representative?"
A strong answer walks through the call in order:
- Give the provider details (such as NPI or Tax ID) and patient details (name, date of birth, member ID) and the date of service.
- Ask whether the claim was received, and on what date.
- Ask for the current status: in process, paid or denied.
- If paid: the paid amount, payment date, and check or payment number.
- If denied: the denial reason and code, and what is needed to fix it, such as resubmission or an appeal, and where to send it.
- Take the representative's name and the call reference number.
HR and fit questions
15. Why do you want to be an AR Caller?
Keep it honest and specific: you like problem-solving, you want a stable career in a specialised field, and you are comfortable with professional calls in English.
16. Are you comfortable with night shifts?
Answer truthfully. AR calling follows US business hours, so night shifts are part of the job. For more help with this round, read what the HR round is and how to clear it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions are asked in an AR Caller interview?
Common questions cover AR calling, RCM, claims, EOB, CPT and ICD-10 codes, deductible, copay and coinsurance, timely filing, prior authorization, common denial codes, and what you would ask an insurance representative about an unpaid claim.
What is the CO-16 denial code?
CO-16 means the claim lacks information or has billing errors. The AR Caller finds out what is missing or wrong so the claim can be corrected and resubmitted.
What is the difference between CO and PR denial codes?
CO means Contractual Obligation, so the provider must write off or adjust the amount. PR means Patient Responsibility, so the amount can be billed to the patient, such as a deductible, coinsurance or copay.
Do freshers need medical billing knowledge for AR Caller interviews?
Not in depth. Freshers are usually hired as AR trainees and trained on the job, but knowing basic terms like claim, EOB, deductible and denial helps you stand out.