denial

(dĕ-nī′ăl)

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1. A defense mechanism in which one refuses to admit the reality of or to acknowledge the presence or existence of something; keeping anxiety-producing realities away from conscious awareness.
SEE: insight (1) SEE: Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth
2. In medical care reimbursement, the decision by the patient's insurer that part or all of the medical care administered was not justified. The result of the denial is that the insurer refuses to pay for all or a portion of the medical costs incurred.

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