In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Neal Shah, co-founder of Counterforce Health, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the fight against denied health insurance claims.

Shah shares his personal journey from finance into healthcare advocacy, shaped by firsthand experiences navigating the broken healthcare system for his family. That path ultimately led to the creation of Counterforce Health—a free AI-powered platform that’s helping patients and small clinics appeal insurance claim denials with unprecedented efficiency.

With millions of claims denied each year—and most never appealed—Shah explains why automation is the key to leveling the playing field and giving patients back their voice. He also introduces Maxwell, Counterforce’s next-gen AI assistant, and previews the platform’s expanding capabilities for tackling insurers head-on.

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🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode

Why 450 Million Claims Get Denied—and Go Unchallenged
Despite the high success rate of appeals, fewer than 2% of denied claims are contested. Shah explains how complexity, red tape, and lack of awareness keep patients and providers from fighting back.

From Wall Street to Healthcare Warrior
Shah’s journey from finance to elder care—and ultimately to launching a mission-driven tech company—reveals how personal pain points can inspire powerful innovation.

How Counterforce Health Uses AI to Automate Appeals
The platform generates detailed appeal letters using legal precedents, medical journals, and historical data—empowering users to overturn denials without legal or medical expertise.

A 70% Win Rate That’s Beating the Odds
While national appeal success rates hover around 40–50%, Counterforce Health is seeing over 70% success—thanks to smart automation and a deep understanding of insurer tactics.

Introducing “Maxwell”: AI That Talks Back to Insurers
Neal reveals a sneak peek at Maxwell, an AI-powered voice assistant designed to handle phone calls with insurance companies—reducing workload and stress for patients, caregivers, and providers.
🎥 Watch the Maxwell demo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qckxAYx10cMvA_rL_vfSHxCktF19a9Qa/view

⏱️ In This Episode
00:00 Introduction: The Problem with Denied Claims
00:59 Meet Neal Shah: A Journey from Finance to Healthcare
03:22 The Birth of Counterforce Health
06:44 Understanding the Health Insurance Crisis
11:58 Counterforce Health: How It Works
14:42 The Role of AI in Fighting Denied Claims
22:42 Future Prospects and Final Thoughts