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My mother's doctor has bowed to relentless pressure from my mom and downgraded her diagnosis (which was based on clinical exams and an MRI) to mild cognitive impairment. This has caused all sorts of problems with her insurance and her care. Is this even possible?

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I think D can ebb & flow. Every day can be different and every week can be different. But it's always there, just waiting to raise it's ugly head at the slightest provocation.
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No. MCI comes first then later dementia. I might call her insurance co and explain to clear things up. That looks bad for the Dr.
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"This has caused all sorts of problems with her insurance and her care."

I would assume the Doctor did not intend to cause harm? Was it merely to lesson the severity of the wording (to please your Mother maybe)?

I am wondering if you can be a little sneaky.. do both - let Mother use the term *mild cognitive impairment* but have the Doctor write you a medical letter with the term you require for insurance & care purposes.

That's what my family kind of did. No-one ever uses the D word, spoken or written in plain view, but I have seen it used on medical & admin papers.

I am ok to use both 'labels' depending on the situation.
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Masonienne: See another neurologist.
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I would request a consult with a good neurologist. While it isn't possible to change it is possible for you TESTING to change and it is possible for your SYMPTOMS of disease to change. For instance, once my brother was in care in ALF, and once his Trust and Estate were managed completely, to the extent he didn't even have to get mail and bills, his symptoms because much less. We were told that less anxiety almost always, in his dementia (Lewy's) lessened symptoms in early stages.

It is clear to anyone dealing with a loved on in any stage of dementia that there are good days and there are bad days.
I hope that the POA has discussed thoroughly with the doctor what doing this "playing around" with diagnosis can mean in terms of care; it should be made clear to the new neurologist, by the POA, what you have told us here.
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The simple answer to your question is...no, a person with dementia only gets worse never better.
So either your mothers doctor was wrong with their first diagnosis of dementia or they are wrong now.
Looks like it's time for a second opinion with a neurologist, though good luck with getting your mother to agree to that.
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Situations like this are what second opinions are for…
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Bring her to a Nuerologist for a second opinion if possible .
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