What Is a Timely Filing Limit?

What a Timely Filing Limit Means

A timely filing limit is the maximum number of days a payer allows between the date of service and the date the claim is received. Each payer sets its own filing window — commonly 90, 180, or 365 days for commercial plans, and 12 months for Medicare. Claims submitted after this deadline are rejected with CARC 29, and the payer will not process them through standard adjudication regardless of medical merit.

Timely filing limits are distinct from appeal deadlines. Filing limits govern when you must submit the original claim. Appeal deadlines govern when you must challenge a denial after adjudication.

Why Timely Filing Limits Matter

CARC 29 denials are among the most frustrating in revenue cycle because the service was rendered, the documentation exists, and the payer would likely have paid — but the claim arrived too late. Work queue backlogs, credentialing delays, coordination of benefits hold-ups, and clearinghouse rejections that go unworked are the most common causes. A practice billing 300 claims per month with a 90-day filing limit on its largest payer can lose thousands in revenue from claims that age out while sitting in a work queue.

How Timely Filing Limits Affect Your Claim

When a claim misses the filing deadline, the payer assigns CARC 29 and pays zero. The full billed amount becomes a write-off unless you successfully appeal with proof of timely submission. For secondary claims, timely filing may be measured from the primary payer's payment date rather than the original date of service — a detail that trips up billing teams filing secondary claims months after primary adjudication.

What to Do About Timely Filing Limits

Maintain a payer filing limit reference sheet keyed to every payer you bill. Monitor claim aging reports weekly and flag claims approaching 75% of each payer's filing window. Resolve clearinghouse rejections within 48 hours to prevent claims from aging out during correction cycles. When you receive a CARC 29 denial, pull submission proof from your clearinghouse before accepting the write-off. File an appeal with timestamped evidence if the claim was submitted on time. For secondary claims, track filing limits from the primary payment date, not the date of service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical timely filing limit for commercial payers?

Commercial payer timely filing limits range from 90 days to 365 days from the date of service. The most common windows are 90 days and 180 days. Each payer publishes its filing limit in the provider manual or contract — verify the specific deadline for every payer you bill.

What CARC code indicates a timely filing denial?

CARC code 29 indicates the claim was not submitted within the payer's required filing timeframe. The remittance advice will show a zero payment with a CO or OA adjustment group and CARC 29 as the reason code.

Can I appeal a CARC 29 timely filing denial?

Yes, if you can prove the claim was submitted within the filing window. Acceptable proof includes clearinghouse submission reports with timestamps, payer acknowledgment of receipt, or evidence that a prior payer delay caused the late submission to the secondary payer.

Does Medicare have a timely filing limit?

Medicare requires claims to be submitted within 12 months of the date of service. Medicaid filing limits vary by state, ranging from 90 days to 12 months. Medicare Advantage plans may impose shorter filing windows than original Medicare.