A timely filing denial means the payer determined your claim arrived after their filing deadline. It is one of the most recoverable denials in billing when you have proof of timely submission, and one of the easiest to write off in error when you do not know the payer's actual window. The two questions that decide the outcome are: what was the deadline, and can you show the claim was submitted before it. This guide walks through both, with the documentation and exception paths that overturn the write-off.
Looking up a deadline? Filing and appeal windows for 118 commercial and government payers are in the payer timely filing limits reference. The 10 largest national payers are free to everyone.
What the full brief covers
Signed-in members see the full brief. Here is what it contains.
- Know the timely filing window first
- Documentation that wins timely filing appeals
- Exceptions that override the deadline
- Writing the appeal
- If the appeal is denied
- Prevention: stop timely filing denials before they happen
- Policy references
- Timely filing appeal letter template (fillable Word download)