"The time limit for filing has expired.". Appealable: Yes, with proper documentation
Timely filing denials are frustrating because they have nothing to do with whether the service was covered or the claim was coded correctly. The payer is simply saying: you didn't submit this within the filing deadline we require. But timely filing denials are also among the most recoverable, if you know what documentation you need and how to present it.
Know the Timely Filing Window First
Every payer sets their own timely filing deadline, and they are not all the same. Common windows:
- Medicare: 12 months from date of service
- Medicaid: Varies by state, anywhere from 90 days to 24 months
- Commercial payers: Typically 90 to 180 days, but some are as short as 60 days or as long as 12 months
Before you appeal, confirm what the filing deadline actually is for this payer and plan. If you filed within the deadline and received a CARC 29 anyway, that is a payer processing error and the strongest possible basis for appeal.
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