Short answerIt depends on the payer. Medicare allows 120 days from the initial determination to request a redetermination, and claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of service. Commercial plans set their own limits in the contract; filing limits of 90 to 180 days and appeal windows of 60 to 180 days are common.
Every unpaid claim has a deadline. Once it passes, a payable claim becomes a write-off.
Two clocks
- Timely filing limit: how long after the date of service the claim can be submitted.
- Appeal deadline: how long after a denial or payment decision you can contest it.
| Payer type | Typical timely filing | Typical first appeal window |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare | 12 months from date of service | 120 days from initial determination |
| Medicaid | Set by each state | Set by each state |
| Commercial | Contract-specific; often 90–180 days | Contract-specific; often 60–180 days |
Always use the number in your own contract.
Why aged AR turns into write-offs
Claims that sit past 60 days often have a hidden problem: missing information, a coordination-of-benefits question or a denial nobody worked. By the time someone looks, the window is nearly closed.
Protecting claims
- work AR by days remaining, not just age
- keep proof of timely filing (clearinghouse acceptance reports)
- respond to records requests promptly
- escalate claims stuck in "pending" with provider relations
Related: recovering 60+ day AR.
This article is general billing information, not legal or coding-compliance advice. Payer rules, CPT descriptors and federal guidance change; check the current versions for your claims.