What is UnitedHealthcare (UHC)'s timely filing limit for initial claims?

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) enforces an initial claim timely filing deadline of 90 calendar days from Date of Service (DOS).

How many days do you have to appeal a denial with UnitedHealthcare (UHC)?

Appeals and payment disputes with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) must be filed within 180 calendar days from remittance advice date.

What is the secondary claim timely filing limit for UnitedHealthcare (UHC)?

Secondary claims for UnitedHealthcare (UHC) must be submitted within 90 days from primary payer EOB date.

UHC Commercial / Medicare Advantage 90 Days Limit

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Timely Filing Limit & Appeal Deadlines

Official filing rules, submission windows, appeal timeframes, and acceptable electronic clearinghouse proof for billing UnitedHealthcare (UHC).

Initial Claim Limit

90 Days from DOS

Secondary Claim Limit

90 Days from EOB

Level 1 Appeal Limit

180 Days

Level 2 Dispute Limit

60 Days

1. Initial Claim Submission Deadline

90 calendar days from Date of Service (DOS)

Clean electronic 837P or 837I claims must be received and acknowledged by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) within this window. If a claim is rejected on front-end clearinghouse validation (Level 2), it is not considered received by UnitedHealthcare (UHC) until corrected and successfully re-transmitted.

2. Specific Filing Rules for UHC

In-network participating providers must submit within 90 days of DOS unless state prompt-pay law mandates otherwise.

Out-of-network claims typically have up to 180 or 365 days depending on member plan language.

Secondary claims require primary EOB attached; clock starts on the date of primary remittance.

Formal dispute/appeal requests must be submitted within 180 days of initial denial.

3. Accepted Proof of Timely Filing

Official Proof Required by UHC

Clearinghouse 277CA acceptance acknowledgment report showing successful transmission to UHC gateway, or EDI 837 batch transmission confirmation with payer tracking number.

Important: Screenshots from your internal billing software or electronic health record (EHR) showing the date a claim was created are not accepted by UHC as proof of submission. You must supply clearinghouse 277CA acceptance reports.

4. Appeal Letter Template for UHC

Use this standardized appeal letter to overturn a CO-29 timely filing denial when you have verifiable clearinghouse proof:

RE: Timely Filing Denial Appeal (CO-29)
Payer: UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
Patient Name: [Patient Name] | Member ID: [Member ID]
Date of Service: [Date of Service] | Claim ID: [Claim Number]
Billed Charges: $[Billed Amount]

Dear Appeals Coordinator,

We are submitting this formal appeal in response to the timely filing denial (CO-29) issued on the Explanation of Benefits dated [Remittance Date]. Under our participating agreement with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), the timely filing limit is 90 calendar days from the date of service.

The original claim was electronically transmitted and received prior to the timely filing limit expiration. Enclosed please find Exhibit A: The clearinghouse Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) 277CA Claims Acknowledgment Report confirming successful gateway acceptance on [Date of Initial EDI Transmission] with Payer Claim Control Number [ICN / CCN].

Because this documentation constitutes conclusive objective proof of timely electronic submission, we respectfully request that the claim be reprocessed and approved for reimbursement.

Sincerely,
[Billing Manager / Practice Representative]
[Practice Name]
[Phone Number]