Medicare
Verify the applicable plan and contract before relying on a deadline.
Payer type
Medicare
Timely filing
One calendar year (12 months) after the date of service.
Corrected claims
A claim that was already processed is changed through a reopening, generally within one year of the initial determination. Many minor errors can be fixed through your Medicare contractor's portal or phone line.
Appeals
Redetermination: within 120 days of receiving the initial determination (the remittance advice or Medicare Summary Notice).
The filing limit comes from federal rules (42 CFR 424.44). Claims filed after it are denied, and the provider generally cannot bill the patient for them.
Medicare Advantage plans are private plans with their own filing limits in your contract. Do not assume the one-year rule applies to them.
Source and review
Official source ↗Last checked: 2026-10-05