Corrected Claim Timely Filing Limits by Payer (2026)
This table sums up each payer's own rule. Your contract can change any of them, so check it for the payers you bill most.
| Payer | Corrected claim deadline | Counted from | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare (Part A and B) | 1 year (reopening) | Date of the claim decision | 42 CFR 405.980 |
| UnitedHealthcare | Same as your filing limit | Date of service | 2026 Administrative Guide |
| Aetna (commercial) | Same as your filing limit; 180-day reconsideration after that | Date of service; claim decision | Aetna disputes policy |
| Cigna | 90 days in network, 180 out | Date of service | Cigna claims page |
| Humana (Medicare Advantage) | 1 year | Date of service | 2026 Provider Manual |
| Wellcare (Medicare Advantage) | 180 days | Date of service, or last EOB paid date (2024 bulletin) | Claims page; 2024 bulletin |
| Wellcare Complete | 90 days in network, 60 out | Last EOB paid date | 2024 bulletin |
| TRICARE | 1 year (or 90 days from a return notice, if later) | Date of service | TRICARE East FAQ |
| Anthem | Same as your filing limit | Date of service | Anthem corrected claims policies |
| Highmark | 15 months | Date the original claim was finalized | Highmark notice |
| Ambetter | Your state's filing limit (180 days in most states) | Date of service | Ambetter state guides |
| Medicaid | Varies by state and plan | Usually date of service | State manual |
Does a Corrected Claim Get a New Deadline?
Usually not. Most payers treat a corrected claim like the first claim, so it must arrive inside the original filing limit. That surprises many billers. A claim denied on day 80 of a 90-day limit leaves only 10 days to fix it.
A few payers do set a separate window. Medicare uses reopenings, which run 1 year from the decision. Highmark allows 15 months from when the first claim was finalized. Wellcare and some Medicaid plans count from the remittance date.
Corrected Claim, Reconsideration or Appeal?
| Use this | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Corrected claim (frequency code 7) | You made an error on the claim | Wrong CPT code, missing modifier, wrong units, wrong date |
| Void (frequency code 8) | The claim should not exist | Billed the wrong patient or a duplicate |
| Reconsideration | The payer made an error, or the corrected claim window has passed | Paid the wrong rate, ignored a modifier |
| Appeal | You disagree with a coverage or medical necessity decision | Denied as not medically necessary |
Not sure which code to use? Our claim frequency code tool walks you through it, and our guide on how to file a corrected claim covers the paper form.
How to Send a Corrected Claim
- Fix every error on the claim, not just the one in the denial.
- Set the frequency code to 7 in CLM05-3 (box 22 on paper). Use 8 only to void.
- Put the payer's original claim number in REF*F8 (the right side of box 22).
- Send all lines, not only the changed one. The new claim replaces the old one.
- Wait until the first claim is finalized. UnitedHealthcare asks for at least 48 hours.
- Save the clearinghouse acceptance report. It is your proof of timely filing.
If You Missed the Deadline
- Look for proof. If the first claim was accepted on time, many payers count that as timely. Send the acceptance report with a reconsideration.
- Try a reconsideration. Some payers, such as Aetna, review disputes for 180 days after the decision.
- Check for a payer error. If the payer asked for more information or processed the claim wrong, the deadline may not apply.
- Do not bill the patient. In-network contracts usually bar it. UnitedHealthcare's guide says you cannot bill a member for claims denied for untimely filing.
For first-time claim and appeal deadlines, use our timely filing calculator.
Sources: UnitedHealthcare 2026 Care Provider Administrative Guide (Chapter 10); Cigna Healthcare, Claims Submission, Payments and Filing; Humana 2026 Provider Manual; Humana Healthy Horizons in Louisiana Claim Quick Reference Guide; Wellcare Medicare claims page and Wellcare bulletin of January 31, 2024; TRICARE East Region claims FAQ; Highmark corrected claims notice; Anthem corrected claims reimbursement policies; 42 CFR 405.980 and 424.44. Rules checked November 9, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by Hassan Raza Awan
Founder — LegitMedBilling & IT Solutions
Hassan has 4+ years of hands-on U.S. medical billing experience — working claims, denials, credentialing, and payer follow-up for practices across the United States. Every guide he publishes is written from real remittances and payer behavior, not theory.
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