CARC 29Filing limit expiredLate claim
CARC 29: Timely Filing Denial
A timely-filing denial means the payer determined the claim arrived after its filing period. For Original Medicare, the general limit is one calendar year and this denial is generally not an appealable initial determination.
First checks
- 1Confirm the payer and plan that governed the service date.
- 2Calculate the correct deadline.
- 3Locate clearinghouse acceptance, payer acknowledgment, and any documented exception facts.
Resolution path
- 01Correct a payer receipt or routing error with proof when allowed.
- 02Evaluate payer-specific exception and reconsideration rules.
- 03For Medicare, distinguish a late original from a timely claim adjustment or reopening.
- 04Apply beneficiary-liability and write-off rules correctly.
Evidence packet
- Submission report
- 999/277CA or payer acknowledgment
- Prior payer processing or retroactive eligibility evidence
- Exception documentation
Prevent the next denial
Track deadlines from the service-date rule, reconcile payer receipt rather than only transmission, and escalate unaccepted claims well before expiration.
Official sources
Use the current payer notice, contract, code set, policy, and filing instructions. This guide is educational and does not determine patient liability or appeal rights for an individual claim.