Deadline calculator

Turn the date on your notice into the dates you and the plan each have to meet, with the rule behind each one.

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General information, not legal advice

What it asks, and what it is not

What it asks. Your coverage type, the stage you are at, and the date on your notice.

Everything you type stays in this browser tab. Nothing is sent anywhere, and no account is needed.

What it is not. These are the general legal time limits. Your own notice or plan document controls if it gives you more time, and a state rule may add to them. Always check the date on your notice.

Work out your dates

Choose your kind of coverage to see your dates.

Your dates appear here, with the date on a card you can add to your calendar.

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How long you have, by coverage and notice

Count from the date printed on your notice. Your notice controls, and a plan or state may give more time, never less.

Job-based or individual private plan

Notices and the time to act, for Job-based or individual private plan
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
I got a first denial of a claim or request	File an internal appeal with your plan	180 days from the day you receive the denial notice. Count from the date printed on the notice to be safe (a minimum: your plan or state may allow more).
My plan denied my internal appeal	Request external review (independent review by someone outside your plan)	4 months from the day you receive the final internal denial notice. Count from the date printed on the notice to be safe (a minimum: your plan or state may allow more).
I got a decision from the independent (external) reviewer	Decide whether to go to court, and consider a complaint to your regulator	The sources give no fixed federal deadline for filing a lawsuit over a denied benefit. The federal law that covers employer plans sets none, and your plan document may set its own deadline, even one that starts running before your appeals end, as long as the period is reasonable. Read your plan document for this deadline now.

Original Medicare (Parts A and B)

Notices and the time to act, for Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
I got a Medicare Summary Notice that denies a claim	Ask for a redetermination (the first appeal)	120 days from the day you receive the Medicare Summary Notice. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice.
I got a redetermination decision that upholds the denial	Ask for a reconsideration by a Qualified Independent Contractor (the second appeal)	180 days from the day you receive the redetermination notice. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice.
I got a reconsideration decision from the Qualified Independent Contractor that upholds the denial	Ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (the third appeal)	60 days from the day you receive the reconsideration notice. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice.
I got a decision from the Administrative Law Judge that upholds the denial	Ask the Medicare Appeals Council to review it (the fourth appeal)	60 days from the day you receive the judge's decision. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice.
I got a decision from the Medicare Appeals Council that upholds the denial	File a civil lawsuit in federal district court (the fifth and last level)	60 days from the day you receive the Council's decision. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice.
The hospital gave me an Important Message from Medicare about leaving the hospital	Ask for a fast appeal to the Quality Improvement Organization	No later than the day you are discharged. You can ask by phone or in writing.
I got a Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage saying my care is ending	Ask for a fast appeal to the Quality Improvement Organization	By noon on the calendar day after you receive the notice. If your notice names an earlier time, use the earlier one.

Medicare Advantage plan (Part C)

Notices and the time to act, for Medicare Advantage plan (Part C)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My Medicare Advantage plan denied a service, item or payment	Ask your plan for a reconsideration (the plan appeal)	60 days from the day you receive the written denial. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice, which Medicare describes as 65 days from the date on the notice.
My plan upheld its denial after my reconsideration, or missed its deadline	Wait for the Independent Review Entity to review your case. Your plan must send it for you	Nothing to file. Your plan must send your case to the Independent Review Entity for you. The one exception: if your plan dismissed your request (for example as invalid or late), you must ask the Independent Review Entity in writing to review the dismissal within 60 days after you receive the dismissal notice. Medicare describes this as 65 days from the date on the notice.
I got a decision from the Independent Review Entity that upholds the denial	Ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (the next appeal)	60 days from the day you receive the decision. Count from the date on the decision to be safe.
I got a decision from the Administrative Law Judge that upholds the denial	Ask the Medicare Appeals Council to review it	60 days from the day you receive the judge's decision. Count from the date on the decision to be safe.
I got a decision from the Medicare Appeals Council that upholds the denial	File a civil lawsuit in federal district court	60 days from the day you receive the Council's decision. Count from the date on the decision to be safe.
The hospital gave me an Important Message from Medicare about leaving the hospital	Ask for a fast appeal to the Quality Improvement Organization	No later than the day you are discharged.
I got a Notice of Medicare Non-Coverage saying my care is ending	Ask for a fast-track appeal to the Quality Improvement Organization	By noon on the calendar day after you receive the notice. If your notice names an earlier time, use the earlier one.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plan

Notices and the time to act, for Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My drug plan denied a drug, a payment or an exception request	Ask your drug plan for a redetermination (the plan appeal)	60 days from the day you receive the written denial. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice, which Medicare describes as 65 days from the date on the notice.
My drug plan upheld its denial after my redetermination	Ask the Independent Review Entity for a reconsideration. You must ask; it is not automatic	60 days from the day you receive the redetermination notice. Medicare presumes you receive it 5 days after the date on the notice, which Medicare describes as 65 days from the date on the notice.
I got a decision from the Independent Review Entity that upholds the denial	Ask for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge	60 days from the day you receive the reconsideration. Count from the date on the decision to be safe.
I got a decision from the Administrative Law Judge that upholds the denial	Ask the Medicare Appeals Council to review it	60 days from the day you receive the judge's decision. Count from the date on the decision to be safe.
I got a decision from the Medicare Appeals Council that upholds the denial	File a civil lawsuit in federal district court	The Council's decision tells you the deadline. For Original Medicare the deadline is 60 days after you receive the decision. The sources used for this site do not separately state the Part D filing deadline, so use the date on your decision.

Medicaid, decision made by the state Medicaid agency

Notices and the time to act, for Medicaid, decision made by the state Medicaid agency
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My state Medicaid agency sent me a notice that denies a service or my eligibility	Ask for a state fair hearing	Your state sets the deadline. The federal rule allows a reasonable time, up to 90 days from the date the notice was mailed, so your state's number can be shorter than 90 days. Your notice states yours. See your state's page at /states/ for more.
My notice says my Medicaid services will be cut, stopped or reduced on a certain date	Ask for a state fair hearing before that date, to keep your services going	Ask for the hearing before the date your services are due to change. If you ask before that date, the state may not stop or reduce your services until a hearing decision is made, unless the only issue is a federal or state law or policy.

Medicaid health plan (managed care)

Notices and the time to act, for Medicaid health plan (managed care)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My Medicaid health plan sent me a notice of an adverse benefit determination	File an appeal with your health plan	60 days from the date on the notice.
My Medicaid health plan upheld its denial on appeal	Ask for a state fair hearing	90 days from the date on the plan's notice of resolution of your appeal (a minimum: your plan or state may allow more).

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Notices and the time to act, for Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My state CHIP program denied, delayed, reduced or stopped a health service	Ask for the review described in your notice, which includes an independent external review	The sources give no single federal deadline for asking for review. Your notice must say how to ask and the timeframes. Follow your notice.
My child's CHIP health plan (managed care) denied or cut a service	File an appeal with the CHIP health plan	60 days from the date on the plan's notice (CHIP managed care plans follow the Medicaid rule, which counts from the date on the notice).
My child's CHIP health plan upheld its denial on appeal	Ask for a state external review (this is not a Medicaid fair hearing)	90 days from the date of the plan's decision (a minimum: your plan or state may allow more).

TRICARE (military health coverage)

Notices and the time to act, for TRICARE (military health coverage)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
I got a TRICARE denial or Explanation of Benefits that I disagree with	Ask the TRICARE contractor for a reconsideration	90 days from the date on the Explanation of Benefits or other decision. Your request must be in writing and postmarked by the deadline.
TRICARE denied pre-authorization or a continued inpatient stay and I need a fast decision	Ask for an expedited appeal	3 days from the day you receive the denial. These are calendar days.
I got a reconsideration decision that denies my claim for a reason other than medical necessity	Ask the Defense Health Agency for a formal review	60 days from the date of the reconsideration decision. Your request must be mailed by the deadline.
I got a reconsideration decision that denies my claim because the care was not medically necessary	Ask for a second reconsideration by the TRICARE Quality Monitoring Contractor	90 days from the date of the contractor's decision. Your request must be mailed by the deadline.
I got a formal review or second reconsideration decision that upholds the denial	Ask for an independent hearing	60 days from the date of the formal review (or second reconsideration) decision. Your request must be mailed by the deadline.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care

Notices and the time to act, for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
I disagree with a treatment decision by my VA care team	File a clinical appeal with the patient advocate at your VA medical facility	VA's directive sets no hard filing deadline, and VA's public page says to send the appeal as soon as you can. If the appeal reaches VA 60 or more calendar days after the decision, VA first has the original decision maker re-evaluate before the appeal continues.
VA decided I am not eligible to get care in the community	File a clinical appeal with the patient advocate at your VA medical facility	The sources state no filing deadline for this appeal. Send it in writing as soon as you can.
The VA medical facility denied my clinical appeal	File a second and final clinical appeal with the VA regional network office	The sources do not state a deadline for the second appeal. Send it in writing as soon as you can.
VA denied a health care benefit, such as enrollment, community care or emergency care payment, or travel pay	Request a decision review: Higher-Level Review, a Board of Veterans' Appeals appeal, or a Supplemental Claim	12 months from the date on the VA decision notice.

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan

Notices and the time to act, for Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
My federal employee plan denied a claim	Ask your carrier in writing to reconsider	6 months from the date of the denial notice.
My carrier upheld its denial after my request for reconsideration	Ask the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review the denial	90 days from the date of the carrier's letter upholding the denial.
My carrier has not answered my request, or asked me for more information	Ask the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to review the denial	120 days from the date you asked the carrier to reconsider (if it did not respond), or the date the carrier asked you for more information.
The Office of Personnel Management upheld the denial	File a lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management, if you choose to	A lawsuit must be brought no later than December 31 of the third year after the year the care was provided.

Indian Health Service (Purchased/Referred Care)

Notices and the time to act, for Indian Health Service (Purchased/Referred Care)
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
IHS Purchased/Referred Care denied payment for my care	Ask the Service Unit Director to reconsider (if you have new information) or appeal to the Area or program director (if you have none)	30 days from the day you receive the denial notice.
The Service Unit Director upheld the denial on reconsideration	Appeal to the Area or program director	30 days from the day you receive the reconsideration notice.
The Area or program director upheld the denial	Appeal to the Director of the Indian Health Service (the final step)	30 days from the day you receive the Area or program director's decision.

Health Insurance Marketplace eligibility decision

Notices and the time to act, for Health Insurance Marketplace eligibility decision
If you hold	Next step	Time to act
The Marketplace sent me an eligibility notice that I disagree with	File a Marketplace appeal	90 days from the date on the eligibility notice.
My state-run marketplace's appeals entity decided against me	Appeal to the federal appeals entity	30 days from the state exchange's appeal decision. Your decision notice states the date it counts from.

Private: nothing leaves this tab
General information, not legal advice

What it asks, and what it is not

What it asks. Your coverage type, the stage you are at, and the date on your notice.

Everything you type stays in this browser tab. Nothing is sent anywhere, and no account is needed.

Related guides and checklists

Guide

Appeal deadlines by coverage type

A table of the first appeal deadline and the next level. It covers job-based, Marketplace, Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, Veterans Affairs and other coverage. Each is counted from a stated date.
Guide

How deadlines are counted, and what to do if you missed one

How to tell which date your deadline counts from. Learn what an "at least" minimum means, how weekends are handled where the rules say, and what to try if a deadline has passed.
Guide

Is it worth appealing: what the numbers say

What published figures show about how often appeals change denials. The numbers from different programs cannot be compared. Here is how to decide for your own case.
Guide

Your rights when a health plan says no

The main rights federal rules give you after a denial, in plain words, with the limits. See what a private plan must do and what Medicare, Medicaid and other programs add or change.

Part of Understand your denial · Know your deadlines · My Plan

Work out your dates

Related guides and checklists

Appeal deadlines by coverage type

How deadlines are counted, and what to do if you missed one

Is it worth appealing: what the numbers say

Your rights when a health plan says no