Insurance Appeal Deadline Tracker
Miss your appeal deadline and you lose your right to fight. Enter your denial date and insurance type to see every deadline you need to hit.
How long do I have to appeal an insurance denial?
For most commercial insurance plans, you have 180 days from the denial date to file an internal appeal. Medicare Advantage plans give you 60 days. Expedited appeals for urgent medical situations can be filed within 72 hours. After exhausting internal appeals, you can request an external review by an independent third party. Missing your appeal deadline typically forfeits your right to challenge the denial through standard channels. Enter your denial date below to calculate all applicable deadlines.
Key Deadlines
- ERISA: 180 days for internal appeal
- ACA: 180 days internal, 120 days external
- Medicare: 120 days for Level 1 redetermination
- Medicaid: 90 days for state fair hearing
Related Resources
The Insurance Appeal Process
Each step is another shot at overturning a denial. External reviews tend to succeed more often than internal ones.
Denial Received
Read the denial letter carefully. Note the specific reason and appeal deadline.
Internal Appeal (Level 1)
~50% success rateSubmit a written appeal with a letter of medical necessity from your doctor.
Tip: Include peer-reviewed studies supporting your treatment.
Peer-to-Peer Review
~40% success rateYour doctor speaks directly with the insurer's medical reviewer.
Tip: Schedule this during the internal appeal window.
Internal Appeal (Level 2)
~30% success rateSecond review by a different reviewer. Include any new evidence.
Tip: Address every specific reason cited in the first denial.
External Review
~45% success rateIndependent third-party review. The insurer must comply with the decision.
Tip: This is your strongest option. The reviewer is completely independent.
State Insurance Complaint
~35% success rateFile a complaint with your state Department of Insurance.
Tip: Effective for plan violations or bad faith denials.
Medicare's 5-Level Appeal System
Medicare has the most structured appeal process with 5 levels, each with increasing independence.
Redetermination
Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)
First review by the same entity that made the original decision.
Deadline: 120 days from MSN
Reconsideration
Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC)
Review by an independent contractor not involved in the original decision.
Deadline: 180 days from Level 1
ALJ Hearing
Administrative Law Judge
Formal hearing. Amount in controversy must exceed $180 (2024). Highest success rate.
Deadline: 60 days from Level 2
Appeals Council
Departmental Appeals Board
Board review of the ALJ decision. May decline to hear the case.
Deadline: 60 days from Level 3
Federal Court
Federal District Court
Judicial review. Amount must exceed $1,840 (2024). Legal representation recommended.
Deadline: 60 days from Level 4
Source: CMS Medicare Claims & Appeals Process. Success rates are approximate based on published OMHA/IPIA data.