Denial Code CO29 in USA healthcare means “Timely Filing Limit Has Been Expired” or in short “TFL Expired”. Timely filing denial is also a common denial in medical billing and coding. If any policy holder got medical services or treatment, he/she should file the claim to insurance company within a specific time limit which counted from Date of service (DOS).
Denial Code CO-29 is an ANSI code for Timely filing has been expired. TFL limit is set by insurance companies, healthcare provider must submit the claim before TFL for reimbursement.
Example- Medicare TFL limit 12 months from DOS.
How to Handle TFL denial in Medical Billing?
CO-29 or Timely Filing denial also a common denial in medical billing process. When get the TFL denial need to follow the steps mentioned as below,
Step 1-
- Need to check the system when claim was billed and received by insurance company. This information can be checked on insurance website or sometimes need to call and confirm.
- Also check the timely filing limit of particular insurance company, and make sure claim was filed on time.
- If claim was billed or filed on time then need to call insurance company and request for reprocess the claim because claim filed on time and wrongly denied.
- Sometimes insurance company needs the timely filing proof with appeal letter, so need to confirm the mailing address, Fax number and appeal limit for reprocess the claim.
Step 2-
In some cases claim was filed timely but not received by insurance late so got CO-29 denial. Also wrongly denied by insurance so
In this cases need to send appeal with proof of timely filing. Some insurance companies need appeal on their pre-decided format. An appeal format we attached below,
Appeal Letter Sample