What is CO 29 Mean?
The CO 29 denial code stands for “The time limit for filing has expired.”
This CO 29 denial occurs when a healthcare provider submits a claim after the payer’s timely filing limit (TFL) has passed. Every insurance company sets a deadline — usually 90 to 365 days from the Date of Service (DOS) — for claims to be received.
If the payer doesn’t get the claim within that window, it’s automatically denied.
Common Reasons for CO 29 Denial
1. Claim Submitted After the Deadline
Every insurance company has a timely filing limit (TFL) — the period within which claims must be submitted after the Date of Service (DOS).
If your team misses this window (for example, submits after 90 or 180 days), the claim is automatically denied.
💡 Tip: Always track submission dates using your billing software and set alerts for upcoming TFL deadlines.
2. Claim Rejected but Not Corrected in Time
Sometimes, the original claim was submitted on time but got rejected due to missing information — like an incorrect member ID or diagnosis code.
If the corrected claim isn’t resubmitted before the TFL expires, the payer won’t reconsider it.
💡 Tip: Review clearinghouse rejections daily so you can fix and resubmit immediately.
3. Claim Sent to the Wrong Payer Initially
This happens when a patient’s insurance details aren’t updated — for instance, the claim is sent to an old or secondary payer instead of the current primary.
By the time the error is noticed and the claim is resubmitted to the right payer, the filing limit may already be crossed.
💡 Tip: Always verify active insurance eligibility before billing. It saves both time and revenue.
On-Call Scenario: CO 29 – The Time Limit for Filing Has Expired
Here’s the On-Call Scenario for CO 29 Denial:
Rep:
The claim was denied as past timely filing or TFL expired.
You:
Thank you. May I please have the denial date?
↓
When did the insurance company receive the claim?
↓
What is the timely filing limit (TFL) for this payer?
↓
Now, check if the claim was received within the TFL.
If the claim was received within the TFL:
Could you please send the claim for reprocessing, since it was received within the timely filing limit?
↓
What is the turnaround time (TAT) for reprocessing?
↓
May I have the claim number and call reference number, please?
If the claim was not received within the TFL:
Let’s check if any Proof of Timely Filing (POTF) is available.
If POTF is available:
Can we appeal the denial using the proof of timely filing?
↓
What is the fax number or mailing address to send the appeal?
↓
What is the appeal filing limit (AFL) for this payer?
↓
May I have the claim number and call reference number, please?
If POTF is not available:
Thank you for the information.
May I have the claim number and call reference number for documentation?
Important Notes & Actions
Please take action as per your process update. The below steps may vary based on your client’s specific guidelines.
If the claim was denied incorrectly as CO 29 and the representative agrees to send it back for reprocessing, set a follow-up based on the TAT (Turnaround Time) provided by the rep.
If the claim was billed after the TFL expired, but you have Proof of Timely Filing (POTF) showing that it was originally billed within the timely filing limit, then send an appeal to the insurance company.
If the claim was billed after the TFL expired and no POTF is available, then adjust or write off the claim as per your process.
If the claim was first billed within TFL to another insurance (for example, a primary payer) and later billed to the current insurance after TFL expired, use the initial billing proof as POTF and appeal the denial.
Always calculate the Appeal Filing Limit (AFL).
If it’s within the allowed time, send the POTF and appeal.
If the AFL is crossed, write off the claim unless your client instructs otherwise.
In some cases, the client may ask you to send POTF even after the AFL has expired — always follow the client’s instructions.
You may also see cases where a claim was billed on the last day of the TFL period, but the insurance received it after the limit expired (for example, TFL is 90 days, billed on the 90th day but received on the 91st).
In such cases, appeal with POTF to prove the claim was submitted on time and request payment.
Click here for more AR Scenarios and Denials.