UnitedHealthcare

Standard filing limit

90 days

Counted from

date of service

Appeal filing limit

180 days

Appeal window from

denial date

Notes

UHC publishes a 90-day standard commercial timely filing limit (auth-uhc-rework). Appeals: most plans allow 180 days from the date of receipt of a claim denial (auth-uhc-appeal-rights).

Provider portal

https://www.uhcprovider.com/ ↗ (opens in a new tab)Copy●Verified · August 2026Verified Aug 16, 2026 · Official web pageView source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

One Healthcare ID login for eligibility, claims, authorizations and appeals.

Provider Services

877-842-3210Copy●Verified · August 2026Verified Aug 16, 2026 · Official web pageView source ↗ (opens in a new tab)

General Provider Services line listed on UHCprovider.com's official contact page. Provider Portal technical support has a separate number (866-842-3278, option 1).

Every contact is individually source-tracked and shows the date it was last verified. A green “Verified” badge only appears when a source and verification date exist.

Required

Not stated

Contact line

877-842-3210

Portal

https://www.uhcprovider.com/

Retro authorization

Not stated

Notes

Prior authorization / advance notification is required for covered services that require it — check the UHC online look-up for the specific plan and code. Submit via the Provider Portal, EDI, Provider Services (877-842-3210) or fax (855-352-1206, for MA/NV/NM/TX commercial plans only).

Required

Not stated

Portal

https://www.uhcprovider.com/en/patient-eligibility-benefits.html

Retro referral

Not stated

Notes

Referral requirements are set by the member's health plan. Providers use UnitedHealthcare digital tools — the Provider Portal, API or EDI — to check eligibility and determine whether a prior authorization, notification or referral is required. Medicare Advantage referral requirements are published separately (when referrals are needed, how and when to submit them, exceptions and state-specific considerations).

Level 1

Method

portal

Portal

https://www.uhcprovider.com/en/claims-payments-billing/appeals.html

Documentation requirements

Not yet published for this entry. Required documentation for appeals and additional-information requests is published only when verified against a source.

Common CARCs

19729161850

Common RARCs

MA119N29M119M79M51MA130N38N57N386M25N111

Top reasons

Precertification / prior authorization / notification absent (CARC 197) — the payer documents authorization requirements for covered services.; Timely filing (CARC 29) — UnitedHealthcare documents a 90-day claim-filing window from the date of service for commercial claims (paired RARC MA119: provider-level adjustment for late claim filing).; Missing information / submission error (CARC 16) — UHC's claim-return guidance documents the top reasons claims are returned and how to fix them (submit one complete claim, correct codes, frequency code 7 for corrections) (paired RARCs: missing/incomplete/invalid NDC M119, charge M79, procedure M51, place of service N38).; Exact duplicate claim/service (CARC 18) — UHC's claim-return guide lists duplicate denial as a top claim-return reason (submit one complete claim per provider and date, use modifiers, wait for adjudication before corrections; applies frequently to recurring therapy sessions) (paired RARC N111: service included in a previously billed claim).; Not medically necessary (CARC 50) — UHC documents a peer-to-peer review where providers present previously unavailable clinical information to a UnitedHealthcare medical director after a denial of coverage for inpatient/outpatient services (paired RARCs N386 NCD-based decision, M25 level of service not substantiated, N29 missing documentation).