When are insurance claims typically filed in a medical practice?

In a medical practice, insurance claims are typically filed within 7 to 10 business days from the date of service. This timeframe allows the healthcare provider to gather necessary documentation, including details about the service rendered and the patient’s insurance information, ensuring that all required information is accurately submitted to facilitate timely processing by the insurance company. This period strikes a balance between prompt filing for quicker payment and allowing enough time for accurate preparation of claims.

Filing immediately after patient treatment may not account for necessary review and documentation processes that must happen first, which can result in errors or omissions that could delay payment. On the longer end, waiting 14 to 21 days may also be considered excessive, as it could lead to delayed cash flow for the practice and potential issues with timely claim submission, especially given that many insurance policies have specific time frames within which claims must be filed after the date of service. Therefore, the selected timeframe of 7 to 10 business days is both practical and efficient for the operations of a medical practice.