Not legal advice - Denial Decoder helps you understand insurance denials; it doesn't replace a licensed attorney, doctor, or patient advocate.

Denial Decoder
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Appeal deadline calculator

Type the date on your denial letter and pick your plan type. We'll show the exact day your internal appeal must reach the insurer - and when to drop it in the mail so it gets there in time.

Your dates
Your internal appeal must reach PPO by

December 24, 2026

That's 180 days after the date on your letter (ACA internal-appeal rule (29 CFR 2560.503-1)).

Mail it by December 17, 2026 - about a week early - so it arrives in time. Use certified mail with return receipt for proof of delivery.
Count from the date on YOUR letter. Your plan may give you longer - always defer to the deadline printed on your denial notice or stated in your plan documents.

Commercial PPOs that are non-grandfathered must give you at least 180 days from the denial notice to file an internal appeal.

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The deadline is one piece. Get the plain-English read, the escalation ladder, and a ready-to-send appeal letter in 30 seconds.

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Frequently asked

Which date do I count from - the letter date or the date I got it?

Count from the date printed on the denial letter itself, not the day it arrived. That's the date insurers and regulators treat as the start of the appeal window. If you can prove later receipt (envelope postmark, certified mail), keep it in case you need an extension.

Why does the tool say to mail it a week early?

Appeals are considered filed when the insurer receives them, not when you postmark them. A 7-day cushion protects you from mail delays, weekends, and 'we never got it' disputes. For tight Medicaid deadlines, send certified mail with return receipt.

What if my plan gives me longer?

Use whichever deadline is more generous. Your Evidence of Coverage, Summary Plan Description, or the denial letter itself states the exact appeal window. State law sometimes extends the window further for fully-insured plans.

I missed my deadline. Is it over?

Maybe not. Many plans accept late appeals for 'good cause' - hospitalization, incapacity, late mail, or the provider failing to bill on time. File anyway, explain the cause, and ask for the deadline to be tolled.

Informational only - not legal advice. Always defer to the deadline printed on your denial letter or in your plan documents.