My Medicare claim seems stuck. How do I check it, and is there a deadline?

Medicare.gov says claims must be filed within 12 months of the date of service. There are some exceptions. If a claim is filed late, Medicare will not pay its share [1]. To see if a claim was filed, check your Medicare Summary Notice. You can also log into your Medicare account or check your plan's statements [1].

If the claim was not filed, ask your doctor, provider or supplier to file it [1]. If they still have not, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask for the exact time limit for that service [1]. If the limit is close and the provider still has not filed, Medicare.gov says the claim should then be filed by you [1]. If you paid out of pocket because the provider refused to file, you have to send in your own claim [1]. If you disagree with a decision, you can file an appeal [1].

Open Medicare.gov, Filing a claim, at https://www.medicare.gov/providers-services/claims-appeals-complaints/claims and read the part quoted above. Your own plan or policy papers hold details these sources do not give: "Don't know yet" for your case.