Cigna no longer runs Medicare Advantage. HCSC bought those plans on March 19, 2025, and they now operate as HealthSpring. In-network providers must file claims within 180 days of the date of service, unless the provider agreement sets a different window. Out-of-network providers have 365 days. In-network appeals are due 65 days from the original decision. Claim reconsiderations (timely filing, COB, coding, or payment disputes) are due 180 days from the payment date. Out-of-network providers have 60 days after receiving the notice to request a reconsideration, and must include a signed Waiver of Liability.
Who Handles "Cigna Medicare Advantage" Claims in 2026?
HealthSpring handles them. Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) completed its purchase of Cigna's Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, Part D, and CareAllies businesses on March 19, 2025. HCSC then renamed the Medicare Advantage plans HealthSpring in July 2025.
For billing teams, this changes three things:
- The deadlines come from HealthSpring's manuals, not Cigna's commercial administrative guidelines. Cigna's commercial 90-day in-network limit does not apply to these members.
- The payer ID is 52192, and paper claims go to HealthSpring, PO Box 23456, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
- Appeals and disputes go to HealthSpring addresses in Dallas and Nashville, not to Cigna's commercial appeal addresses.
Cigna still sells commercial and employer coverage. If the patient's card says Cigna and the plan is not Medicare, use the Cigna timely filing limits guide instead. If the card says HealthSpring, or the patient says they have "Cigna Medicare," use this page.
HealthSpring Timely Filing Limits by Network Status
Your network status determines the claim deadline. In-network providers have 180 days from the date of service. Out-of-network providers have 365 days. Both figures come from HealthSpring's current 2026 Medicare Advantage provider manuals.
Prepare this appeal packet with your team.
Draft the appeal, coordinate missing documents, and approve the reviewed packet. Keep your clearinghouse; your practice checks deadlines and submits through the payer’s accepted channel.
First 3 appeals free, then $20 per appeal. Start with your denial letter or EOB and available records. No meeting or clearinghouse connection required.
| Deadline | In-network (contracted) | Out-of-network (noncontracted) | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial claim | 180 days, or your agreement's time frame | 365 days | Date of service |
| Claim reconsideration or payment dispute | 180 days | Payment dispute for amounts below Original Medicare; see the CMS rules below | Claim payment date (in-network) |
| Provider appeal (medical necessity, no auth, no referral, level of care) | 65 days, unless your agreement states otherwise | 60 days after receipt of the notice (42 CFR 422.582) | Original decision or notice |
| Appeal decision time | Up to 60 days | Per CMS Part C rules for the request type | Receipt of a complete appeal |
| Records requested during claim review | 30 days | As stated in the request | HealthSpring's request |
| Overpayment refund before offset | At least 30 days, per contract | As stated in the recovery request | Receipt of the repayment request |
Sources: HealthSpring In-Network Medicare Advantage Provider Manual (updated October 2026), HealthSpring Out-of-Network Provider Manual (updated June 2026), and 42 CFR 422.582.
In-network: 180 days, but your agreement controls
The in-network manual gives 180 days from the initial date of service as the general window. In its timely filing section, it says contracted providers have agreed to file claims within the time frames in their provider agreement. So if your agreement says 90 days, your deadline is 90 days.
Pull the timely filing clause from your HealthSpring agreement before you set billing-queue alerts. Practices that contracted under Cigna before 2025 should confirm which agreement now governs. Do not assume the old Cigna terms carried over.
Out-of-network: 365 days, following Medicare standards
The out-of-network manual says that, "according to Medicare standards," noncontracted providers must submit claims within 365 days from the date of service. Claims received after 365 days are denied for timely filing. This is longer than the in-network window, so make sure your billing system applies the right deadline to each claim.
Don't use Cigna commercial deadlines for HealthSpring members
Cigna's commercial in-network limit is 90 days. Using it for a HealthSpring claim is safe, but it can make your team drop claims that are still billable. Using HealthSpring's 180 days for a Cigna commercial claim is worse: those claims deny as late. Keep the two payers in separate billing queues.
HealthSpring Appeal and Reconsideration Deadlines
In-network providers get two separate tracks with different clocks. A clinical or authorization denial goes to an appeal, due 65 days from the decision. A processing or payment dispute goes to a claim reconsideration, due 180 days from the payment date. If you file on the wrong track, you can lose time you don't have.
Claim reconsideration: 180 days from payment
HealthSpring's in-network manual gives contracted providers up to 180 days from the claim payment date to request a reconsideration. Use this track for:
- Timely filing denials (CO-29)
- Coordination of benefits denials
- Missing-information denials
- Payment retractions, underpayments, overpayments, and coding disputes
Send reconsiderations to HealthSpring Reconsiderations, PO Box 1004, Nashville, TN 37202, or fax 615-401-4642.
Provider appeal: 65 days from the original decision
An appeal asks HealthSpring to review a decision about medical necessity, clinical guidelines, prior authorization, or referral requirements. According to the in-network manual:
- You must have a denial notice or remittance advice before you appeal. Don't send an initial claim as an appeal.
- File within 65 days of the original decision, unless your agreement says otherwise.
- Include an explanation, your reasoning, a copy of the denial, supporting medical records, and the insurance verification from the date of service.
- If records are missing, HealthSpring returns the request without action. The records must still arrive within the 65-day window.
- Participating providers get one level of appeal, and review can take up to 60 days.
Mail post-service appeals with the postservice appeal and claim dispute form to HealthSpring Appeals, PO Box 650065, Dallas, TX 75265, or fax 855-699-8985. The manual and HealthSpring's disputes and appeals page give that fax for participating-provider clinical appeals. 615-401-4642 is the separate payment reconsideration/dispute fax, not the clinical appeal route. Call 800-511-6943 if you need help choosing the track.
For the letter itself, start with the Medicare Advantage appeal letter template. If you're not sure which track fits your denial, read reconsideration vs. appeal.
Out-of-network: CMS Subpart M rules and a Waiver of Liability
Noncontracted provider appeals follow the federal Medicare Advantage rules in 42 CFR 422 Subpart M. Under 42 CFR 422.582, you must file a reconsideration request within 60 calendar days after receiving the written determination. Receipt is presumed to be 5 calendar days after the notice was issued, unless you can show otherwise. HealthSpring may extend the deadline for good cause, but you must request the extension in writing and explain why you filed late.
HealthSpring requires a signed Waiver of Liability with every noncontracted appeal. The provider must sign it. A third-party billing agency cannot. Without it, the appeal can be delayed or dismissed. The waiver is attached to HealthSpring's noncontracted provider appeals and disputes form.
- Appeals (medical necessity, no authorization, DRG, downcoding, bundling, overpayment recovery): HealthSpring Medicare Advantage Appeals, PO Box 650059, Dallas, TX 75265, fax 855-350-8671
- Payment disputes (you were paid less than Original Medicare would have paid): HealthSpring Noncontracted Provider Payment Disputes, PO Box 1004, Nashville, TN 37202
Appeals Do Not Extend Timely Filing
An appeal does not stop or reset the timely filing clock. HealthSpring's in-network manual says timely filing requirements "are not affected or changed by the appeal process or by the appeal outcome."
This catches practices in one specific situation. Say an appeal wins, but payment depends on a corrected claim. HealthSpring does not extend the window for that corrected claim. The corrected claim must still fit the timely filing provision in your agreement. If a claim was filed on day 150 and the appeal takes 60 days, the corrected claim may already be late.
Track the original filing deadline separately from the appeal deadline, and plan for the corrected claim before you file the appeal. For general corrected-claim rules across payers, see the corrected claim timely filing limits guide.
How to Win a HealthSpring CO-29 Timely Filing Denial
Send it through the claim reconsideration track, not the appeal track, and include dated proof that you filed on time. HealthSpring lists timely filing disputes as a reconsideration matter, so in-network providers have 180 days from the payment date to file.
What to include:
- The remittance advice showing the timely filing denial
- Proof of the original submission: a clearinghouse acceptance report (277CA) or batch report showing that payer ID 52192 accepted the claim inside the window. For paper claims, include a certified-mail receipt.
- The rejection history, if the first submission went to a Cigna commercial payer ID by mistake and you resubmitted to HealthSpring
- The clause from your agreement that sets your filing window, if it's longer than 180 days
- Eligibility proof, if the member's enrollment was updated retroactively
One risk specific to the ownership change is a claim sent to a Cigna commercial payer ID instead of HealthSpring. If your proof shows the claim went to Cigna's commercial payer ID, it shows the claim was filed. It does not show the claim reached HealthSpring on time. Put the dates in a short cover letter and let the reviewer decide.
Check eligibility at every visit
HealthSpring's manual notes that CMS can retroactively terminate members, which can affect eligibility after a claim is paid. If HealthSpring pays a claim and the member is later terminated retroactively, its recovery unit will request a refund. Check eligibility on Availity Essentials or call 800-668-3813 at each visit, not just once a year.
HealthSpring vs. Other Medicare Advantage Timely Filing Limits
HealthSpring's 180-day in-network limit is shorter than the 365-day out-of-network standard. Other large Medicare Advantage plans set their own contracted windows, so check each payer's current manual rather than using one number for all of them.
Prepare this appeal packet with your team.
Draft the appeal, coordinate missing documents, and approve the reviewed packet. Keep your clearinghouse; your practice checks deadlines and submits through the payer’s accepted channel.
First 3 appeals free, then $20 per appeal. Start with your denial letter or EOB and available records. No meeting or clearinghouse connection required.
For side-by-side MA rules at other large payers, see the Humana Medicare Advantage timely filing guide, the UHC Medicare Advantage timely filing guide, and the Aetna Medicare Advantage timely filing guide. For commercial limits by payer, see timely filing limits by insurance company.
For HealthSpring prior authorization rules, read the HealthSpring prior authorization guide. For phone routing, use the Cigna provider phone numbers guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Cigna Medicare Advantage timely filing limit in 2026?
Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are now HealthSpring plans owned by HCSC. In-network providers must file within 180 days of the date of service, unless their agreement sets a different window. Out-of-network providers have 365 days.
Is HealthSpring the same as Cigna?
Not anymore. HealthSpring was Cigna's Medicare brand, but HCSC bought Cigna's Medicare business on March 19, 2025. HealthSpring is now an HCSC brand. Cigna still sells commercial coverage under its own name.
What is the HealthSpring appeal deadline for providers?
In-network providers have 65 days from the original decision to appeal, unless their agreement says otherwise. Out-of-network providers have 60 calendar days after receiving the notice, with receipt presumed 5 days after issue under 42 CFR 422.582.
How long do I have to dispute a HealthSpring timely filing denial?
In-network providers can request a claim reconsideration up to 180 days from the claim payment date. HealthSpring lists timely filing, coordination of benefits, and missing-information denials as reconsideration matters.
Does a HealthSpring appeal extend the timely filing deadline?
No. HealthSpring's manual says timely filing is not changed by the appeal process or its outcome. If an approved appeal requires a corrected claim, that claim must still meet your agreement's filing window.
What is the HealthSpring payer ID?
The payer ID for HealthSpring Medicare Advantage claims is 52192. Paper claims go to HealthSpring, PO Box 23456, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Do out-of-network providers need a Waiver of Liability for HealthSpring appeals?
Yes. HealthSpring requires a signed Waiver of Liability with every noncontracted provider appeal. The provider must sign it; a third-party billing agency cannot. Without it, the appeal may be delayed or dismissed.
Get the HealthSpring Appeal Drafted Before the Clock Runs Out
HealthSpring gives you two clocks, and each runs from a different date. Muni Appeals reads the denial you upload and drafts the reconsideration or appeal for your staff to review. It also lists the evidence to attach, such as the 277CA acceptance report, the remittance, and the clinical records, and points out deadline risks for staff to confirm and put on the calendar.
This guide summarizes HealthSpring's 2026 in-network (updated October 2026) and out-of-network (updated June 2026) Medicare Advantage provider manuals and federal regulations as of October 5, 2026. Your HealthSpring provider agreement, the denial notice, and the current manual control your actual deadlines and addresses. This is administrative information, not legal advice.