Appeal deadlines in Washington

State outside review (180 days); Medicaid hearing deadline 90 days.

Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.

Appeal deadlines are strict. If you are near a deadline or your care is urgent, call free help today.

Deadlines at a glance in Washington

Outside review: 180 days
Hearing deadline: 90 days
Then a state hearing: 120 days
Appeal deadline – Washington Healthplanfinder (Washington Health Benefit Exchange): 90 days

How each deadline is counted in Washington

Time to file

Your carrier must accept a request for internal review received within 180 days of when you received the decision, the same as the federal minimum. You can ask orally or in writing, and you do not have to file a complaint first.

Law: RCW 48.43.530(4)-(7); WAC 284-43-3030(4), 284-43-3110, 284-43-3170

How fast the plan must decide

Standard: 14 days; Urgent: 72 hours

Deadline to ask

You have up to 180 days to ask for external (independent) review. If you do not ask, the internal review decision becomes final and binding.

Law: RCW 48.43.535; WAC 284-43-3070, 284-43-3130, 284-43-3150(5), 284-43-3170, 284-43A-070, 284-43A-140

The deadline runs from

The carrier's notice of its final internal review decision

Hearing deadline

The date you receive the notice of the decision.

Keeping your benefits during the appeal

To keep your Apple Health coverage while you appeal a decision to end, suspend or reduce your eligibility or an authorized service, request a hearing by the tenth day after the notice was sent or by the last day of the month before the change takes effect.

How long do I have? Deadline calculator

Washington · Appeal deadline calculator

If you miss a deadline

Medicaid

A late request can be accepted for good cause, such as military deployment, medical reasons, housing instability, language barriers or domestic violence, but not if it is filed more than one year after the decision.

Law: RCW 74.09.741(4); WAC 182-526-0095, 182-526-0102

Sources

The official sources for Washington are listed on the Washington page.

National rules that apply in every state

You have at least 180 days (about 6 months) from when you receive the denial notice to file an internal appeal. Your plan can give you more time, not less.

Law: 29 CFR 2560.503-1(h)(3)(i); 45 CFR 147.136(b)(2)(i), (b)(3)(i)

Under the federal process you have 4 months from the date you receive the denial or final appeal decision to ask for external review. If there is no matching date 4 months later, the deadline is the first day of the fifth month. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or federal holiday, it moves to the next business day. State programs must allow at least 4 months; some allow more.

Law: 45 CFR 147.136(c)(2)(vi), (d)(2)(i)

Your state must give you a reasonable time to ask for a fair hearing, up to 90 days from the date the notice was mailed. Check your notice: your state's deadline may be shorter.

Law: 42 CFR 431.221(d)

You generally have 90 days from the date of your Eligibility Notice to appeal. If you are late, explain why when you file; you may be able to get an extension.

Law: 45 CFR 155.520(b), (d)(2)(i)(D); HealthCare.gov, What can I appeal?