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Error code

W3 — Warning: service date is older than 3 months

Late submission warning

The claim was processed, but the service date is more than three months old, past the normal submission deadline.

What to do: Nothing to do if the line was paid as expected; review why the claim was submitted late.

Code
W3
Description
Warning: service date is older than 3 months

Explanation

Updated October 26, 2026

W3 is a warning that the service date is more than three months old. Check how the claim was paid and the three-month submission rule.

What it means

Code W3 is a warning on the Remittance Advice (RA): the service date on this claim is more than three months old.

Claims must be submitted within three months of the date of service. Claims sent later are stale-dated and usually reject on the Error Report (VJ7). A claim that is paid with W3 has been processed, but the warning flags that it was late.

Common causes

  • A late first submission
  • A resubmission of a rejected claim through the stale-dated process

How to fix it

  1. Check the amount paid on the line.
  2. If the claim was paid as expected, nothing needs to be done. Review why it was submitted late.
  3. If you believe the payment is wrong, send a Remittance Advice Inquiry (RAI) through eSubmit, or on form 0918-84, within 7 months of the RA date, with supporting details.

Don't resubmit if

  • You disagree with how a claim already on the RA was paid. Use an RAI, not a new claim.

How APEX handles it

APEX reads your error reports and remittance advice from MCEDT and lists claims rejected with this code in its Correction Centre for you to correct and resubmit. See how APEX works · Pricing

Related codes: VJ7, J3, J7

Sources