How long does it take for a refund after filling out a health care claim?

The median time to process health insurance claims ranges from six days to 14 days, according to an American Medical Association 2013 survey. The same annual survey indicated a 17 percent increase in response time compared to 2008.

Employer-sponsored plans are required by the Department of Labor to indicate the length of time the an insurer is permitted to process reimbursements. States may also have specific regulations regarding the allowable processing time; for example, New Jersey allows 30 days for the payment of electronic claims and 40 days for written claims. Processing errors and incomplete documentation are two factors that contribute to delays in reimbursement.