A North Carolina health insurer drafts its claim submission rules. What is the shortest proof-of-loss filing deadline it may require of claimants?

Why B is correct

Under G.S. 58-3-225(f), insurers may require claims to be submitted within 180 days after the date of service, or for facility claims within 180 days after discharge, but they may NOT require a shorter period. Late filing is still allowed when not reasonably possible, never later than 1 year, so 180 days is the statutory floor insurers must respect.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) Ninety days is the NAIC-model proof-of-loss figure that North Carolina deliberately departs from; it is shorter than the statutory floor.
• C) One year is the outside limit for late filing when circumstances make timely filing not reasonably possible, not the minimum required window.
• D) Sixty days has no role in the claim filing rule; facility claims get 180 days measured from discharge.

Memory hook

One-eighty is the floor: insurers can't demand faster filing.

Why A is correct

Under G.S. 58-3-225(f), insurers may require claims to be submitted within 180 days after the date of service (facility claims: 180 days after discharge), but they may not require fewer than 180 days. If late filing was not reasonably possible to avoid, the claim must still be accepted, never later than one year.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) Ninety days is shorter than the statutory floor; a policy requiring filing within 90 days would violate G.S. 58-3-225(f).
• C) Thirty days is far below the 180-day minimum the statute imposes on claim-filing requirements.
• D) Twenty days is likewise below the 180-day floor and would be an unenforceable filing window.

Memory hook

Insurers can demand 180 days but never a day less.