Optum provider portal, phone and payer ID quick facts
| Provider portal | https://www.optum.com/business/providers.html |
|---|---|
| Provider phone | Plan-specific |
| Claims payer ID | Verify in clearinghouse payer list |
| Eligibility payer ID | Not established in this registry; verify with clearinghouse |
| ERA payer ID | Clearinghouse-specific |
| Timely filing | 90 days (verify applicability) |
| Prior auth route | X12 278 plus provider portal |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-23 |
- This registry has not established one national provider-services phone number for Optum. Use the provider portal or member ID card for plan-specific phone routing.
- This registry has not established a payer-specific appeal ladder for Optum. Use the denial notice, plan document, provider agreement, or jurisdictional rule to assign the correct route and deadline. Missing registry evidence does not mean appeal rights are unavailable.
- This registry has not established one national ERA payer ID for Optum. ERA enrollment and 835 routing are clearinghouse- and product-specific; verify in the payer portal or clearinghouse payer list before enrollment.
Optum at a glance
| Legal name | Optum, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Also known as | OptumRx, Optum Care, Optum Medical Network |
| Category | Commercial |
| Parent organization | UnitedHealth Group |
| Claims payer ID | Not established in this registry |
| Eligibility (270/271) payer ID | Not established in this registry |
| ERA (835) payer ID | Clearinghouse-specific |
| NAIC company code | Not established in this registry |
| States covered | Nationwide (50 states) |
| Provider portal | https://www.optum.com/business/providers.html |
| Provider phone | Plan-specific |
Always verify claims-routing details against the member ID card and the payer's current EDI companion guide before submission.
Timely filing & appeals for Optum
This registry lists 90 days as an initial-claim reference for Optum. Confirm the applicable product, provider agreement, start event and current payer instructions. Do not apply this value automatically to out-of-network, secondary, corrected or appealed claims.
| Submission type | Window |
|---|---|
| Initial claim reference | 90 days (verify applicability) |
| Out-of-network initial claim | Verify the member's plan and applicable out-of-network rules |
| Secondary / coordination of benefits | Verify the allowed window and start event; a primary EOB does not automatically restart filing |
| Corrected claim | Verify correction instructions; do not substitute an appeal deadline |
| Reconsideration / appeal | Use the applicable denial or decision notice and the process below |
This registry has not established a payer-specific appeal ladder for Optum. Use the denial notice, plan document, provider agreement, or jurisdictional rule to assign the correct route and deadline. Missing registry evidence does not mean appeal rights are unavailable.
Source: Optum provider policy. Always confirm before disputing a TFL denial — payer policies are versioned and product-specific.
Prior authorization with Optum
Decision deadlines depend on the product, service and urgency. CMS-0057-F generally starts its decision-timeframe requirements in 2026 for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and CHIP payers subject to the rule: seven calendar days for standard requests and 72 hours for expedited requests. Those requirements exclude drug authorizations and QHP issuers on the federally facilitated exchanges. Other plans, state rules and permitted extensions can differ. Check the applicable policy; a decision deadline is not a guarantee of approval.
CMS-0057-F decision-timeframe requirements and exclusions
Optum accepts X12 278 prior-authorization transactions electronically. The procedures most commonly subject to prior authorization include advanced imaging, inpatient admissions, specialty pharmacy, and certain outpatient surgical procedures. Use the payer's authorization tool below to confirm requirements per CPT before scheduling a service.
Optum maintains a live prior-authorization code lookup tool that supersedes any cached list. Use the provider portal or the policy documents below to confirm the current PA list before rendering a service.
Top denial reasons for Optum
Per-payer denial benchmarks publish here once the QuickIntell anonymized ETL pipeline ingests sufficient Optum volume. Until then, see the broader CARC reference for industry-wide remediation guides.
Electronic claims, eligibility & ERA
| Transaction | Supported | Payer ID |
|---|---|---|
| 837P / 837I claims | Yes | — |
| 270 / 271 eligibility | Yes | — |
| 278 prior authorization | Yes | Verify X12 278 routing separately |
| 835 ERA | No | Clearinghouse-specific |
Payer IDs vary by clearinghouse — confirm against your clearinghouse payer list (Availity, Change Healthcare/Optum, Waystar) before configuring submitter routing.
QuickIntell coverage for Optum
Frequently asked questions about Optum
Where is the Optum provider portal?
The Optum provider portal is available at https://www.optum.com/business/providers.html. Use it for eligibility checks, claim status, prior authorization workflows, appeals, and payer-specific routing updates. QuickIntell links to the payer's provider-facing portal as a reference and is not the official payer portal.
What is the timely filing limit for Optum?
This registry lists 90 days as an initial-claim reference for Optum. Confirm the applicable product, provider agreement, start event and current payer instructions. Do not apply this value automatically to out-of-network, secondary, corrected or appealed claims.
Does Optum publish a single claims payer ID?
This registry has not established one claims payer ID for Optum. Look up the correct ID for the member's plan and transaction in your clearinghouse directory and verify against the member ID card before submission.
Does Optum accept electronic claims?
Yes — Optum accepts ANSI X12 837P and 837I electronic claims through standard clearinghouses. Real-time eligibility (270/271) is supported and X12 278 prior authorization is supported.
How do I appeal a Optum denial?
This registry has not established a payer-specific appeal ladder for Optum. Use the denial notice, plan document, provider agreement, or jurisdictional rule to assign the correct route and deadline. Missing registry evidence does not mean appeal rights are unavailable.
How long do Optum prior authorization approvals take?
Decision deadlines depend on the product, service and urgency. CMS-0057-F generally starts its decision-timeframe requirements in 2026 for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid and CHIP payers subject to the rule: seven calendar days for standard requests and 72 hours for expedited requests. Those requirements exclude drug authorizations and QHP issuers on the federally facilitated exchanges. Other plans, state rules and permitted extensions can differ. Check the applicable policy; a decision deadline is not a guarantee of approval.
How do providers contact Optum?
Providers should use the Optum provider portal at https://www.optum.com/business/providers.html for eligibility, claim status, appeals, and authorization workflows. Phone routing varies by plan and product — check the back of the member ID card for the plan-specific provider services number.
For revenue-cycle teams
Connect payer lookups to your revenue-cycle workflow
Do staff repeatedly move between payer references, eligibility checks, claim status and remittance follow-up?
- Keep this payer's official reference available to the team.
- Identify one repeated administrative task and measure its handling time.
- Evaluate the required access, exceptions and reviewer handoff before expanding automation.
Optum is an operational reference. Payer decisions remain with the payer. Confirm plan coverage, system access and supported actions during a scoped evaluation.
Download the illustrative workflow worksheet (PDF) · Explore the AI RCM evaluation toolkit · Model the workload and costs
Automate workflows around Optum requirements
Connect eligibility, prior authorization, pre-submission claim checks, and remittance routing in one governed workflow. Payer and plan configuration is confirmed during implementation.
Disclaimer
This page is operational reference for medical-billing professionals. It is not legal, clinical, or contractual advice. Payer policies change without notice — always verify against Optum's current published documents before submission. CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.