# Montana prompt-pay law for dental claims

> What is the Montana prompt-pay deadline for dental claims, and what interest applies to late payment? Verified against the statute text (Mont. Code Ann. §33-18-232; §33-18-231; §33-18-233).

URL: https://dentovio.com/dental-prompt-pay-laws/montana

Last verified: 2026-08-29

Dentovio is an independent publisher, not a law firm, insurance department, or government agency. These pages summarize state prompt-pay statutes as verified against the legislature's published text on the last-verified date, focusing on how each statute treats dental claims. Statutes change and their application turns on plan type, contract status, and claim facts. Educational reference only — not legal advice; confirm current law with the state insurance department or a licensed attorney before acting on a specific claim.

## Direct answer

Under Mont. Code Ann. §33-18-232; §33-18-231; §33-18-233, the Montana payment deadline is 30 days for clean/complete claims. A non-compliant insurer liable on the claim owes the claim plus 10% annual interest from the date the claim was due (day 30, or day 60 after an information request) — but only when the computed interest exceeds $5 (§33-18-232(2)). Dental applicability: Covered for dental insurers and dental service corporations: the definition of insurer sweeps in any entity promising to pay medical benefits, and health service corporations are doubly covered by §33-30-102. Self-funded (ERISA) plans are outside this statute — federal ERISA deadlines apply to them instead.

## Payment deadlines

- Electronic claims: 30 days (no format split)
- Paper claims: 30 days (no format split)

Insurers must pay or deny within 30 days after receipt of proof of loss — extended to 60 days from the original receipt when the insurer makes a reasonable request for additional information. Montana draws no electronic-vs-paper distinction.

## Interest and penalties on late payment

A non-compliant insurer liable on the claim owes the claim plus 10% annual interest from the date the claim was due (day 30, or day 60 after an information request) — but only when the computed interest exceeds $5 (§33-18-232(2)). The $25,000 figure that circulates is not in this section: it is the Commissioner's general administrative fine (§33-1-317), available after a hearing for insurers that fail to pay timely as a general course of business (§33-18-233).

## Does it apply to dental? Dental covered, with caveats

Covered for dental insurers and dental service corporations: the definition of insurer sweeps in any entity promising to pay medical benefits, and health service corporations are doubly covered by §33-30-102. One unresolved corner: Chapter 31 HMOs — the HMO code's list of applicable insurance laws does not include the prompt-pay part, so do not assume the interest rule reaches a dental HMO without checking with the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance.

## Self-funded (ERISA) plans

Self-funded employer (ERISA) dental plans are outside every state prompt-pay statute — federal law preempts state insurance regulation of self-funded plans. Those claims run on the federal ERISA claims-procedure deadlines instead: a post-service benefit determination within 30 days (one 15-day extension), at least 180 days to appeal, and an appeal decision within 60 days (or two 30-day levels), under 29 CFR 2560.503-1.

## Also in the statute

- No private lawsuit can be based on compliance or non-compliance with this section (§33-18-232(3)) — enforcement runs through the Commissioner.
- A safe harbor blocks the administrative fine for insurers that consistently paid 90% of claim dollars within 20 working days and all within 30 working days over the preceding six months (§33-18-233(2)).

## Sources (statute text)

- [Mont. Code Ann. §33-18-232 — time for payment of claims](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0180/part_0020/section_0320/0330-0180-0020-0320.html)
- [Mont. Code Ann. §33-18-233 — commissioner fines](https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0330/chapter_0180/part_0020/section_0330/0330-0180-0020-0330.html)

## Related

- [All state prompt-pay pages](https://dentovio.com/dental-prompt-pay-laws/index.html.md)
- [Dental claim denial codes](https://dentovio.com/dental-claim-denial-codes/index.html.md)
- [Payer documentation requirements](https://dentovio.com/dental-claim-documentation/index.html.md)