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N82 Remark Code: Accept Payment as Payment in Full

N82 means the provider must accept the insurance payment as payment in full because a third-party payer contract specifies full reimbursement. The provider cannot bill the patient for the difference between the charge and the payment.

Quick facts

Code
N82 (RARC N82)
Status
Active In use since January 1, 2000.
Code set
Remittance Advice Remark Codes (RARC)
Group codes
  • CO (Contractual Obligation): The unpaid difference is a contractual write-off. The provider cannot bill it to the patient.
  • PR (Patient Responsibility): Rare with N82. If shown, only cost-sharing the contract expressly allows may be collected from the patient.
Official description
Provider must accept insurance payment as payment in full when a third party payer contract specifies full reimbursement.
X12 Remittance Advice Remark Codes, retrieved September 25, 2026
Last verified
against the official X12 list.

What N82 means

Some payer arrangements, such as certain third-party or program contracts, specify that the payer’s reimbursement is full payment for the service. Under those terms, the provider cannot send the patient a bill for the remaining charge. N82 is the payer reminding you of that obligation on this claim.

It typically accompanies CARC 45 or CARC 209 and describes a rule about collections rather than a denial.

Common causes

  • The provider participates in a contract with a full-reimbursement clause.
  • A government or program payer’s rules require acceptance of payment in full.
  • The billing system was set to transfer contractual differences to patient responsibility by mistake.

What to do

  1. Post the difference as a contractual adjustment, not as a patient balance.
  2. Review any patient statements already sent for this claim and correct them.
  3. Refund overpayments the patient made beyond what the contract allows.
  4. Check the payment against your contract. If it is too low, dispute the amount with the payer rather than billing the patient.

How to prevent it

Configure your billing system with payer-specific rules that mark contract write-offs correctly and block patient billing for amounts covered by full-reimbursement terms. Train staff to read the group code and remarks before moving any balance to the patient.

Codes that may appear with N82

  • CO-45 (Charge exceeds fee schedule/maximum allowable or contracted/legislated fee arrangement.): The charge exceeds the contracted or legislated fee, and N82 confirms the difference cannot be balance billed.
  • OA-209 (Per regulatory or other agreement.): Per regulatory or other agreement, the provider cannot collect the amount from the patient.
  • N246 (State regulated patient payment limitations apply to this service.): State-regulated patient payment limitations apply to the service.
  • N71 (Your unassigned claim for a drug or biological, clinical diagnostic laboratory services or ambulance service was processed as an assigned claim.): A claim processed as assigned because the law requires assignment.
  • N381 (Alert: Consult our contractual agreement for restrictions/billing/payment information related to these charges.): Alert to consult the contractual agreement for billing and payment restrictions.

N82 FAQ

Does N82 mean the patient owes nothing at all?

It means the payment satisfies the full reimbursement the contract specifies. Whether any cost-sharing applies depends on the contract and the patient's plan, and the remittance will show any PR amounts.

What if the patient already paid?

If you collected more than the contract allows, you may need to refund the patient. Check the contract terms and any applicable rules.

Can I appeal the payment amount?

You can dispute the amount if it does not match your contract. N82 only prevents billing the patient for the difference, not challenging an incorrect payment.