Benefit from immediate and same-day claim payouts
Understanding real-time payments and Same Day ACH for select commercial claims
We let you know in a February 2026 Network News article about the new real-time payment transaction UnitedHealthcare uses for a small subset of eligible commercial plan payments.
Most claim payments continue to be delivered through existing payment methods. Adding this new real-time payment (RTP) transaction and Same Day ACH gives your practice greater opportunities for immediate claim payouts.
How eligible payments are delivered
- Same Day ACH: Eligible payments under $1 million that are payable Monday through Friday will be sent using Same Day ACH.
- RTP: Eligible payments over $1 million and eligible payments scheduled for payout on a weekend or bank holiday will be sent using RTP.
- Payment bank: These Same Day ACH and RTP payments will be delivered through PNC Bank, not Optum Bank.
- Bank account: Same Day ACH and RTP payments are routed to the TIN-level bank account your practice has on file with Optum Pay.
How to recognize RTP and Same Day ACH payments
Payment numbers for both the RTP and Same Day ACH transactions begin with one of these prefixes — XC, XD, XE or XF — and will appear on the following notice or report:
- Provider remittance advice (PRA) notice on the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal
- Electronic remittance advice (ERA/835) report from your clearinghouse
How claim reimbursements are paid electronically
The payment method used depends on certain criteria (payout date, payment amount):
Real-time payment
- Eligible payments over $1M scheduled for payout Monday–Friday
- Eligible payments scheduled for payout on weekends and bank holidays
Same Day ACH
- Eligible payments under $1 million scheduled for payout Monday–Friday
Continue to follow your current claim and remittance reconciliation process. Match the payment number in the TRN segment to the corresponding PRA or transaction code 835 to reconcile the payment activity.
Where to find remittance information
PRAs are available through the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal at uhcprovider.com. If your practice has elected electronic distribution of ERA/835 files, you’ll continue to receive ERA/835 files for Same Day ACH and RTP payments through your clearinghouse.
Confirm transaction data with your bank
RTP and Same Day ACH transactions are delivered through PNC Bank, not Optum Bank, and are routed to the TIN-level bank account your practice has on file with Optum Pay.
Contact your bank now to ensure they’ll present complete data in the proper fields needed for reconciliation. UnitedHealthcare includes the payment number in the TRN segment when it’s sent to PNC Bank. Ask your bank to pass along the payment number in the TRN segment also, so you can easily identify and match the payout to the appropriate claims.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Connect with us through chat 24/7 in the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal.
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