AAA-42 | Unable to respond at this time

Industry

Healthcare

Canonical

/healthcare/error-codes/aaa-42/

Last Updated

Feb 25, 2026

Summary

This code indicates that the payer system is temporarily unable to respond to the eligibility inquiry.

Advertisement after-summary

Ad Space

What This Code Means

AAA-42 is returned when the eligibility system cannot provide a response at the time of the inquiry. This is typically a system availability issue rather than a data or coverage problem. The code does not indicate whether coverage exists or not. It reflects a temporary condition affecting system responsiveness.

Where Users Usually See This Code

271 eligibility responses
Eligibility inquiry result messages
Clearinghouse transaction logs

Why This Code Appears

Payer system maintenance or downtime
Temporary processing delays
High system volume

What Typically Happens Next

No eligibility information is returned
The inquiry remains unresolved
A later inquiry may succeed

What This Code Is Not

It is not a coverage denial
It is not a data error
It is not a termination notice

Troubleshooting Checklist

□ Wait before resubmitting inquiry
□ Monitor system availability
□ Check payer communications

Notes And Edge Cases

System availability issues are often short-lived. Different payer systems may experience downtime at different times.

Related Codes

8 links

Advertisement near-bottom

Ad Space