# Introducing test mode for claims

> You can now test the entire claims workflow in test mode, using Stedi test API keys and test SFTP credentials. Simulate a claim's lifecycle end to end.

Published Sep 9, 2026

Product: Claims

You can now test the entire claims workflow using [test mode](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-mode), including Stedi [test API keys](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow#api---test-api-key) and [test SFTP credentials](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow#sftp---test-user). You can simulate a claim's lifecycle from end to end without submitting a real claim to a payer.

Previously, you could only submit test claims in production and had to mark each claim as a test. You couldn't include claim attachments for test claims.

Now, you can use test mode to:

- Submit test claims and validate them using Stedi's [database of claim edits](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-edits-and-repairs).
- Include [claim attachments](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-claim-attachments) for test claims.
- Get [277CA claim acknowledgments](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#277ca-claim-acknowledgment) for test claims.
- Get test [Electronic Remittance Advice (ERAs)](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#835-electronic-remittance-advice-era) for claims submitted to the [Stedi Test Payer](https://www.stedi.com/healthcare/network/FRCPB).
- Get [999 Implementation Acknowledgments](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow#999s-sftp) for rejected test claims that you submitted through SFTP.

Test mode works for all three 837 claim types: [837P professional](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-professional-claims), [837D dental](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-dental-claims), and [837I institutional](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/submit-institutional-claims).

**Watch the 2026 Stedi Keynote announcement:**

[Introducing end-to-end test mode - 2026 Stedi Keynote](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8ZKS6JZZh8)

## Deprecating test claims in production

We're deprecating the ability to submit test claims in production. New Stedi accounts can only submit test claims using a Stedi test API key, test SFTP credentials, or test mode in the Stedi portal.

If you already submit test claims in production, your current workflows will continue working. We recommend switching to test mode for test claim submissions. This ensures a mistyped `usageIndicator` or `ISA15` can't send a live claim to a real payer.

For more information on submitting test claims, see [Test claim workflows](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow) in our docs.

## Claim acknowledgments and ERAs for test claims

The payer you send a test claim to determines which test responses, such as 277CA claim acknowledgments or test [ERAs](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#835-electronic-remittance-advice-era), you get back. It also determines which [claim edits](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-edits-and-repairs) Stedi uses to validate the claim.

| Payer                                                              | Test responses                                                                                                                        | Claim edits                                          |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Any payer                                                          | [277CA claim acknowledgment](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/claim-responses-overview#277ca-claim-acknowledgment).              | Claim edits that apply to the payer.                 |
| [Stedi Test Payer](https://www.stedi.com/healthcare/network/FRCPB) | 277CA claim acknowledgment and [test ERA](https://www.stedi.com/docs/healthcare/test-claims-workflow#workflow-2-generate-a-test-era). | Standard claim edits that apply to all Stedi payers. |

## Availability and pricing

Test mode for claims is available for free on all Stedi production accounts.

You can't submit test claims using a Stedi sandbox account. To submit test claims, [upgrade to a production account](https://www.stedi.com/pricing).

For more details, see our [announcement blog](https://www.stedi.com/blog/introducing-test-mode-for-claims).