UnitedHealthcare is eliminating prior authorization requirements for approximately 30% of healthcare services by the end of 2026. The move covers outpatient surgeries, diagnostic tests, outpatient therapies, and chiropractic care.
CEO Tim Noel said the change aims to simplify care and free doctors to spend more time with patients. UnitedHealthcare uses prior authorization for only about 2% of covered services, with 92% approved within a day.
This pledge follows a broader industry promise in June by UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, and Humana to reduce prior authorization. Trump administration health officials and Medicare chief Mehmet Oz warned the government may impose regulations if insurers fail to deliver. The voluntary changes would affect 257 million Americans.
Physicians have long criticized prior authorization as a tool that delays or denies medically necessary care. An American Medical Association survey found 93% of doctors said prior authorization slowed patient care. Insurers defend the practice as essential for preventing unnecessary tests and controlling rising medical costs.