Health Care

UnitedHealthcare to eliminate prior authorization for 30 percent of services

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by Andrew Dorn - 05/06/26 8:35 AM ET

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by Andrew Dorn - 05/06/26 8:35 AM ET

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(NewsNation) — UnitedHealthcare plans to eliminate prior authorization for 30 percent of services that require insurer approval, reducing delays and paperwork for patients and doctors.

The company said, by the end of 2026, it will remove prior authorization requirements for certain outpatient surgeries, diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms, and some outpatient therapies and chiropractic care.

Prior authorization is a process that has long frustrated patients and doctors, creating administrative hurdles that can delay care.

In 2024, more than 9 in 10 physicians (93 percent) reported care delays while waiting for insurers to authorize necessary treatment, according to a survey by the American Medical Association, which represents the nation’s doctors.

The survey also found that physicians and their staff spend an average of 13 hours a week completing prior authorization requests.

In its announcement Tuesday, UnitedHealthcare said prior authorization is required for only 2% of its medical services, and 92 percent of submitted requests are approved in less than 24 hours.

Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, called prior authorization an “essential safeguard” in a statement, but said it should only be used when it truly protects patients and improves care.

The company said a full list of affected services will be published online before the changes take effect.

Tuesday’s announcement comes as major health insurers face mounting pressure to streamline the policy, with several pledging last year to reform the process. By the end of the year, UnitedHealthcare said more than 70 percent ⁠of its prior authorizations will be included in an industrywide effort to standardize the submission process.

Aetna, a unit of CVS Health, says it’s already standardized 88 percent of its prior authorization volume.

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