UnitedHealthcare Drops Prior Approvals for 30% of Services

UnitedHealthcare announced on May 5, 2026, that it will eliminate prior-approval requirements for 30% of health care services by the end of 2026. This significant change addresses widespread complaints that administrative tasks associated with prior authorizations frequently delay or deny necessary patient care.

The insurer will phase out these requirements for certain outpatient operations, diagnostic tests like echocardiograms, outpatient therapies, and chiropractic care. UnitedHealthcare stated that prior authorizations are currently used for only about 2% of its covered medical services, with 92% of requests approved in less than a day.

This initiative is part of a larger commitment by major insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, and Humana, to reduce and streamline prior authorization usage. These combined changes are expected to benefit 257 million Americans across private commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care plans.

Physicians have long contended that prior authorization processes are burdensome and often serve to delay or deny medically necessary treatments. An American Medical Association survey found that 93% of doctors reported care delays due to this practice. Insurers, however, maintain that authorizations are essential for preventing unnecessary services that drive up healthcare costs for consumers.