U.S. Health Insurers Reduce Prior Authorization Burdens

A year after a Trump‑administration pledge to cut prior‑authorization requirements, insurers report an 11% reduction in such requests, but critics say the change is limited and many high‑cost services remain denied. Patient advocates describe the voluntary pledge as “performative,” and insurers have not fully implemented all promised steps.

At the same time, Aetna President Steve Nelson says that simplifying prior authorizations and deploying digital tools have raised provider trust in insurers by 13% this year. A recent survey showed a 16% rise in the share of clinicians who believe insurers keep their promises. CVS Health, the parent of Aetna, reports that it has standardized authorization processes for most conditions, bundled authorizations for cancers, and is launching an AI assistant to schedule appointments for members. Major U.S. insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and Cigna have also made voluntary commitments to streamline approvals.