75% of Health Insurers Commit to Improving Patient Care Following Trump Admin Push

In a move aimed at streamlining patient care, around 75 percent of health insurers have pledged to reform prior authorization practices following pressure from the Trump administration. This industry-wide commitment seeks to ease delays and improve health outcomes for millions of Americans.

Why Are Health Insurers Stepping Up?

The deal comes after recent public outcry, exemplified by the shooting of a UnitedHealthcare CEO and growing frustration over treatment delays. Doctors report spending up to twelve hours a week on paperwork due to multiple prior authorization requests. Health insurers aligned with this pledge cover roughly 260 million Americans, or 75 percent of the insured population.

What Changes Are Insurers Promising?

At a June 23 roundtable hosted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, major carriers such as UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Elevance, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente pledged six voluntary reforms:

1. Standardize electronic submittals using FHIR technology by January 2027
2. Reduce procedures needing prior authorization by January 2026
3. Honor existing approvals during plan changes for at least 90 days
4. Increase transparency around approval decisions and appeal guidance
5. Enable real‑time responses, aiming for 80 percent by 2027
6. Mandate medical professional reviews for clinical denials

Will This Help Patients?

Why does this matter? Prior authorization covers services like imaging scans, lab tests, physical therapy, and high-cost prescriptions. Until now, these processes have frequently delayed care, causing “scanxiety” and complicating treatment plans. The new pledge is expected to reduce bureaucracy and speed up access .

What Comes Next?

These are voluntary actions, but federal regulators have signaled readiness to step in with new rules if progress stalls. 

Dr. Oz emphasized insurers must fix it or face regulatory solutions.

Roadblocks Still Ahead

Skeptics note a similar effort in 2018 failed to deliver results. Doctors and patient advocates will be closely watching for real improvements, particularly in reducing delays and simplifying processes. 

Paper forms and faxes must be removed, said Dr. Oz .

What Patients Should Expect

• Faster approvals for services like MRIs and physical therapy
• Simpler digital processes instead of paper-based systems
• Continuity of care during insurer transitions
• Clearer communications on denials and appeal steps

These changes span employer-based insurance and cover Medicare Advantage and Medicaid holders.

Bottom Line

This commitment by health insurers could significantly reduce delays and improve patient access over the next year. But meaningful change will depend on how quickly digital systems are implemented and if transparency improvements are realized in practice. If not, federal regulators may step in to ensure care decisions are timely and clear.

Disclaimer

This content is made for learning only. It is not meant to give financial advice. Always check the facts yourself. Financial decisions need detailed research.