UnitedHealth’s insurance division announced Friday that it will eliminate prior-approval requirements for approximately two-thirds of its healthcare services for members under 18. The move aims to reduce delays and administrative burdens, responding to widespread complaints from patients and doctors.
This decision aligns with broader efforts by U.S. health insurers to fulfill commitments made last year to streamline processes and reduce excessive paperwork that can delay or deny essential care.
UnitedHealthcare specified that the eliminated prior approvals will encompass many diagnostic services, routine surgical procedures, and specialty care across pediatric subspecialties, including cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, and orthopedics.
The insurer also plans to introduce authorization waivers for certain procedures performed at leading comprehensive pediatric hospitals.
“Parents should be able to spend less time having to navigate the health system and more time focusing on their children as they get the care they need,” said Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, who took over the role after the 2024 assassination of his predecessor, Brian Thompson.
The company added that it is conducting a “rigorous, data-driven review” of all pediatric prior authorization requirements to determine which services can be safely removed from the approval process.
This development follows last month’s announcement that UnitedHealth and CVS Health had standardized data and submission requirements for more than half of their prior authorizations. UnitedHealthcare anticipates that over 70% of its prior authorizations will be part of this new standardized submission process by the end of the year.