Insurers ease up on prior authorization
From Marketplace Morning Report by Marketplace
May 6, 2026 · 7 min
About this episode
United Healthcare is reducing its prior authorization requirements, impacting doctors and patients, while also discussing Iran's wartime economy.
United Healthcare, the nation’s biggest insurer, announced that it’s cutting back on its requirements for prior authorization by 30%. Prior authorization is when your doctor orders a medical procedure, test, or drug, but you can't get it before the insurance company's approval. For insurers, it's a way to cut costs. For doctors and patients, it's a source of massive frustration. Plus, we check in on the state of Iran's wartime economy.
Topics covered
- health insurance
- prior authorization
- medical procedures
- Iran economy
- cost-cutting
Keywords
- United Healthcare
- prior authorization
- health insurance
- medical procedures
- Iran economy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: United Healthcare
Places: Iran
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