Health Insurance News States Target Health Insurers’ ‘prior Authorization’ Red Tape

Prior authorization could stand between you and your doctor’s care and here's what it really means, how delays happen and what do if you’re denied

The idea behind it seems reasonable: Insurers want to ensure treatments are medically necessary before they pay for them. But in practice, it often means delayed appointments, stalled medication ... Read More

One woman’s tick bite sets off fight over insurance and prior authorization

Leah Kovitch was pulling invasive plants in the meadow near her home one weekend in late April when a tick latched onto her leg. She did not notice the tiny bug until Monday, when her calf muscle ... Read More

NCOIL adopts model law to overhaul prior authorization practices

The National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) has adopted the Prior Authorization Reform Model Act at its 2025 Annual National Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The Model, sponsored by Mississippi ... Read More

Insurers promised to ease a major patient pain point after executive’s murder. Here’s what’s happened

A year ago, the fatal shooting of a health insurance executive on a Manhattan sidewalk unleashed many Americans’ pent-up frustration with insurers’ delays and denials of care. UnitedHealthcare CEO ... Read More

The Health Insurance Prior Authorization Memo That You Helped Write

Recently, we put together a template to help medical professionals explain a confusing process. Readers gave us very pointed feedback, so we updated it. By Ron Lieber Two months ago, I shared my tale ... Read More

The dangerous illusion of ‘peer-to-peer’ review for prior authorization

While the headaches and life-altering results of insurance pre-authorizations are not new to physicians or patients, lately things have been getting worse. Patients are sending more and more messages ... Read More

NCOIL discusses prior authorization reform at annual meeting

Belmar, NJ – The National Council of Insurance Legislators concluded a highly successful 2025 Annual National Meeting from November 12th – 15th in Atlanta, GA. In what was the final of the ... Read More

Insurers, employers say New York prior authorization suspension will up healthcare costs

New York insurers and employers are bracing for the impacts of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s sweeping measures to address hospital staffing shortages by waiving prior authorizations, among other requirements. Read More