Insurers’ Prior Authorization Data Offers Little Insight Into What Gets Approved or Denied

(Author Kaye Pestaina for The Kaiser Foundation published April 2, 2026)

For many Americans, especially those with a chronic condition, prior authorization requirements can delay and limit access to needed care. KFF found that four out of 10 insured adults with a chronic condition say prior authorization is their single biggest health care burden beyond costs. While the vast majority of prior authorization requests are approved, the process can still be burdensome for patients and physicians and result in delays in care and wrongful denials. A 2024 federal regulation requires certain insurers to publicly report specific prior authorization metrics, such as the overall average rate of denials, on their websites annually, with the first set of data covering 2025 posted by March 31, 2026. A first look at the new data reveals its limitations. Continue reading here…

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