Overview
- One‑third of insured adults (32%) call prior authorization a major burden, outpacing confusion over bills, difficulty getting appointments, and finding in‑network providers.
- When asked to pick a single biggest obstacle beyond costs, 34% selected prior authorization, rising to 39% among those managing chronic conditions.
- Nearly half of insured adults (47%) report a service, treatment, or medication was denied, delayed, or altered in the past two years, climbing to 57% for people with chronic conditions.
- Among those experiencing denials or delays, about a third report a major negative impact on mental health (34%) and finances (33%), and a quarter report major harm to physical health (26%).
- The nationally representative KFF survey was conducted January 13–20, 2026, among 1,426 U.S. adults in English and Spanish, with a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points.