That is the findings from a KFF Health Tracking Poll out this month. The survey examines which aspects of accessing care and health insurance are the biggest problem for insured adults. The survey finds that 69% of adults believe prior authorization is a burden. Specifically, the survey asks “When it comes to getting health care, how much of a burden, if at all, is each of the following”:
Prior authorization: 69% (32% major/37% minor)Understanding your bill: 60% (23% major/37% minor)Getting appointments when you need them: 60%, (20% major/40% minor)Finding providers who accept your insurance: 53% (17% major/36% minor)
Among these, 34% found prior authorization to be the biggest burden. Among patients with chronic condition, 39% found prior authorization to be the biggest burden. These findings were consistent across political party:
Top single burden by political party:
Democrats: Prior authorization (35%)Independents: Prior authorization (36%) Republicans: Prior authorization (32%)
These results are driven by the survey respondents’ direct experience with treatment denials and delays:
About one in three insured adults (33%) say they have had a health insurance company deny coverage for a certain health care service treatment, or medication prescribed by their doctor in the past two years. Three in ten insured adults say that a health insurance company has delayed their ability to get such services, treatments, or medications (29%) or required them to try a lower-cost drug or treatment before covering the one that was originally recommended by their provider (29%). These issues are even more common among insured adults with a chronic condition with about four in ten reporting that an insurance company has required them to try a lower-cost drug or treatment (38%), deny coverage for a certain service or medication (42%), or delayed their ability to get prescribed care (37%). Overall, nearly half (47%) of insured adults say they have had a certain service, treatment, or medication either denied or delayed in the past two years, rising to nearly six in ten (57%) among those with a chronic condition.
Respondents also said that these denials/delays had a negative impact on their physical health, mental health and finances. You can read more about this survey here. You can also read my article looking at for which disease is utilization most problematic here.
