The Biggest Burden in Health Care

February 19, 2026

A third of insured U.S. adults report prior authorization is a “major burden,” according to a poll this month from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF).

The KFF report outlines prior authorization’s “outsized impact on insured adults” and the complexity it adds to the health care system.

“The complexity of the health system drives patients crazy, can have real consequences, and disproportionately affects people who are sick,” KFF President and CEO Drew Altman said in a statement along with the poll’s release. “Prior authorization review is the poster child for that complexity.”

Here’s what you need to know:

• Top finding:  About seven in 10 insured adults report prior authorization is a "major" (32%) or "minor" (37%) burden when it comes to getting health care.
• Other notable issues:  Understanding your bill or what you owe was next on the list, with 23 percent reporting it as a major burden and 37 percent reporting it as a minor burden.
• Chronic issue:  For people with chronic conditions, concerns about prior authorization were even higher, with 39 percent of insured adults with a chronic condition reporting it as the top issue related to accessing care.
• Access to care:  About 66 percent of respondents report delays or denials for care were a “major” problem, and 24 percent reported it as a "minor" problem.
• By coverage type:  “More than six in ten across Medicaid enrollees, self-purchasers, and those with employer coverage say the delays and denials of care” are a major problem, the report notes.

HAP continues to advocate for policies that streamline the prior authorization process and protect timely access to care. Read the latest KFF poll online.