Making pediatric care simpler for families

Navigating the healthcare system isn’t always simple — especially when you’re trying to get care for your child. UnitedHealthcare is taking a meaningful step to ease that stress by removing nearly two‑thirds of prior authorization requirements for members under age 18 by the end of 2026.

That means less administrative complexity and a better care experience for families and providers. The goal is simple: Help parents spend less time navigating the system and more time focusing on their child as they get the care they need.

The updates focus on services where the medical approach is already well-established. That includes many common situations like:

• Diagnostic tests and imaging
• Routine surgical procedures
• Sleep studies and standard testing
• Some surgical and therapy services
• Select care across pediatric specialties such as cardiology, neurology, pulmonology and orthopedics

Because these services typically have well-established clinical pathways, there’s little variation in how care is delivered and approval rates are consistently high, these reviews can safely be eliminated.

Another change may bring added peace of mind for families seeking specialized care. Certain procedures performed at leading comprehensive pediatric hospitals may no longer require prior authorization, as well.

These hospitals are recognized for their consistent use of evidence‑based care, and these actions will help streamline the process for children who need treatment at these facilities.

This move is part of a larger, industry-leading push to make healthcare simpler to navigate. We continue to build on ongoing efforts to improve patient and care provider experiences, including:

• Reducing prior authorization requirements more broadly, including a recent 30% reduction
• Expanding our Gold Card program that rewards providers for following proven care guidelines
• Investing in digital tools for faster decisions and real‑time updates
• Supporting rural hospitals with fewer administrative requirements
• Increasing transparency around how approvals work

Together, these efforts reflect a continued focus on reducing administrative complexity, improving the care experience and helping people access care more easily and efficiently.