RFK Jr. Unveils Health Insurance Reform Impacting 260 Million Americans

A Landmark Agreement to Streamline Prior Authorization Promises Faster Care and Less Bureaucracy

On June 24, 2025, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, stood alongside Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to unveil what they described as a transformative step forward in American healthcare. The announcement, delivered at a press conference in Washington, D.C., centered on a new agreement with the nation’s largest health insurance companies to address one of the most persistent and widespread issues in the healthcare system: prior authorization. This policy change, which Kennedy called a “monumental accomplishment,” is poised to impact nearly 260 million Americans, roughly 80% of the population covered by private and public health insurance plans. The initiative aims to streamline access to medical care, reduce bureaucratic delays, and alleviate the financial and emotional burdens that have long plagued patients, doctors, and healthcare providers.

Prior authorization, a process requiring healthcare providers to obtain approval from insurers before proceeding with certain treatments, tests, or medications, was originally introduced as a cost-control measure. Insurers argued it ensured that care was medically necessary and prevented unnecessary expenses. Over time, however, the practice has become a lightning rod for criticism. Patients have faced delays in receiving critical treatments, sometimes with severe consequences, while doctors and their staff have been bogged down by administrative burdens. According to data cited during the press conference, 85% of Americans have experienced delays due to prior authorization, making it the leading complaint among both patients and healthcare providers. In 2023 alone, Medicare Advantage plans, which cover approximately 32 million people, denied 3.2 million prior authorization requests, often for urgent or life-saving care. These denials, coupled with the time-intensive process of navigating appeals, have fueled frustration across the healthcare spectrum.