Americans now need books to survive healthcare. That’s not evidence of empowerment. It’s evidence of failure. As affordability collapses and complexity grows, patients are being forced to become advocates, navigators, and administrators just to access care they already pay for.

American healthcare delays care and denies treatment by design. Insurance rules, prior authorization, and administrative barriers control access to care, often slowing or blocking what doctors recommend and patients need.

A new KFF poll shows prior authorization now ranks as the biggest burden in American healthcare. Delays and denials affect nearly half of insured adults, with severe mental, financial, and physical consequences. Patients across every plan agree.