Letter for employers

Dear [Benefits or HR contact],

I am writing about a UnitedHealthcare policy that, starting June 1, 2023, requires prior authorization for diagnostic and surveillance colonoscopies. If a physician believes a patient needs a colonoscopy to diagnose or rule out disease, including colon cancer, the insurer can delay or deny that care before the procedure happens.

Prior authorization can take weeks or months. UnitedHealthcare can make that decision without examining the patient. Nearly 200 gastrointestinal societies wrote to UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, Andrew Witty, and called the change flawed, misguided, and harmful to patients.

Insurance companies should not be the ones deciding whether a recommended colonoscopy happens on time. I am asking our company to tell UnitedHealthcare, and the broker who manages our plan, that we oppose this requirement and that we expect recommended colonoscopies to be covered without this delay.

I am happy to share the reporting and the physician letter. Thank you for taking this to the people who negotiate our coverage.

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your team or employee ID, if you want to include it]