Access to the patient continues to improve, and both suppliers and the patient report stable progress, according to Patient access status 2025. Based on the impulse of the patient access status of 2024 (when 55% of suppliers reported better access), 36% now say they have improved even more. Around six out of ten patients agree that the experience is the same or better as a year ago.
Now in its fifth year, the last annual survey of Expertian Health shows how the perceptions of patients and suppliers or access to the patient have changed, and where there is still work to be done. In February 2025, more than 200 decision makers were surveyed in the medical care income cycle and about 1000 medical care consumers about their experiences about the previous year.
The findings point to three key opportunities for organizations that seek to improve the patient’s experience and increase income, which are analyzed below.
What patients and suppliers think about access to the patient (and 3 imitation opportunities)
The general feeling is encouraging, but there is always a margin of improvement. The report offers a detailed breakdown of the reasons why respondents think that access has improved, or not, and how many respondents these reasons cool. These ideas will help suppliers attack their improvement efforts where they should import.
OPPORTUNITY 1: Focus on financial experience
- 29% of patients say that paying for medical care is worsening
- 56% of patients say they need the help of their supplier to understand what its insurance covers
- 50% of suppliers say that access is better because patients have more flexible payment options
Financial Conerns continue to shape the patient’s experience. Alfibility is a key factor in itself patients think that paying attention is becoming easier or more difficult, but it is not the only one. Patients who feel that paying for medical care has improved the reasons to quote how to understand what their insurance covers, have payment plans that make costs more manageable and complete the paperwork digitally before care. On the contrary, those with a negative vision mention confusion about what they, difficulty in making payments, excess paperwork and the lack of payment plans among their main Conerns.
To address these challenges, suppliers can resort to tools that rationalize the financial trip from the beginning. Automate the patient’s financial authorization It helps to put patients on the correct financial road as quickly as possible, while segmentation data allow Collection strategies. Offering flexible and convenient payment plans Digital Payment Options They complete a financial experience that is easier, more transparent and aligned with the needs of patients.
OPPORTUNITY 2: Prioritize precise price estimates
- 81% of patients say that a precise estimate helps the subject to prepare better to pay
- 43% of patients say that without an estimate, they are likely to postpone or cancel care
- 88% of suppliers say there is an urgency to improve or implement precise estimates
Sticking with the financial issue, the findings suggest that despite having efforts, Price transparency In particular, you still need some work. While more patients received estimates, precision has decreased for the third consecutive year. As a result, patients are uncertain about what they should, which causes some to avoid completely care. On the other hand, 38% of patients say that understanding the cost of care before treatment made a better payment experience.
With 77% of patients who say it is important that their supplier can explain what its insurance covers before treatment, there is a clear opportunity to help patients feel more in control. This will not only reduce patient stress, but also generate confidence and increase the possibility of immediate payments.
Almost all patients say they fight to pay attention at some time, so Improve the accuracy of estimates It should be an immediate priority for suppliers. The appropriate and personalized estimates that reflect the true cost of care will provide patients with early clarity and avoid surprises later.
Experian health Patient estimates tools Use data in real time, including insurance coverage, the terms of the contract of the updated payer and the current price of the supplier, to calculate precise estimates before the services are delivered. Patients can receive estimates sent directly to their mobile device or generate estimates through a web -based self -service portal.
Opportunity 3: Use automation to improve data collection
- 56% of suppliers say that patient information errors are a main cause of denied claims
- 48% say that the data collected in the registry are “something” or “not” precise
- 83% say there is an urgent need for a faster and comprehensive insurance verification
Frontal operations are an important source of friction for both suppliers and patients. Four of the five challenges of access to the upper patient reported by the suppliers are related to the compilation of Front-End data, including the improvement of insurance searches, the reduction of errors and the acceleration of authorizations.
These inefficiencies not only slow down internal workflows. The manual processes, prone to errors, lead to delays, claim denials and frustration of the patient. Suppliers point out that personnel scarcity is aggravating the problem, which suggests that addressing these front-end workflows would be a strategic operational victory. It is also a financial opportunity. In the last of Caqh Index reportChanging manual to electronic transactions for administrative tasks, such as eligibility checks, insurance verification and previous authorizations, could save the health industry up to $ 20 billion.
Patient access curator Use artificial automation and intelligence (AI) to optimize the patient’s access and billing, address claims denials and improve data quality from the beginning. This integrated solution performs a rapid election, benefits coordination (COB), identifier of beneficiaries of Medicare (MBI), demographic data and insurance discovery to ensure that all data are correct in the front.
He Patient access status: Strategy survey
The general conclusion in Patient access status 2025 It is that while progress is directed in the right direction, there are significant opportunities, especially when it comes to improving the patient’s financial experience, the transparency of prices and front-end operations.
In the future, patients want financial clarity and confidence in accessing care. Suppliers, who face personnel and operational pressures, need intelligent and scalable solutions to meet those expectations. Now is the time to take those findings and implement the appropriate tools and strategies to maintain good job.
