The Impact of AI on Health Insurance Decisions

Health insurance companies are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to make decisions regarding patient care, often resulting in denied coverage for individuals needing assistance. Algorithms, such as those utilized by United Healthcare and its subsidiary NaviHealth, assess patient data to predict care durations and determine approvals for treatments. The opacity of these algorithms often leaves patients and healthcare providers unaware of the factors influencing such denials, complicating the appeals process. This lack of transparency poses significant challenges in securing necessary medical care, as patients struggle to understand the reasoning behind decisions made by a seemingly impersonal system.