Big insurance companies are finally responding to criticism by promising to make it easier for patients to get approval for medical treatments and prescriptions. Instead of dragging their feet or outright denying coverage, they’re pledging to speed up decisions—so you could walk out of your doctor’s office knowing whether your procedure or test will be covered.

Editor’s Note: If you’ve ever been stuck waiting days (or weeks) for an insurer to greenlight a treatment, you know how frustrating and risky that delay can be. This shift could mean fewer bureaucratic headaches and faster care—a big deal for patients who’ve long felt like insurers were gatekeeping their health. But the real test? Whether these promises actually translate to real-world changes.