The AI-Native Health Plan | UnitedHealth Group’s Dan Kueter
Thursday, November 5, 2026
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The speaker reports UnitedHealthcare has a stated goal to eliminate 30% of prior authorizations and is well on the way, now seeking the next batch to eliminate.
The speaker describes UnitedHealthcare's push to eliminate 30% of prior authorizations with a longer-term goal of making the process nearly invisible using technology.
The speaker reports AI is accelerating underwriting and risk assessment by combining layered individual and group data for faster, more precise cost projections.
Can AI finally make healthcare cheaper? UnitedHealth Group Chief Commercial Officer Dan Kueter believes it can, potentially within a single-digit number of years, but only once AI moves beyond automating existing administrative work and starts enabling things the healthcare system couldn’t do before. At a16z BUILD, Dan joins General Partner Julie Yoo to discuss a generational shift in employer-sponsored health insurance, why self-funded plans are becoming accessible to smaller employers, and how AI is changing everything from underwriting and distribution to consumer navigation. They also get into UnitedHealthcare’s goal of eliminating 30% of prior authorizations, what a “touchless” version could eventually look like, and why personal AI agents could become a new front door to healthcare, forcing insurers to meet consumers wherever they choose to interact. Resources: Follow Dan Kueter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankueter/ Follow Julie Yoo on X:https://x.com/julesyoo Learn more about a16z Bio + Health:https://a16z.com/bio-health/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com (https://pcm.adswizz.com/) for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Show transcript excerpt
Can AI finally make healthcare cheaper? UnitedHealth Group Chief Commercial Officer Dan Kueter believes it can, potentially within a single-digit number of years, but only once AI moves beyond automating existing administrative work and starts enabling things the healthcare system couldn’t do before.At a16z BUILD, Dan joins General Partner Julie Yoo to discuss a generational shift in employer-sponsored health insurance, why self-funded plans are becoming accessible to smaller employers, and how AI is changing everything from underwriting and distribution to consumer navigation.They also get into UnitedHealthcare’s goal of eliminating 30% of prior authorizations, what a “touchless” version could eventually look like, and why personal AI agents could become a new front door to healthcare, forcing insurers to meet consumers wherever they choose to interact. Resources:Follow Dan Kueter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankueter/Follow Julie Yoo on X: https://x.com/julesyooLearn more about a16z Bio + Health: https://a16z.com/bio-health/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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