Report: The State of Patient Access 2026

Healthcare organizations are making steady progress in patient access—but key gaps remain. Experian Health’s State of Patient Access 2026 report explores how providers are working to improve financial experience for patients, collect more accurate patient information during registration, and better enable patients to use digital and mobile tools.

Drawing on survey responses from more than 1,000 patients and 200+ healthcare revenue cycle leaders, the findings reveal where patient access is improving and where challenges persist. The report highlights the growing importance of accurate estimates, reliable patient data, and creating a smoother patient experience.

Sample findings:

• 82% of patients say an accurate estimate helps them better prepare to pay their healthcare costs 
• Improving the speed, accuracy and completeness of insurance searches was the No. 1 provider challenge in 2026 
• 68% of providers have enabled online pre-registration to improve patient data collection
• 28% of providers have leveraged AI to improve the accuracy and speed of data collection

Download the report now to discover insights healthcare leaders can use to improve the patient experience and protect revenue.