Aetna found provider trust in payers climbed to 6.1 out of 10 in its second quarterly Provider Survey, up from 5.4 the previous quarter.

The quarterly study, conducted by Morning Consult in the second quarter of 2026, polled 723 providers nationwide, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists and health technology leaders, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Thirty-eight percent of providers ranked payers 8 or higher on the trust scale, while 52% said payers consistently deliver on their promises — a 16-point gain from the first quarter — and 56% said payers provide clear coverage information.

"Trust is a foundational element of health care today. To truly transform the system, we need to continue to deepen the provider-payer relationship," said Steve Nelson, Executive Vice President and President of Aetna, "At Aetna, we've invested significant time and resources to listen to our provider partners and take actions accordingly. I'm encouraged to see that these efforts are being acknowledged and, while there is more work ahead, we are heading in the right direction today and into the future."

Administrative burden remained providers' top challenge, with managing patient records and prior authorization accounting for 84% of responses combined. More than 30% expect technology-enabled tools to save over an hour daily, and 68% cited interoperability as their leading technology challenge, with 47% saying real-time patient data access could save more than 10 minutes per appointment.

Digital tools from payers are also improving patient navigation: 71% of providers said these services help patients understand benefits and care options, and 72% said they clarify claims status. Looking ahead, 84% of providers expect technology to improve health outcomes over the next five years.