v3.26.3
Medical Claims Liability
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2026
Insurance [Abstract]  
Medical Claims Liability Medical Claims Liability
The following table summarizes the change in medical claims liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 ($ in millions):
MedicaidMedicareCommercialOtherConsolidated Total
Balance, January 1, 2026
$10,375 $4,401 $5,683 $85 $20,544 
Less: Reinsurance recoverable16 — 60 — 76 
Balance, January 1, 2026, net
10,359 4,401 5,623 85 20,468 
Incurred related to:
Current year66,889 29,496 22,827 1,108 120,320 
Prior years(1,101)(268)(478)(13)(1,860)
Total incurred65,788 29,228 22,349 1,095 118,460 
Paid related to:
Current year56,197 25,236 18,504 1,100 101,037 
Prior years8,300 3,773 4,303 70 16,446 
Total paid64,497 29,009 22,807 1,170 117,483 
Balance, September 30, 2026, net
11,650 4,620 5,165 10 21,445 
Plus: Reinsurance recoverable15 — 35 — 50 
Balance, September 30, 2026
$11,665 $4,620 $5,200 $10 $21,495 

The following table summarizes the change in medical claims liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2025 ($ in millions):
MedicaidMedicareCommercialOtherConsolidated Total
Balance, January 1, 2025
$10,299 $3,358 $4,463 $188 $18,308 
Less: Reinsurance recoverable18 — 47 — 65 
Balance, January 1, 2025, net
10,281 3,358 4,416 188 18,243 
Incurred related to:
Current year64,181 25,306 27,111 1,597 118,195 
Prior years(1,143)(501)(504)(24)(2,172)
Total incurred63,038 24,805 26,607 1,573 116,023 
Paid related to:
Current year53,764 21,544 22,201 1,426 98,935 
Prior years8,229 2,461 3,250 161 14,101 
Total paid61,993 24,005 25,451 1,587 113,036 
Plus: Premium deficiency reserve— 190 — — 190 
Balance, September 30, 2025, net
11,326 4,348 5,572 174 21,420 
Plus: Reinsurance recoverable17 — 56 — 73 
Balance, September 30, 2025
$11,343 $4,348 $5,628 $174 $21,493 

Reinsurance recoverables related to medical claims are included in premium and trade receivables. Changes in estimates of incurred claims for prior years are primarily attributable to reserving under moderately adverse conditions. Additionally, as a result of development within "Incurred related to: Prior years," the Company recorded $35 million and $86 million as a reduction to premium revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, for minimum medical loss ratio (MLR) and other return of premium programs.
Incurred but not reported (IBNR) plus expected development on reported claims as of September 30, 2026 was $12,184 million. Total IBNR plus expected development on reported claims represents estimates for claims incurred but not reported, development on reported claims and estimates for the costs necessary to process unpaid claims at the end of each period. The Company estimates its liability using actuarial methods that are commonly used by health insurance actuaries and meet Actuarial Standards of Practice. These actuarial methods consider factors such as historical data for payment patterns, cost trends, product mix, seasonality, utilization of healthcare services and other relevant factors.

The Company reviews actual and anticipated experience compared to the assumptions used to establish medical costs. The Company establishes premium deficiency reserves if actual and anticipated experience indicates that existing policy liabilities together with the present value of future gross premiums will not be sufficient to cover the present value of future benefits, settlement and maintenance costs. For purposes of determining premium deficiencies, contracts are grouped in a manner consistent with the method of acquiring, servicing and measuring the profitability of such contracts and expected investment income is excluded. In December 2024, the Company recorded a premium deficiency reserve of $92 million related to the 2025 Medicare Advantage contract year, which was increased to $270 million in the first quarter of 2025 and to $389 million in the second quarter of 2025 and decreased by $107 million to $282 million in the third quarter of 2025 based on the progression of earnings during the year (with higher earnings at the beginning of the year and lower at the end of the year, given cost sharing progression), including anticipated impacts of the Inflation Reduction Act to the Part D benefit within the Company's Medicare Advantage business. As of September 2026, the Company did not record a premium deficiency reserve related to the 2026 Medicare Advantage contract year.