v3.25.4
Medical Costs Payable (Notes)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Insurance [Abstract]  
Medical Costs Payable [Text Block] Medical Costs Payable
The following table shows the components of the change in medical costs payable for the years ended December 31:
(in millions)202520242023
Medical costs payable, beginning of period$34,224 $32,395 $29,056 
Acquisitions (dispositions), net32 (755)1 
Reported medical costs:
Current year313,463 264,885 242,734 
Prior years(140)(700)(840)
Premium deficiency and loss contracts reserves672 — — 
Total reported medical costs313,995 264,185 241,894 
Medical payments:
Payments for current year
(277,135)(231,890)(211,380)
Payments for prior years(31,290)(29,532)(27,176)
Total medical payments(308,425)(261,422)(238,556)
Less: increase in medical costs payable included within businesses held for sale(489)(179)— 
Medical costs payable, end of period$39,337 $34,224 $32,395 
For the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023, prior years’ medical cost reserve development included no individual factors that were significant. Medical costs payable included IBNR of $26.7 billion and $23.7 billion at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively. Substantially all of the IBNR balance as of December 31, 2025 relates to the current year.
The following is information about incurred and paid medical cost development as of December 31, 2025:
Net Incurred Medical Costs
 (in millions)For the Years Ended December 31,
Year20242025
2024$264,885 $264,550 
2025313,463 
Changes in premium deficiency and loss contracts reserves672 
Total$578,685 
Net Cumulative Medical Payments
 (in millions)For the Years Ended December 31,
Year20242025
2024$(231,890)$(262,318)
2025(277,135)
Total(539,453)
Net remaining outstanding liabilities prior to 2024562 
Acquisitions32 
Increase in medical costs payable included within businesses held for sale(489)
Total medical costs payable$39,337