How fast is MA supplemental benefit value eroding?

Q: How fast is MA supplemental benefit value eroding?

Modeled PMPM supplemental benefit value fell 23.9% at UHC and 14.7% at Humana vs a 2022 baseline, while Elevance and Kaiser added value. Directional estimate. Benefit cuts are how carriers absorbed IRA drug liability and V28 revenue pressure without headline premium increases — the erosion is real but invisible in premium tables. Carriers still adding value (Elevance, Kaiser) are making a deliberate share play against retrenching incumbents.

Data through Plan years 2022–2026 · Updated April 15, 2026 modeled

Modeled per-member benefit value fell 23.9% at UHC and 14.7% at Humana versus a 2022 baseline, while Elevance added 5.4%. This is a modeled, directional estimate — labeled as such everywhere it appears.

Benefit-value change vs 2022 baseline (PMPM, modeled)

Red = value cut, green = value added, 2022→2026. Modeled from landscape benefit files; see provenance for limitations.

What the biggest cutters removed

Carrier	PMPM 2022	PMPM 2026	Change	Reported cut lines
UHC	$142	$108	-23.9%	Deep 2026 benefit cuts as part of margin-recovery plan; OTC card cut $50/q → $30/q; Transportation removed in 12+ markets; Dental max reduced $2000→$1200; Network narrowing in exited counties
Humana	$136	$116	-14.7%	2023–2025 trims under MLR pressure; Reversed course for 2026: held $0 premiums and stable benefits while rivals cut — the engine behind +1.3M member growth
Aetna	$133	$124	-6.8%	Tier 2 drug coverage narrowed in 6 markets; OTC cut $20/q
Centene	$108	$102	-5.6%	Minimal — started with lean benefits; little to cut

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Citation: MedicareInsights. “How fast is MA supplemental benefit value eroding?.” Modeled from CMS bid/landscape data — MedicareInsights estimate, data through Plan years 2022–2026. https://medicareinsights.org/spend/pmpm-benefit-erosion/.

So what / Now what

Benefit cuts are how carriers absorbed IRA drug liability and V28 revenue pressure without headline premium increases — the erosion is real but invisible in premium tables. Carriers still adding value (Elevance, Kaiser) are making a deliberate share play against retrenching incumbents.

Benefit design: benchmark OTC card, dental max, and transportation against the erosion-driver lists below — these are the cut lines shoppers notice.
Broker channels: erosion at incumbents is a switching catalyst; target retention offers at members losing specific benefits.
Treat these figures as directional (modeled) — do not put them in filings; methodology and limitations are in the provenance panel.

Provenance — Net benefit value (PMPM) vs 2022 baseline

Source file: Modeled from CMS bid/landscape data — MedicareInsights estimate
Vintage: Plan years 2022–2026
Last updated: April 15, 2026
Refresh cadence: Annual
Method: PMPM supplemental-benefit value modeled from landscape benefit files against a 2022 baseline. Directional estimate, not an actuarial figure.
Known limitations: Modeled — do not cite as CMS data. Use for prioritization, not filings.