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BENEFITS PAYABLE
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025
Insurance [Abstract]  
BENEFITS PAYABLE BENEFITS PAYABLE
On a consolidated basis, which represents our Insurance segment net of eliminations, activity in benefits payable was as follows for the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024 and 2023:
202520242023
 (in millions)
Balances at January 1$10,440 $10,241 $9,264 
Acquisitions— — 62 
Incurred related to:
Current year111,841 101,365 89,266 
Prior years(1,029)(701)(872)
Total incurred110,812 100,664 88,394 
Paid related to:
Current year(102,215)(91,281)(79,545)
Prior years(9,070)(9,184)(7,934)
Total paid(111,285)(100,465)(87,479)
Balances at December 31$9,967 $10,440 $10,241 
The total estimate of benefits payable for claims incurred but not reported, or IBNR, is included within the net
incurred claims amounts. At December 31, 2025 and 2024, benefits payable included IBNR of approximately $6.6 billion and $7.3 billion, primarily associated with claims incurred in each respective year. The cumulative number of reported claims as of December 31, 2025 was approximately 229.1 million for claims incurred in 2025, 223.7 million for claims incurred in 2024, and 218.8 million for claims incurred in 2023.
    Amounts incurred related to prior periods vary from previously estimated liabilities as the claims ultimately are settled. Negative amounts reported for incurred related to prior years result from claims being ultimately settled for amounts less than originally estimated (favorable development).
Our reserving practice is to consistently recognize the actuarial best estimate of our ultimate liability for claims, which generally results in favorable reserve development, or reserves that are considered redundant. We experienced favorable medical claims reserve development related to prior fiscal years of $1.0 billion in 2025, $701 million in 2024, and $872 million in 2023.
The medical claims reserve development for 2025, 2024, and 2023 primarily reflects the consistent application of trend and completion factors. The favorable development recognized in 2025 resulted primarily from trend factors and completion factors developing more favorably than originally expected. The favorable development recognized in 2024 and 2023 primarily resulted from trend factors developing more favorably than originally expected.
Incurred and Paid Claims Development
The following discussion provides information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2025, net of reinsurance, as well as cumulative claim frequency and the total of IBNR included within the net incurred claims amounts. The information about incurred and paid claims development for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is presented as supplementary information.
    Claims frequency is measured as medical fee-for-service claims for each service encounter with a unique provider identification number. Our claims frequency measure includes claims covered by deductibles as well as claims under capitated arrangements. Claim counts may vary based on product mix and the percentage of delegated capitation arrangements.
    The following tables provide information about incurred and paid claims development as of December 31, 2025, net of reinsurance.
Incurred Claims, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Claims Incurred Year2023
Unaudited		2024
Unaudited		2025
(in millions)
2023 & Prior$89,328 $88,675 $88,615 
2024101,365 100,396 
2025111,841 
 Total$300,852 
Cumulative Paid Claims, Net of Reinsurance
For the Years Ended December 31,
Claims Incurred Year2023
Unaudited		2024
Unaudited		2025
(in millions)
2023 & Prior$79,545 $88,319 $88,584 
202491,281 100,086 
2025102,215 
 Total290,885 
Benefits payable, net of reinsurance$9,967 
For additional information regarding our benefits payable and benefits expense recognition, refer to Note 2.