CMS finalizes 2.48% Medicare Advantage payment increase for 2027

CMS finalized a net average increase of 2.48% in payments to Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, worth more than $13 billion. That is far above the roughly 0.09% increase CMS had proposed in January. The result lifts the margin outlook for Medicare Advantage insurers, including UnitedHealth, after a weak start to 2026.

• Net average 2027 increase of 2.48%, or over $13 billion
• January advance notice had proposed about 0.09%
• Counting risk score trend, CMS puts the increase at 4.98%