Business Segments · Medical costs
Medicaid — Medical costs
Centene Medicaid — Medical costs increased by 2.5% to $21.96B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 5.3%, from $20.84B to $21.96B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Medicaid — Medical costs shows an upward trend with a 5.9% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
StatementSegment
CategoryEfficiency
SignalLower is better
VolatilityModerate
First reportedQ1 2021
Last reportedQ1 2026
Rolls up toMedical costs
How to read this metric
An increase relative to revenue suggests margin compression, while a decrease relative to revenue indicates improved medical cost management.
Detailed definition
Reflects the direct costs incurred for providing medical services to Medicaid members, including payments to healthcare...
Peer comparison
Comparable to 'Medical Claims Expense' or 'Health Benefits Expense' in the managed care industry.
Metric ID:
cnc_segment_medicaid_medical_costsHistorical Data
20 periods
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $16.78B | $16.78B | $16.78B | $18.78B | $18.26B | $19.08B | $19.19B | $20.01B | $19.46B | $19.61B | $19.13B | $19.50B | $18.77B | $19.82B | $19.44B | $20.84B | $20.58B | $21.61B | $21.41B | $21.96B |
| QoQ Change | — | +0.0% | +0.0% | +11.9% | -2.8% | +4.5% | +0.6% | +4.3% | -2.8% | +0.8% | -2.4% | +1.9% | -3.7% | +5.6% | -1.9% | +7.2% | -1.3% | +5.0% | -0.9% | +2.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +8.8% | +13.7% | +14.4% | +6.6% | +6.6% | +2.8% | -0.3% | -2.6% | -3.6% | +1.1% | +1.6% | +6.9% | +9.7% | +9.1% | +10.2% | +5.3% |
Range$16.78B – $21.96B
CAGR+5.8%
Avg YoY Growth+5.6%
Median YoY Growth+6.6%
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Centene's medicaid — medical costs?
- Centene (CNC) reported medicaid — medical costs of $21.96B in Q1 2026.
- How has Centene's medicaid — medical costs changed year-over-year?
- Centene's medicaid — medical costs increased by 5.3% year-over-year, from $20.84B to $21.96B.
- What is the long-term trend for Centene's medicaid — medical costs?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Centene's medicaid — medical costs has grown at a 5.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $67.10B to $84.45B.
- What does medicaid — medical costs mean?
- The total amount spent on medical care for members within the Medicaid segment.