Total — Benefit expense
Elevance Health Total — Benefit expense decreased by 3.8% to $6.09B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 14.4%, from $5.32B to $6.09B. Over 3 years (FY 2022 to FY 2025), Total — Benefit expense shows an upward trend with a 35.9% CAGR. This is a positive signal — lower values indicate better performance for this metric.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase relative to premiums suggests rising medical costs or higher utilization, which can compress margins, while a decrease may indicate improved cost management or lower utilization.
Detailed definition
The total costs incurred by the Carelon segment for medical services and benefits provided to insured members. This expe...
Peer comparison
Comparable to medical claims expense or benefit costs reported by health insurance and managed care peers.
elv_segment_total_carelon_benefit_expenseHistorical Data
| 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 | $2.42B | $2.42B | $2.42B | $2.42B | $2.65B | $2.65B | $2.65B | $2.65B | $3.01B | $3.63B | $3.77B | $3.98B | $5.32B | $6.29B | $6.35B | $6.33B | $6.09B |
| QoQ Change | — | +0.0% | +0.0% | +0.0% | +9.8% | +0.0% | +0.0% | +0.0% | +13.5% | +20.7% | +3.7% | +5.6% | +33.7% | +18.3% | +0.9% | -0.4% | -3.8% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +9.8% | +9.8% | +9.8% | +9.8% | +13.5% | +36.9% | +42.0% | +50.0% | +76.7% | +73.2% | +68.5% | +59.0% | +14.4% |
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Elevance Health's total — benefit expense?
- Elevance Health (ELV) reported total — benefit expense of $6.09B in Q1 2026.
- How has Elevance Health's total — benefit expense changed year-over-year?
- Elevance Health's total — benefit expense increased by 14.4% year-over-year, from $5.32B to $6.09B.
- What is the long-term trend for Elevance Health's total — benefit expense?
- Over 3 years (2022 to 2025), Elevance Health's total — benefit expense has grown at a 35.9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $9.67B to $24.28B.
- What does total — benefit expense mean?
- The total cost of medical benefits paid out by the Carelon segment for its members.