The $18.6 Billion Bump: Best Of The 2026 OPEN MINDS Service Excellence Institute

The Medicare Advantage quality bonus program provides significant bonuses to Medicare Advantage plans with a star rating of 4 or above (on a five-star rating system). Recent changes in the bonus program – purportedly to simplify the program – will;increase Medicare Advantage spending by $18.6 billion over the next 10 years (see;Medicare Will Spend More Than $13 Billion On The Medicare Advantage Quality Bonus Program In 2026;and;Medicare Program; Contract Year 2027 & Certain Contract Year 2026 Policy & Technical Changes To The Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program & Medicare . . .