Cut points for 2026 Medicare Advantage plans look challenged, analysts say

** Leerink Partners, citing published data in a LinkedIn post, said criteria for Medicare plans to earn bonus payments "look challenged"

** The post refers to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' cut points which are thresholds used to determine "Star", or quality ratings, for Medicare Advantage plans

** There are concerns that tougher cut points in Medicare Advantage star ratings could hurt bonus payments in 2027 - Morningstar analyst Julie Utterback

** Elevance ELV.N shares slip 1.8% to $307.73, while UnitedHealth UNH.N and Humana HUM.N down marginally

** Brokerage Leerink adds in a note that it appears 58% of cut points got harder, 17% easier and 25% stayed same

** For 2025, 70% of measures got harder, 12% easier and only 18% with no change, brokerage says

** Star ratings sway enrollees' choice of plan and determine government's reimbursement levels

** CMS did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment