Between mounting scrutiny of Medicare Advantage plans, calls for greater price transparency, and the ever-growing demand for value-based care, payer organizations are entering a period of heightened pressure and scrutiny.
To confront these challenges head-on, more than 700 top executives from across the payer landscape will gather this spring in Chicago for Becker’s Spring Payer Issues Roundtable, a two-day event focused on navigating the future of managed care.
Set for April 13-14 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the event will bring together leaders from commercial payers, government programs, and integrated delivery systems to address what may be one of the most pivotal inflection points for the insurance industry in more than a decade.
Executives from organizations such as Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Optum and Aetna are expected to share insight into the decisions shaping payer strategy today — and what sustainable leadership looks like moving forward.
A High-Stakes Agenda for 2026
The Spring Roundtable will feature 20+ sessions and 6 executive-level roundtable discussions, structured to provide open dialogue on urgent issues and real-time solutions. Topics will include:
- Medicare Advantage reform and what new oversight means for growth
- The payer role in integrated behavioral health and access strategy
- The future of prior authorization and utilization management
- Risk-based contracting and restoring payer-provider trust
- Price transparency pressure from employers and regulators
- Rebuilding operational efficiency without compromising service
Speakers will include CEOs, chief medical officers, strategy leaders, policy executives, and financial decision-makers from across the payer space.
These conversations come at a time when many health plans are under intense operational and reputational strain. In just the past year, the industry has seen increased CMS enforcement, growing state-level regulatory activity, and widespread criticism of administrative complexity — all while economic pressures and labor shortages continue to challenge day-to-day performance.
A Solution-Oriented Platform for Executives
While the pressures facing payers are significant, so are the opportunities. Becker’s Spring Payer Issues Roundtable is designed not just to analyze the problems — but to surface solutions from those directly responsible for leading change.
The event format is intentionally built for senior executives — CEOs, CFOs, CMOs, strategy officers, and vice presidents from payer organizations — and prioritizes discussion over promotion. Vendor participation is limited to ensure a high-value, peer-led experience.
Becker’s has become a trusted convener for these conversations, offering forums where executives can candidly share what’s working, what isn’t, and where innovation is truly taking root.
Complimentary registration is available for qualified health plan executives.
To learn more, view the agenda, or apply to attend:
Visit the Event Page
Limited speaking spots available. Contact agendateam@beckershealthcare.com to learn more.
