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Michael J. Polakowski

FSA, MAAA
Principal and Consulting Actuary
Seattle, WA, US
1 206 5045639

Michael Polakowski is a principal and consulting actuary within the Health Practice in Milliman's Seattle office. He joined the firm in 2005.

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Experience

Michael’s actuarial experience includes pricing, rating, reserving, medical underwriting, hospital contract analysis, benchmarking, and regulatory filings.

Michael works primarily with group healthcare programs, including commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and veteran populations. He provides consulting services in pricing, benefit plan design, experience analysis, healthcare cost projections, rate filings, RDS and creditable coverage certifications, capitation arrangements (including conversion from FFS), provider reimbursement/incentive arrangements, and claim liability estimates.

His area of expertise is managed healthcare, and he has extensive experience with Medicare Advantage plans in several states.

Publications

Read their latest work

Article

Actuarial and business considerations for Medicare Advantage Organizations considering adding a chronic condition special needs plan

18 December 2025 - by Michael J. Polakowski, Jay Cain, Lance Anderson
We offer some considerations for Medicare Advantage organizations on whether to offer a chronic condition special needs plan (C-SNP).
Article

CMS introduces competitive bidding into the Value-Based Insurance Design program for 2025

26 March 2024 - by Lindsy Kotecki, Michael J. Polakowski
With the growth of value-based insurance design in the Medicare Advantage market, we outline the landscape for this year and offer insights for 2025 and beyond.
Video

2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D regulatory and legislative changes

22 February 2023 - by Michael J. Polakowski, Ryan Swenson, Sam Shellabarger
Join us for a discussion of regulatory and guidance updates impacting 2024 MAPD bids including draft BPT changes and proposed rule impacts.
Article

Impact of COVID-19 on 2023 MAO risk score projections

04 November 2021 - by David Koenig, Rob Pipich, Michael J. Polakowski
Deferred or avoided care in 2020 can cause lower risk scores and revenue in 2021, which needs to be considered when developing projections for 2023
Article

COVID-19’s impact on MA risk scores: How insurers can protect themselves

11 August 2020 - by David Koenig, Rob Pipich, Michael J. Polakowski
Medicare Advantage organizations face unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article

Impacts of hurricanes on health outcomes and health insurance company operations

23 October 2017 - by Lynn F. Dong, Scott Jones, Michael J. Polakowski
From an operational and financial perspective, natural disasters can have significant effects on healthcare providers, insurers, and payers.
Article

MACRA and Medicare Advantage plans: Synergies and potential opportunities

21 February 2017 - by Drew Osborne, Christopher Kunkel, Lynn F. Dong, Michael J. Polakowski, Noah Champagne, Charlie Mills
While MACRA primarily affects Part B clinicians, there are numerous implications, synergies, and opportunities for Medicare Advantage plans.
Article

Medicare Part D PBM contracting strategy

16 February 2017 - by Nicholas Johnson, Michael J. Polakowski, Todd Wanta
One of the most important ways plan sponsors can lower pharmacy costs is to look for ways to improve their pharmacy benefit manager contract.
Article

Senate Finance Committee outlines policy options that affect traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and ACOs

25 January 2016 - by Nicholas Johnson, Michael J. Polakowski
This article summarizes the proposals, released December 18, 2015, by the Senate Finance Committee that, if adopted, would have a wide-ranging impact on traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare accountable organizations.