Anthem (Elevance Health) employer health plans in California
Who Anthem (Elevance Health) insures among California employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Anthem (Elevance Health) network pays hospitals.
Anthem (Elevance Health) employer health plans in California at a glance
What the data shows
Anthem (Elevance Health) insures 1,448 employer health plans in California (22% of 6,525 insured large plans), 2nd of 8 carrier groups; Kaiser Permanente (3,845) hold more.
Anthem (Elevance Health) has shrunk 6% in California since 2020, from 1,533 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (911 plans); 108 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,794, 2% above the California all-carrier median of $7,612. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
94% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Anthem (Elevance Health) contracts; where paid, the median was 5.2% of premium (middle half 4.4%–6.5%).
At California hospitals, Anthem (Elevance Health)'s commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 15 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $23,372 across 12 hospitals.
Anthem (Elevance Health) plans in California, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,533 | 782,679 | 23% | $6,648 |
| 2021 | 1,516 | 768,666 | 23% | $6,545 |
| 2022 | 1,473 | 831,845 | 22% | $6,396 |
| 2023 | 1,511 | 805,879 | 23% | $7,486 |
| 2024 | 1,448 | 1,358,921 | 22% | $7,794 |
| 2025 (partial) | 989 | 532,496 | 22% | $7,904 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 232 | 16% |
| 100–499 | 911 | 63% |
| 500–999 | 185 | 13% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 95 | 7% |
| 5,000 or more | 13 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Anthem (Elevance Health) | All carriers, California |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,794 | $7,612 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,959–$9,908 | $5,825–$9,721 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 94% | 84% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 5.2% | 5.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 4.4%–6.5% | 4.0%–5.8% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $397 | $354 |
Industries
Anthem (Elevance Health)'s California employer clients are concentrated in professional and technical services (270 plans) and manufacturing (248), followed by health care and social assistance (154).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and technical services | 270 | 19% |
| Manufacturing | 248 | 17% |
| Health care and social assistance | 154 | 11% |
| Finance and insurance | 87 | 6% |
| Construction | 84 | 6% |
| Wholesale trade | 84 | 6% |
Anthem (Elevance Health) employer clients in California
1,392 employers in California have a Anthem (Elevance Health) major-medical contract, 108 of them covering 1,000 or more people. For each one Medlyze has the plan year, the broker on each contract and what that broker was paid, and compiles the list for a state, an industry or a single employer on request.
| Employer | Persons covered | Plan year ends | Broker | Broker pay, % of premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Employer name | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
Brokers: request the Anthem (Elevance Health) Prospect List for California →
What the Anthem (Elevance Health) network pays hospitals in California
Anthem (Elevance Health) commercial rates are on record at 22 California hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, Anthem (Elevance Health)'s rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 15 of 17 services and lower for 2. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $262 to $5,168 across 10 hospitals.
This page shows 3 of the 17 services in full. The other rates, the size of each gap and every hospital's prices are in the Plan Cost Benchmark.
| Service | Hospitals | Median rate | Range (P10–P90) | vs other carriers, same hospitals | Cash price, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay) | 12 | $23,372 | $19,769–$31,182 | Higher | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 10 | $587 | $262–$5,168 | Higher | $6,210 |
| MRI, knee | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 10 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 10 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 6 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 11 | $1,893 | $1,061–$6,925 | Higher | $5,064 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Anthem (Elevance Health) rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Regional Medical Center | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Cedars Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital | $23,372 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center | $27,687 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Los Angeles Community Hospital | $27,687 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Los Robles Hospital And Medical Center | $19,769 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Mad River Community Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Riverside Community Hospital | $22,998 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Culver City | $27,687 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Hollywood | $27,687 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital | $19,769 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 47%, fee schedules 24%, per diem 7%, percent of billed charges 8%, other 15% of Anthem (Elevance Health)'s published commercial rates for these services in California.
Employers: see all 17 services and every hospital near your people in a Plan Cost Benchmark →
Hospital facility rate only: physician, anesthesia and implant charges are separate. Rates are what hospitals publish, not claims paid, and are not weighted by use.
Carriers in California
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | 3,845 | 59% | $7,918 | 4.6% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1,448 | 22% | $7,794 | 5.2% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1,178 | 18% | $8,573 | 5.3% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 1,165 | 18% | $6,939 | 5.0% |
| Cigna | 945 | 14% | $4,568 | 6.4% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 849 | 13% | $6,155 | 5.2% |
| Aetna | 800 | 12% | $7,192 | 5.0% |
| Humana | 19 | 0% | $749 | 11.6% |
Anthem (Elevance Health) in other states
FAQ
How many California employers have Anthem (Elevance Health) health insurance?
1,448 employer health plans in California reported a Anthem (Elevance Health) major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 1,358,921 persons. Self-funded plans that Anthem (Elevance Health) only administers are not counted.
What is Anthem (Elevance Health)'s share of the California insured employer market?
22% of insured large employer health plans, 2nd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Anthem (Elevance Health) plans in California?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 5.2% of premium (5.0% across all carriers in California).
Can I see the figures for a specific employer?
Yes. Brokers can request an Employer Account Brief on one employer, or a Prospect List for this market. Employers can request a Plan Cost Benchmark for their own plan. Use the request form on this page.
About these numbers
- Plans counted: the 1,448 California employer health plans with a Anthem (Elevance Health) major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that Anthem (Elevance Health) only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 1,377 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 1,351 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Anthem (Elevance Health) commercial rates at California hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.