Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Alabama
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Alabama employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians.
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Alabama at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Alabama: 396 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 90% of the state's 440 insured large plans, ahead of UnitedHealthcare with 12.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield book in Alabama has held steady since 2020 (404 plans then).
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (290 plans); 24 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $6,333, 6% above the Alabama all-carrier median of $5,988. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
3% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 4.1% of premium (middle half 3.1%–5.3%).
In BCBS: BCBS AL, 25 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Alabama benchmark, at a median of 213% of Medicare across those services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Alabama, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 404 | 158,594 | 88% | $5,459 |
| 2021 | 418 | 164,856 | 89% | $5,423 |
| 2022 | 390 | 158,229 | 87% | $5,812 |
| 2023 | 432 | 177,160 | 89% | $6,118 |
| 2024 | 396 | 165,258 | 90% | $6,333 |
| 2025 (partial) | 291 | 132,613 | 90% | $6,439 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 26 | 7% |
| 100–499 | 290 | 73% |
| 500–999 | 55 | 14% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 22 | 6% |
| 5,000 or more | 2 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $6,333 | $5,988 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,129–$8,357 | $4,431–$7,961 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 3% | 18% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.1% | 10.8% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.1%–5.3% | 4.5%–25.0% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $300 | $222 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Alabama employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (81 plans) and professional and technical services (73), followed by health care and social assistance (49).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 81 | 20% |
| Professional and technical services | 73 | 18% |
| Health care and social assistance | 49 | 12% |
| Finance and insurance | 28 | 7% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 6% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 6% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Alabama
361 employers in Alabama have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 24 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 Blue Cross Blue Shield Prospect List for Alabama →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians in Alabama
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $634 | $634–$634 | 221% | $447 | 40 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $95 | $95–$95 | 141% | $92 | 44 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $146 | $146–$146 | 196% | $89 | 46 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $418 | $418–$418 | 254% | $387 | 35 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $305 | $305–$305 | 276% | $258 | 35 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $987 | $987–$987 | 213% | $662 | 46 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $54 | $54–$54 | 145% | $51 | 52 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $15 | $15–$15 | 160% | $13 | 52 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $149 | $149–$149 | 178% | $109 | 52 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $100 | $100–$100 | 202% | $64 | 52 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $24 | $24–$24 | 238% | $14 | 52 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $190 | $190–$191 | 181% | $138 | 50 |
| MRI cervical spine without contrast | 72141 | $161 | $161–$161 | 236% | $91 | 52 |
| MRI knee (lower-extremity joint) without contrast | 73721 | $147 | $147–$147 | 234% | $82 | 52 |
| MRI lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $161 | $161–$161 | 235% | $89 | 52 |
Professional fee only: facility, implant and anesthesia charges are not included. Limited: rates come from a sample of providers, and groups are counted only in specialties that perform the service.
Carriers in Alabama
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 396 | 90% | $6,333 | 4.1% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 59 | 13% | $1,275 | 22.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 12 | 3% | $3,637 | 4.4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 11 | 2% | $8,302 | 3.7% |
| Cigna | 6 | 1% | $2,711 | 9.5% |
| Aetna | 3 | 1% | $2,825 | 3.0% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Alabama employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
396 employer health plans in Alabama reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 165,258 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Alabama insured employer market?
90% of insured large employer health plans, 1st of 6 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Alabama?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.1% of premium (10.8% across all carriers in Alabama).
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 396 Alabama employer health plans with a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 388 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 12 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: BCBS: BCBS AL, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.