Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Arizona
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Arizona employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians and hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Arizona at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Arizona: 293 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 39% of the state's 749 insured large plans, ahead of Cigna with 194.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 20% in Arizona since 2020, from 245 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (203 plans); 19 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,557, 9% above the Arizona all-carrier median of $5,111. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
83% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 5.0% of premium (middle half 4.3%–6.1%).
In BCBS: BCBS AZ, 26 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Arizona benchmark, at a median of 103% of Medicare across those services.
At Arizona hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 2 of 5 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $34,076 across 7 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Arizona, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 245 | 57,975 | 34% | $7,305 |
| 2021 | 224 | 77,931 | 34% | $4,968 |
| 2022 | 250 | 92,332 | 36% | $4,970 |
| 2023 | 268 | 104,575 | 36% | $4,909 |
| 2024 | 293 | 116,561 | 39% | $5,557 |
| 2025 (partial) | 195 | 87,952 | 38% | $5,546 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 47 | 16% |
| 100–499 | 203 | 69% |
| 500–999 | 24 | 8% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 16 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 3 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,557 | $5,111 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $4,209–$6,819 | $2,858–$6,918 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 83% | 83% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 4.3%–6.1% | 4.0%–7.0% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $273 | $255 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Arizona employer clients are concentrated in health care and social assistance (51 plans) and construction (41), followed by manufacturing (37).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 51 | 17% |
| Construction | 41 | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 13% |
| Professional and technical services | 32 | 11% |
| Administrative and support services | 15 | 5% |
| Educational services | 15 | 5% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Arizona
283 employers in Arizona have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 19 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 Arizona →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians in Arizona
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $351 | $351–$351 | 122% | $323 | 48 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $70 | $70–$70 | 103% | $75 | 54 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $16 | $16–$16 | 102% | $17 | 11 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $78 | $78–$78 | 105% | $78 | 47 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $76 | $68–$76 | 103% | $80 | 11 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45385 | $277 | $277–$277 | 124% | $489 | 17 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43239 | $179 | $179–$179 | 145% | $259 | 17 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $29 | $29–$29 | 78% | $49 | 31 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $9 | $9–$9 | 101% | $12 | 31 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $86 | $86–$86 | 103% | $110 | 32 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $51 | $51–$51 | 103% | $69 | 33 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $9 | $9–$9 | 88% | $13 | 31 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $108 | $108–$108 | 103% | $141 | 31 |
| MRI cervical spine without contrast | 72141 | $70 | $70–$70 | 103% | $101 | 31 |
| MRI knee (lower-extremity joint) without contrast | 73721 | $65 | $65–$65 | 103% | $88 | 31 |
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.
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Arizona
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 13 Arizona hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 2 of 5 services and lower for 2. For Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay), the rate runs from $13,152 to $38,426 across 7 hospitals.
| Service | Hospitals | Median rate | Range (P10–P90) | vs other carriers, same hospitals | Cash price, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay) | 7 | $34,076 | $13,152–$38,426 | Higher | – |
Hospital-by-hospital Blue Cross Blue Shield rates for Arizona are in the Plan Cost Benchmark; this page shows them once 15 or more hospitals' files include them.
How the contracts are written: case rates 12%, fee schedules 51%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 0%, other 36% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Arizona.
Employers: request hospital prices 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 Arizona
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 293 | 39% | $5,557 | 5.0% |
| Cigna | 194 | 26% | $2,634 | 8.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 154 | 21% | $4,911 | 5.3% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 75 | 10% | $9,007 | 4.1% |
| Aetna | 73 | 10% | $5,396 | 4.4% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 57 | 8% | $3,033 | 4.3% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 8 | 1% | $5,860 | 4.4% |
| Humana | 1 | 0% | $4,272 | 2.3% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Arizona employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
293 employer health plans in Arizona reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 116,561 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Arizona insured employer market?
39% of insured large employer health plans, 1st of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Arizona?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 5.0% of premium (5.1% across all carriers in Arizona).
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 293 Arizona 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: 277 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 241 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: BCBS: BCBS AZ, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Arizona hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.