Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Arkansas
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Arkansas employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Arkansas at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Arkansas: 141 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 55% of the state's 257 insured large plans, ahead of Cigna with 36.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 34% in Arkansas since 2020, from 105 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (106 plans); 4 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,286, 4% above the Arkansas all-carrier median of $5,067. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
53% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 3.1% of premium (middle half 2.5%–5.0%).
At Arkansas hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 6 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $15,914 across 10 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Arkansas, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 105 | 36,744 | 39% | $4,602 |
| 2021 | 103 | 34,946 | 40% | $4,644 |
| 2022 | 136 | 77,737 | 50% | $4,956 |
| 2023 | 168 | 53,899 | 59% | $5,034 |
| 2024 | 141 | 42,699 | 55% | $5,286 |
| 2025 (partial) | 85 | 26,467 | 47% | $5,696 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 16 | 11% |
| 100–499 | 106 | 75% |
| 500–999 | 15 | 11% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 4 | 3% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,286 | $5,067 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $4,135–$6,861 | $3,588–$6,897 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 53% | 68% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.1% | 4.2% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.5%–5.0% | 2.6%–5.9% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $193 | $191 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Arkansas employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (28 plans) and health care and social assistance (27), followed by retail trade (15).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 28 | 20% |
| Health care and social assistance | 27 | 19% |
| Retail trade | 15 | 11% |
| Finance and insurance | 14 | 10% |
| Construction | 12 | 9% |
| Professional and technical services | 10 | 7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Arkansas
139 employers in Arkansas have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 4 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 Arkansas →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Arkansas
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 15 Arkansas 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 6 of 17 services and lower for 11. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $154 to $1,406 across 9 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) | 10 | $15,914 | $5,875–$16,012 | Lower | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 10 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 10 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 9 | $224 | $200–$639 | Lower | $1,012 |
| MRI, knee | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 9 | $344 | $154–$1,406 | Higher | $458 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Blue Cross Blue Shield rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Heart Hospital | $14,236 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi St Vincent Hospital Hot Springs | $15,914 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi St. Vincent Infirmary Health System | $15,914 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi St. Vincent Morrilton | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi St. Vincent North | $15,914 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chicot Memorial Medical Center | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Lawrence Memorial Hospital | $13,943 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Ouachita Co. Medical Center | $5,875 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| St. Bernards Five River Medical Center | $16,012 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| St. Bernards Medical Center | $16,012 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 11%, fee schedules 50%, per diem 1%, percent of billed charges 5%, other 33% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Arkansas.
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 Arkansas
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 141 | 55% | $5,286 | 3.1% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 63 | 25% | $3,387 | 6.3% |
| Cigna | 36 | 14% | $6,105 | 4.4% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 32 | 12% | $4,843 | 3.4% |
| Aetna | 5 | 2% | $270 | 13.2% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 4 | 2% | $9,200 | 1.5% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Arkansas employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
141 employer health plans in Arkansas reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 42,699 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Arkansas insured employer market?
55% 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 Arkansas?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.1% of premium (4.2% across all carriers in Arkansas).
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 141 Arkansas 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: 135 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 75 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Arkansas hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.