Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Illinois
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Illinois 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 Illinois at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Illinois: 1,496 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 69% of the state's 2,165 insured large plans, ahead of UnitedHealthcare with 297.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 3% in Illinois since 2020, from 1,451 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (1,008 plans); 144 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,619, 5% above the Illinois all-carrier median of $7,289. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
93% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 4.0% of premium (middle half 3.1%–4.2%).
In BCBS: BCBS IL, 20 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Illinois benchmark, at a median of 109% of Medicare across those services.
At Illinois hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 12 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $24,129 across 39 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Illinois, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,451 | 825,951 | 69% | $6,106 |
| 2021 | 1,424 | 2,230,385 | 68% | $6,395 |
| 2022 | 1,447 | 819,332 | 67% | $6,797 |
| 2023 | 1,527 | 850,745 | 67% | $7,130 |
| 2024 | 1,496 | 888,089 | 69% | $7,619 |
| 2025 (partial) | 1,118 | 620,411 | 70% | $7,850 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 105 | 7% |
| 100–499 | 1,008 | 67% |
| 500–999 | 235 | 16% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 125 | 8% |
| 5,000 or more | 19 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,619 | $7,289 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $6,473–$8,839 | $5,625–$8,880 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 93% | 86% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.0% | 4.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.1%–4.2% | 3.0%–4.6% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $289 | $281 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Illinois employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (298 plans) and professional and technical services (241), followed by health care and social assistance (166).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 298 | 20% |
| Professional and technical services | 241 | 16% |
| Health care and social assistance | 166 | 11% |
| Finance and insurance | 127 | 8% |
| Wholesale trade | 104 | 7% |
| Retail trade | 94 | 6% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Illinois
1,450 employers in Illinois have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 144 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 Illinois →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians in Illinois
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $327 | $272–$332 | 166% | $312 | 148 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $639 | $592–$787 | 149% | $621 | 148 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $121 | $121–$131 | 127% | $124 | 106 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $221 | $195–$221 | 194% | $167 | 168 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $76 | $67–$76 | 194% | $64 | 168 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $600 | $580–$600 | 200% | $433 | 168 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $266 | $257–$266 | 201% | $253 | 168 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $50 | $49–$57 | 152% | $41 | 168 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $810 | $691–$838 | 256% | $610 | 168 |
| MRI cervical spine without contrast | 72141 | $501 | $484–$501 | 263% | $365 | 168 |
| MRI knee (lower-extremity joint) without contrast | 73721 | $500 | $455–$517 | 244% | $386 | 168 |
| MRI lumbar spine without contrast | 72148 | $470 | $392–$487 | 245% | $370 | 168 |
| MRI shoulder (upper-extremity joint) without contrast | 73221 | $410 | $396–$410 | 200% | $386 | 168 |
| Pelvic ultrasound, complete (non-obstetric) | 76856 | $204 | $179–$204 | 193% | $149 | 168 |
| Screening mammography, bilateral (incl. CAD) | 77067 | $189 | $189–$215 | 150% | $181 | 168 |
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 Illinois
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 78 Illinois 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 12 of 17 services and lower for 4. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $150 to $1,693 across 24 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) | 39 | $24,129 | $15,143–$33,552 | About the same | $66,627 |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 36 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 35 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 24 | $412 | $150–$1,693 | Higher | $1,650 |
| MRI, knee | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 23 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 22 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 27 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 19 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 16 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 18 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 16 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 25 | $578 | $157–$1,522 | Lower | $805 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 21 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 22 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Deaconess Illinois Crossroads | $27,506 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Deaconess Illinois Medical Center | $28,837 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Edward Hospital - Main Campus | $20,671 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Elmhurst Hospital Main Campus | $20,671 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Evanston Hospital | $25,073 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Northwest Community Hospital | $17,908 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Osf Little Company Of Mary Hospital | $30,322 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Swedish Hospital | $15,143 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity Rock Island | $13,101 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 8%, fee schedules 17%, per diem 1%, percent of billed charges 55%, other 19% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Illinois.
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 Illinois
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1,496 | 69% | $7,619 | 4.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 297 | 14% | $5,702 | 5.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 188 | 9% | $5,676 | 3.5% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 177 | 8% | $9,988 | 3.4% |
| Cigna | 173 | 8% | $1,578 | 5.4% |
| Aetna | 88 | 4% | $5,427 | 3.5% |
| Humana | 25 | 1% | $1,367 | 6.9% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 13 | 1% | $7,729 | 3.6% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Illinois employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
1,496 employer health plans in Illinois reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 888,089 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Illinois insured employer market?
69% 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 Illinois?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.0% of premium (4.0% across all carriers in Illinois).
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 1,496 Illinois 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: 1,448 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 1,390 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: BCBS: BCBS IL, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Illinois hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.