Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Iowa
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Iowa 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 Iowa at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Iowa: 331 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 76% of the state's 436 insured large plans, ahead of UnitedHealthcare with 38.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 7% in Iowa since 2020, from 310 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (191 plans); 17 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $11,665, 12% above the Iowa all-carrier median of $10,425. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
27% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 2.0% of premium (middle half 1.2%–3.4%).
At Iowa hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 3 of 14 services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Iowa, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 310 | 83,736 | 74% | $10,295 |
| 2021 | 278 | 75,665 | 71% | $11,341 |
| 2022 | 297 | 113,747 | 71% | $11,127 |
| 2023 | 319 | 88,486 | 73% | $11,276 |
| 2024 | 331 | 94,051 | 76% | $11,665 |
| 2025 (partial) | 263 | 68,210 | 79% | $12,405 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 104 | 31% |
| 100–499 | 191 | 58% |
| 500–999 | 19 | 6% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 17 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $11,665 | $10,425 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $9,200–$14,521 | $6,781–$13,580 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 27% | 41% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 2.0% | 3.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 1.2%–3.4% | 1.5%–5.2% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $215 | $189 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Iowa employer clients are concentrated in health care and social assistance (71 plans) and manufacturing (71), followed by construction (30).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 71 | 21% |
| Manufacturing | 71 | 21% |
| Construction | 30 | 9% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 7% |
| Professional and technical services | 22 | 7% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 5% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Iowa
310 employers in Iowa have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 17 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 Iowa →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Iowa
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 33 Iowa 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 3 of 14 services and lower for 9. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $278 to $2,659 across 14 hospitals.
This page shows 2 of the 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MRI, lower back | 14 | $278 | $278–$2,659 | Higher | $520 |
| MRI, knee | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 14 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 14 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 14 | $198 | $198–$205 | Lower | $221 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Blue Cross Blue Shield rates
| Hospital | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarke County Public Hospital | $179 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Allen Hospital | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Grinnell Regional Medical Center | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Iowa Methodist Medical Center | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Jones Regional Medical Center | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Marshalltown | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health St. Luke's Downtown | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health St. Luke's Hospital | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity Muscatine | $278 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 0%, fee schedules 46%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 11%, other 42% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Iowa.
Employers: see all 14 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 Iowa
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 331 | 76% | $11,665 | 2.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 64 | 15% | $4,579 | 4.2% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 38 | 9% | $5,027 | 4.2% |
| Aetna | 12 | 3% | $8,258 | 5.6% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 9 | 2% | $10,563 | 4.6% |
| Cigna | 8 | 2% | $1,058 | 7.9% |
| Humana | 4 | 1% | $2,921 | 3.3% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $8,531 | 4.7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Iowa employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
331 employer health plans in Iowa reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 94,051 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Iowa insured employer market?
76% 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 Iowa?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 2.0% of premium (3.1% across all carriers in Iowa).
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 331 Iowa 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: 320 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 91 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Iowa hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.