Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Minnesota
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Minnesota 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 Minnesota at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield insures 215 employer health plans in Minnesota (28% of 768 insured large plans), 2nd of 8 carrier groups; regional insurers hold more.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield book in Minnesota has held steady since 2020 (211 plans then).
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (158 plans); 16 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,303, 5% above the Minnesota all-carrier median of $6,946. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
84% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 3.0% of premium (middle half 2.1%–4.1%).
At Minnesota hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 7 of 14 services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Minnesota, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 211 | 91,071 | 29% | $6,266 |
| 2021 | 233 | 100,197 | 31% | $6,355 |
| 2022 | 222 | 109,862 | 28% | $6,745 |
| 2023 | 215 | 90,943 | 27% | $7,090 |
| 2024 | 215 | 80,866 | 28% | $7,303 |
| 2025 (partial) | 197 | 82,401 | 30% | $7,986 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 30 | 14% |
| 100–499 | 158 | 73% |
| 500–999 | 11 | 5% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 16 | 7% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Minnesota |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,303 | $6,946 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,858–$9,213 | $5,192–$8,863 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 84% | 84% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.1%–4.1% | 2.1%–4.3% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $215 | $212 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Minnesota employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (52 plans) and professional and technical services (28), followed by health care and social assistance (25).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 52 | 24% |
| Professional and technical services | 28 | 13% |
| Health care and social assistance | 25 | 12% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 9% |
| Construction | 18 | 8% |
| Retail trade | 15 | 7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Minnesota
210 employers in Minnesota have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 16 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 Minnesota →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Minnesota
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 53 Minnesota 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 7 of 14 services and lower for 7. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $222 to $1,313 across 25 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 | 35 | $578 | $254–$1,177 | Lower | $2,254 |
| MRI, knee | 31 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 35 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 35 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 35 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 35 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 35 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 22 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 18 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 23 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 25 | $539 | $222–$1,313 | Lower | $498 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 35 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 35 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Blue Cross Blue Shield rates
| Hospital | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alomere Health | $605 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health Duluth | $385 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health St. Mary's Detroit Lakes | $483 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health Virginia | $483 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health-moose Lake | $727 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health-st. Mary's Medical Center Duluth | $483 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Grand Itasca Clinic And Hospital | $341 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Lake Region Healthcare Fergus Falls Hospital | $143 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| M Health Fairview Lakes Medical Center - Wyoming | $426 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| M Health Fairview Northland Medical Center | $426 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 0%, fee schedules 60%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 9%, other 30% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Minnesota.
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 Minnesota
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 417 | 54% | $7,269 | 3.0% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 215 | 28% | $7,303 | 3.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 106 | 14% | $5,490 | 3.6% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 44 | 6% | $8,284 | 3.6% |
| Cigna | 27 | 4% | $2,041 | 8.9% |
| Aetna | 18 | 2% | $6,862 | 10.2% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 4 | 1% | $7,374 | 0.1% |
| Humana | 2 | 0% | $716 | 4.4% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Minnesota employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
215 employer health plans in Minnesota reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 80,866 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Minnesota insured employer market?
28% of insured large employer health plans, 2nd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Minnesota?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.0% of premium (3.1% across all carriers in Minnesota).
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 215 Minnesota 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: 197 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 178 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Minnesota hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.