Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in North Dakota
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among North Dakota 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 North Dakota at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in North Dakota: 105 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 72% of the state's 145 insured large plans, ahead of UnitedHealthcare with 4.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 59% in North Dakota since 2020, from 66 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (78 plans); 13 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,699, 1% below the North Dakota all-carrier median of $5,749. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
49% 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 1.5%–4.0%).
At North Dakota hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 0 of 0 services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in North Dakota, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 66 | 55,131 | 67% | $3,130 |
| 2021 | 70 | 56,500 | 64% | $4,417 |
| 2022 | 76 | 74,141 | 64% | $3,864 |
| 2023 | 95 | 66,564 | 73% | $5,325 |
| 2024 | 105 | 70,422 | 72% | $5,699 |
| 2025 (partial) | 73 | 45,435 | 74% | $6,922 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 2 | 2% |
| 100–499 | 78 | 74% |
| 500–999 | 12 | 11% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 11 | 10% |
| 5,000 or more | 2 | 2% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, North Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,699 | $5,749 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $2,426–$7,133 | $2,709–$7,159 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 49% | 55% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 2.0% | 2.2% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 1.5%–4.0% | 1.7%–4.0% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $136 | $136 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's North Dakota employer clients are concentrated in health care and social assistance (23 plans) and mining, oil and gas (12), followed by finance and insurance (12).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 23 | 22% |
| Mining, oil and gas | 12 | 11% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 11% |
| Professional and technical services | 11 | 10% |
| Construction | 10 | 10% |
| Retail trade | 8 | 8% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in North Dakota
87 employers in North Dakota have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 13 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 North Dakota →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in North Dakota
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 28 North Dakota 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 0 of 0 services and lower for 0. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $174 to $2,435 across 8 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 | 8 | $438 | $174–$2,435 | – | $2,202 |
| MRI, knee | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| CT, head | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 7 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 5 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 5 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 5 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 15 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 6 | $772 | $285–$1,277 | – | – |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Blue Cross Blue Shield rates
| Hospital | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altru Hospital | $438 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Altru Rehabilitation Hospital, Affiliate Of Encompass Health | $438 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi Lisbon Health | – | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi Mercy Health Valley City | – | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Essentia Health Fargo | $560 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Jacobson Memorial Hospital Care Center | $2,435 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sanford Medical Center Fargo | $179 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sanford Medical Center Hillsboro | $578 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sanford Medical Center Mayville | $578 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sanford South University Medical Center | $174 | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 0%, fee schedules 36%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 31%, other 34% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in North Dakota.
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 North Dakota
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 105 | 72% | $5,699 | 2.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 41 | 28% | $5,782 | 2.3% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4 | 3% | $2,073 | 2.2% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2 | 1% | $8,638 | – |
| Cigna | 1 | 1% | $1,717 | 8.9% |
| Aetna | 1 | 1% | $1,696 | 17.0% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many North Dakota employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
105 employer health plans in North Dakota reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 70,422 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the North Dakota insured employer market?
72% 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 North Dakota?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 2.0% of premium (2.2% across all carriers in North Dakota).
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 105 North Dakota 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: 94 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 50 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at North Dakota hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.