Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Ohio
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Ohio 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 Ohio at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield insures 56 employer health plans in Ohio (4% of 1,408 insured large plans), 7th of 8 carrier groups; Anthem (Elevance Health) (395), UnitedHealthcare (254) hold more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 19% in Ohio since 2020, from 47 plans.
Most of these plans cover Under 100 people (33 plans); 3 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $6,144, 7% below the Ohio all-carrier median of $6,598. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
38% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 4.4% of premium (middle half 3.9%–5.0%).
At Ohio hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 11 of 14 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $30,730 across 8 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Ohio, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 47 | 8,342 | 3% | $6,065 |
| 2021 | 43 | 8,731 | 3% | $5,895 |
| 2022 | 45 | 9,351 | 3% | $6,175 |
| 2023 | 53 | 12,411 | 4% | $6,001 |
| 2024 | 56 | 11,905 | 4% | $6,144 |
| 2025 (partial) | 47 | 7,149 | 5% | $7,083 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 33 | 59% |
| 100–499 | 17 | 30% |
| 500–999 | 2 | 4% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 3 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Ohio |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $6,144 | $6,598 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,425–$8,508 | $3,981–$10,071 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 38% | 80% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.4% | 3.6% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.9%–5.0% | 2.4%–5.2% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $281 | $233 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Ohio employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (22 plans) and professional and technical services (8), followed by finance and insurance (6).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 22 | 39% |
| Professional and technical services | 8 | 14% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 11% |
| Retail trade | 5 | 9% |
| Management of companies | 3 | 5% |
| Administrative and support services | 3 | 5% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Ohio
54 employers in Ohio have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 3 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 Ohio →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Ohio
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 24 Ohio 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 11 of 14 services and lower for 2. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $84 to $1,540 across 7 hospitals.
This page shows 3 of the 16 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) | 8 | $30,730 | $17,103–$33,117 | About the same | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 7 | $647 | $594–$861 | Higher | – |
| MRI, knee | 6 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| CT, head | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 6 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 6 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 7 | $1,091 | $84–$1,540 | – | – |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aultman Orrville Hospital | $17,727 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Bethesda North Hospital | $31,736 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Good Samaritan Hospital | $31,736 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Mccullough-hyde Memorial Hospital | $31,827 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Metrohealth Medical Center | $26,688 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Selby General Hospital | $30,730 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Trinity Medical Center East | $17,103 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Uh Geauga Medical Center | $33,117 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 10%, fee schedules 55%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 8%, other 27% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Ohio.
Employers: see all 16 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 Ohio
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 486 | 35% | $9,434 | 4.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 395 | 28% | $6,059 | 3.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 254 | 18% | $6,059 | 3.3% |
| Cigna | 182 | 13% | $4,365 | 5.0% |
| Aetna | 108 | 8% | $5,877 | 1.4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 72 | 5% | $9,657 | 3.4% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 56 | 4% | $6,144 | 4.4% |
| Humana | 20 | 1% | $2,090 | 4.7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Ohio employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
56 employer health plans in Ohio reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 11,905 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Ohio insured employer market?
4% of insured large employer health plans, 7th of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Ohio?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.4% of premium (3.6% across all carriers in Ohio).
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 56 Ohio 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: 42 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 21 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Ohio hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.