Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in South Carolina
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among South Carolina 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 South Carolina at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in South Carolina: 264 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 61% of the state's 434 insured large plans, ahead of Cigna with 60.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield book in South Carolina has held steady since 2020 (267 plans then).
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (183 plans); 6 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $10,298, 13% above the South Carolina all-carrier median of $9,153. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
82% 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 2.8%–4.7%).
At South Carolina 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 $28,578 across 9 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in South Carolina, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 267 | 71,428 | 62% | $8,669 |
| 2021 | 290 | 77,240 | 62% | $8,954 |
| 2022 | 285 | 80,734 | 62% | $9,397 |
| 2023 | 270 | 75,260 | 59% | $10,289 |
| 2024 | 264 | 76,513 | 61% | $10,298 |
| 2025 (partial) | 149 | 39,754 | 58% | $11,437 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 52 | 20% |
| 100–499 | 183 | 69% |
| 500–999 | 22 | 8% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 5 | 2% |
| 5,000 or more | 1 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $10,298 | $9,153 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $7,991–$12,553 | $5,887–$11,894 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 82% | 77% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.0% | 4.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.8%–4.7% | 3.0%–5.4% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $375 | $346 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's South Carolina employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (65 plans) and health care and social assistance (28), followed by wholesale trade (26).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 65 | 25% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 11% |
| Wholesale trade | 26 | 10% |
| Professional and technical services | 23 | 9% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 20 | 8% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in South Carolina
238 employers in South Carolina have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 6 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 South Carolina →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in South Carolina
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 18 South Carolina 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 Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay), the rate runs from $14,408 to $76,783 across 9 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) | 9 | $28,578 | $14,408–$76,783 | Higher | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 9 | $1,363 | $607–$2,244 | Higher | $1,535 |
| MRI, knee | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 9 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 9 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 9 | $702 | $647–$1,961 | Higher | $702 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center | $31,099 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Grand Strand Regional Medical Center | $17,088 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Hca Healthcare Colleton Hospital | $76,783 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Hca Healthcare Trident Hospital | $34,107 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Musc Health Marion Medical Center | $14,408 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Newberry County Memorial Hospital | $22,480 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Coastal Carolina Hospital | $34,709 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health East Cooper Medical Center | $28,085 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center | $28,578 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 9%, fee schedules 56%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 11%, other 24% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in South Carolina.
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 South Carolina
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 264 | 61% | $10,298 | 4.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 78 | 18% | $9,778 | 5.0% |
| Cigna | 60 | 14% | $3,080 | 8.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 31 | 7% | $5,492 | 4.4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 22 | 5% | $9,470 | 4.7% |
| Aetna | 12 | 3% | $5,455 | 1.4% |
| Humana | 2 | 0% | $543 | 8.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $1,057 | 0.6% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many South Carolina employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
264 employer health plans in South Carolina reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 76,513 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the South Carolina insured employer market?
61% 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 South Carolina?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.0% of premium (4.1% across all carriers in South Carolina).
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 264 South Carolina 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: 245 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 217 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at South Carolina hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.