Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Tennessee
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Tennessee employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians and hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Tennessee at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Tennessee: 530 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 58% of the state's 913 insured large plans, ahead of Cigna with 228.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield book in Tennessee has held steady since 2020 (515 plans then).
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (377 plans); 32 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,334, 1% above the Tennessee all-carrier median of $5,257. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
87% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 4.9% of premium (middle half 3.6%–5.6%).
In BCBS: BCBS TN, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Tennessee benchmark, at a median of 148% of Medicare across those services.
At Tennessee hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 4 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $15,451 across 36 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Tennessee, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 515 | 207,812 | 55% | $4,337 |
| 2021 | 485 | 205,696 | 52% | $4,646 |
| 2022 | 491 | 198,409 | 52% | $5,014 |
| 2023 | 504 | 347,593 | 54% | $5,288 |
| 2024 | 530 | 210,931 | 58% | $5,334 |
| 2025 (partial) | 308 | 124,982 | 51% | $5,608 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 52 | 10% |
| 100–499 | 377 | 71% |
| 500–999 | 67 | 13% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 30 | 6% |
| 5,000 or more | 2 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,334 | $5,257 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $4,181–$6,944 | $3,233–$7,175 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 87% | 84% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.9% | 5.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.6%–5.6% | 3.5%–6.0% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $243 | $244 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Tennessee employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (97 plans) and health care and social assistance (78), followed by arts and recreation (44).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 97 | 18% |
| Health care and social assistance | 78 | 15% |
| Arts and recreation | 44 | 8% |
| Professional and technical services | 42 | 8% |
| Construction | 41 | 8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 32 | 6% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Tennessee
475 employers in Tennessee have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 32 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 Tennessee →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians in Tennessee
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $417 | $358–$556 | 145% | $422 | 56 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $92 | $81–$128 | 136% | $99 | 56 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $25 | $20–$30 | 160% | $22 | 56 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $94 | $79–$133 | 126% | $84 | 56 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $108 | $90–$138 | 146% | $106 | 56 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $78 | $70–$91 | 81% | $103 | 61 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $402 | $350–$548 | 244% | $430 | 40 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $296 | $265–$409 | 268% | $282 | 40 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $650 | $593–$827 | 141% | $630 | 58 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $64 | $52–$76 | 170% | $55 | 61 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $16 | $14–$18 | 166% | $14 | 61 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $144 | $118–$172 | 172% | $123 | 61 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $82 | $74–$99 | 166% | $77 | 61 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $17 | $14–$20 | 169% | $15 | 61 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $182 | $151–$216 | 173% | $173 | 61 |
Professional fee only: facility, implant and anesthesia charges are not included. Limited: rates come from a sample of providers, and groups are counted only in specialties that perform the service.
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Tennessee
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 44 Tennessee 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 4 of 17 services and lower for 13. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $133 to $2,278 across 31 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) | 36 | $15,451 | $12,768–$34,594 | Lower | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 36 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 36 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 27 | $248 | $232–$546 | Lower | $752 |
| MRI, knee | 27 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 30 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 30 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 31 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 32 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 32 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 27 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 29 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 31 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 28 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 31 | $437 | $133–$2,278 | Lower | $320 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 31 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 31 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chi Memorial Hospital Chattanooga | $41,963 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Chi Memorial Hospital Hixson | $41,963 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Claiborne Medical Center | $18,653 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Cumberland Medical Center | $15,451 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Fort Loudoun Medical Center | $14,711 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center | $14,521 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Leconte Medical Center | $16,873 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Methodist Medical Center Of Oak Ridge | $14,072 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Morristown-hamblen Healthcare System | $13,961 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Parkridge Medical Center | $15,508 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 12%, fee schedules 75%, per diem 10%, percent of billed charges 2%, other 1% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Tennessee.
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 Tennessee
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 530 | 58% | $5,334 | 4.9% |
| Cigna | 228 | 25% | $4,297 | 5.4% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 98 | 11% | $5,450 | 5.2% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 62 | 7% | $1,064 | 6.6% |
| Aetna | 35 | 4% | $4,432 | 4.5% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 34 | 4% | $10,471 | 3.1% |
| Humana | 5 | 1% | $2,553 | 1.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 4 | 0% | $7,508 | 2.1% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Tennessee employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
530 employer health plans in Tennessee reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 210,931 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Tennessee insured employer market?
58% 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 Tennessee?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.9% of premium (5.0% across all carriers in Tennessee).
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 530 Tennessee 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: 484 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 456 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: BCBS: BCBS TN, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Tennessee hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.