Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Virginia
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Virginia 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 Virginia at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield insures 177 employer health plans in Virginia (15% of 1,209 insured large plans), 5th of 8 carrier groups; Cigna (380), Anthem (Elevance Health) (282) hold more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 29% in Virginia since 2020, from 137 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (86 plans); 5 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,133, 3% above the Virginia all-carrier median of $6,940. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
55% 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 3.4%–5.8%).
At Virginia hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 4 of 15 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $36,080 across 15 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Virginia, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 137 | 40,403 | 11% | $5,948 |
| 2021 | 142 | 29,088 | 12% | $6,543 |
| 2022 | 154 | 64,734 | 13% | $6,419 |
| 2023 | 174 | 31,629 | 14% | $6,796 |
| 2024 | 177 | 39,547 | 15% | $7,133 |
| 2025 (partial) | 123 | 22,888 | 17% | $7,427 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 71 | 40% |
| 100–499 | 86 | 49% |
| 500–999 | 15 | 8% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 5 | 3% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,133 | $6,940 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,961–$9,490 | $4,522–$10,219 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 55% | 79% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.9% | 3.9% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.4%–5.8% | 2.5%–5.7% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $354 | $255 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Virginia employer clients are concentrated in professional and technical services (90 plans) and manufacturing (19), followed by administrative and support services (9).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and technical services | 90 | 51% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 11% |
| Administrative and support services | 9 | 5% |
| Other services | 8 | 5% |
| Utilities | 7 | 4% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 3% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Virginia
166 employers in Virginia have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 5 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 Virginia →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Virginia
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 18 Virginia 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 15 services and lower for 10. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $679 to $2,595 across 13 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) | 15 | $36,080 | $26,022–$39,107 | About the same | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 13 | $791 | $679–$2,595 | Lower | – |
| MRI, knee | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 13 | $1,383 | $1,187–$2,479 | – | – |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 13 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 14 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reston Hospital Center | $29,973 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Careplex Hospital | $39,107 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Leigh Hospital | $36,728 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital | $35,634 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Norfolk General Hospital | $48,078 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center | $26,022 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Obici Hospital | $36,593 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Princess Anne Hospital | $36,709 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Sentara Rmh Medical Center | $37,619 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Stonesprings Hospital Center | $29,973 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 33%, fee schedules 56%, per diem 2%, percent of billed charges 0%, other 9% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Virginia.
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 Virginia
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cigna | 380 | 31% | $7,544 | 5.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 282 | 23% | $6,999 | 2.8% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 212 | 18% | $5,957 | 4.2% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 191 | 16% | $7,246 | 3.1% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 177 | 15% | $7,133 | 4.9% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 157 | 13% | $7,961 | 3.6% |
| Aetna | 103 | 9% | $5,386 | 3.2% |
| Humana | 4 | 0% | $1,538 | 3.1% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Virginia employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
177 employer health plans in Virginia reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 39,547 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Virginia insured employer market?
15% of insured large employer health plans, 5th of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Virginia?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.9% of premium (3.9% across all carriers in Virginia).
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 177 Virginia 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: 134 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 98 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Virginia hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.