Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Washington
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Washington 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 Washington at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in Washington: 289 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 38% of the state's 759 insured large plans, ahead of Kaiser Permanente with 281.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has shrunk 11% in Washington since 2020, from 323 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (177 plans); 32 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,473, 2% below the Washington all-carrier median of $7,632. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
83% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 4.3% of premium (middle half 2.6%–5.2%).
In BCBS: Premera, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Washington benchmark, at a median of 192% of Medicare across those services.
At Washington hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 9 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $37,510 across 26 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Washington, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 323 | 249,152 | 39% | $6,074 |
| 2021 | 310 | 222,104 | 38% | $6,216 |
| 2022 | 301 | 211,806 | 36% | $6,772 |
| 2023 | 304 | 236,551 | 37% | $6,993 |
| 2024 | 289 | 227,222 | 38% | $7,473 |
| 2025 (partial) | 203 | 198,770 | 40% | $7,994 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 53 | 18% |
| 100–499 | 177 | 61% |
| 500–999 | 24 | 8% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 24 | 8% |
| 5,000 or more | 8 | 3% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,473 | $7,632 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $6,129–$9,928 | $6,042–$10,523 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 83% | 78% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.3% | 4.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.6%–5.2% | 2.4%–5.1% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $326 | $298 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Washington employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (46 plans) and professional and technical services (45), followed by finance and insurance (34).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 46 | 16% |
| Professional and technical services | 45 | 16% |
| Finance and insurance | 34 | 12% |
| Health care and social assistance | 29 | 10% |
| Retail trade | 22 | 8% |
| Construction | 20 | 7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Washington
287 employers in Washington 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 Washington →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays physicians in Washington
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $542 | $393–$674 | 189% | $543 | 68 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $131 | $92–$159 | 194% | $127 | 68 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $28 | $20–$34 | 180% | $29 | 68 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $146 | $102–$179 | 196% | $143 | 68 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $132 | $99–$162 | 179% | $139 | 68 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $138 | $138–$138 | 144% | $139 | 58 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $466 | $466–$466 | 283% | – | 49 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43239 | $516 | $516–$516 | 417% | $271 | 49 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $738 | $738–$1,015 | 159% | $772 | 108 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $90 | $78–$106 | 240% | $59 | 54 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $22 | $20–$26 | 238% | $15 | 54 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $202 | $177–$236 | 241% | $137 | 54 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $116 | $99–$139 | 235% | $84 | 54 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $24 | $20–$28 | 240% | $16 | 54 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $248 | $206–$296 | 236% | $172 | 54 |
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 Washington
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 43 Washington 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 9 of 17 services and lower for 7. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $479 to $1,125 across 30 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) | 26 | $37,510 | $30,015–$52,300 | Higher | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 27 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 27 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 30 | $694 | $479–$1,125 | Higher | $1,419 |
| MRI, knee | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 30 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 30 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 22 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 28 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 28 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 26 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 26 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 26 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 27 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 30 | $1,255 | $837–$1,699 | Lower | $1,213 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 23 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 23 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center | $31,545 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Mary Bridge Children's Hospital | $44,628 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Auburn Medical Center | $37,510 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Capital Medical Center | $34,921 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Covington Medical Center | $37,510 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Deaconess Hospital | $40,589 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital | $37,510 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Valley Hospital | $35,125 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Overlake Hospital Medical Center | $35,617 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Providence Holy Family Hospital | $30,015 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 11%, fee schedules 51%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 4%, other 35% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Washington.
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 Washington
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 289 | 38% | $7,473 | 4.3% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 281 | 37% | $9,261 | 3.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 101 | 13% | $6,470 | 4.1% |
| Aetna | 71 | 9% | $7,274 | 4.0% |
| Cigna | 65 | 9% | $4,379 | 5.3% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 60 | 8% | $6,042 | 3.6% |
| Humana | 5 | 1% | $4,347 | – |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $238 | – |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Washington employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
289 employer health plans in Washington reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 227,222 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Washington insured employer market?
38% 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 Washington?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.3% of premium (4.0% across all carriers in Washington).
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 289 Washington 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: 265 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 240 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: BCBS: Premera, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Washington hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.