Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in West Virginia
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among West 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 West Virginia at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield is the largest insurer of employer health plans in West Virginia: 43 plans held a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in form year 2024, 61% of the state's 70 insured large plans, ahead of Cigna with 7.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has shrunk 38% in West Virginia since 2020, from 69 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (31 plans); 4 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $9,556, 1% above the West Virginia all-carrier median of $9,424. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
91% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 3.1% of premium (middle half 2.7%–3.3%).
At West Virginia hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 0 of 0 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $39,921 across 5 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in West Virginia, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 69 | 35,402 | 67% | $7,502 |
| 2021 | 59 | 27,393 | 66% | $7,212 |
| 2022 | 50 | 22,309 | 63% | $8,258 |
| 2023 | 41 | 19,908 | 59% | $9,083 |
| 2024 | 43 | 16,871 | 61% | $9,556 |
| 2025 (partial) | 25 | 11,559 | 58% | $10,024 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 3 | 7% |
| 100–499 | 31 | 72% |
| 500–999 | 5 | 12% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 4 | 9% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $9,556 | $9,424 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $7,827–$10,288 | $6,142–$11,072 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 91% | 76% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.1% | 3.2% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.7%–3.3% | 2.7%–3.7% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $264 | $279 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's West Virginia employer clients are concentrated in wholesale trade (7 plans) and professional and technical services (7), followed by health care and social assistance (6).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 16% |
| Professional and technical services | 7 | 16% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 14% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 12% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 9% |
| Mining, oil and gas | 3 | 7% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in West Virginia
37 employers in West Virginia have a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract, 4 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 West Virginia →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in West Virginia
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 8 West 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 0 of 0 services and lower for 0. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $145 to $2,778 across 5 hospitals.
| Service | Hospitals | Median rate | Range (P10–P90) | vs other carriers, same hospitals | Cash price, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay) | 5 | $39,921 | $18,304–$50,518 | – | – |
| MRI, lower back | 5 | $227 | $227–$1,792 | – | – |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 5 | $167 | $145–$2,778 | – | – |
Hospital-by-hospital Blue Cross Blue Shield rates for West Virginia are in the Plan Cost Benchmark; this page shows them once 15 or more hospitals' files include them.
How the contracts are written: case rates 2%, fee schedules 45%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 26%, other 27% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in West Virginia.
Employers: request hospital prices 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 West Virginia
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 43 | 61% | $9,556 | 3.1% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 9 | 13% | $11,602 | 3.3% |
| Cigna | 7 | 10% | $10,773 | 4.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 5 | 7% | $4,994 | 4.0% |
| Aetna | 4 | 6% | $8,074 | 1.6% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 2 | 3% | – | – |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 1% | – | 2.1% |
| Humana | 1 | 1% | – | – |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many West Virginia employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
43 employer health plans in West Virginia reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 16,871 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the West Virginia 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 West Virginia?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.1% of premium (3.2% across all carriers in West 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 43 West 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: 41 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 39 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at West Virginia hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.