Blue Cross Blue Shield employer health plans in Wisconsin
Who Blue Cross Blue Shield insures among Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin at a glance
What the data shows
Blue Cross Blue Shield insures 131 employer health plans in Wisconsin (18% of 743 insured large plans), 3rd of 8 carrier groups; UnitedHealthcare (234) hold more.
Blue Cross Blue Shield has grown 31% in Wisconsin since 2020, from 100 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (76 plans); 6 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $6,698, 2% above the Wisconsin all-carrier median of $6,598. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
81% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Blue Cross Blue Shield contracts; where paid, the median was 3.0% of premium (middle half 2.1%–4.0%).
At Wisconsin 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 $28,017 across 5 hospitals.
Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Wisconsin, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 100 | 75,654 | 13% | $5,507 |
| 2021 | 111 | 81,324 | 14% | $6,079 |
| 2022 | 124 | 95,862 | 16% | $6,017 |
| 2023 | 116 | 84,989 | 14% | $6,103 |
| 2024 | 131 | 82,246 | 18% | $6,698 |
| 2025 (partial) | 99 | 73,741 | 18% | $7,067 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 36 | 27% |
| 100–499 | 76 | 58% |
| 500–999 | 12 | 9% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 4 | 3% |
| 5,000 or more | 2 | 2% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Blue Cross Blue Shield | All carriers, Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $6,698 | $6,598 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $4,952–$9,008 | $4,949–$8,656 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 81% | 81% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.0% | 2.5% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.1%–4.0% | 1.7%–3.9% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $184 | $160 |
Industries
Blue Cross Blue Shield's Wisconsin employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (47 plans) and professional and technical services (23), followed by finance and insurance (10).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 47 | 36% |
| Professional and technical services | 23 | 18% |
| Finance and insurance | 10 | 8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 6% |
| Construction | 7 | 5% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 5% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield employer clients in Wisconsin
118 employers in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin →
What the Blue Cross Blue Shield network pays hospitals in Wisconsin
Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates are on record at 14 Wisconsin 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 Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay), the rate runs from $14,963 to $41,446 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 | $28,017 | $14,963–$41,446 | – | – |
Hospital-by-hospital Blue Cross Blue Shield rates for Wisconsin 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 19%, fee schedules 45%, per diem 3%, percent of billed charges 21%, other 12% of Blue Cross Blue Shield's published commercial rates for these services in Wisconsin.
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 Wisconsin
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 368 | 50% | $6,823 | 2.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 234 | 31% | $6,123 | 3.1% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 131 | 18% | $6,698 | 3.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 69 | 9% | $7,802 | 2.5% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 34 | 5% | $7,767 | 3.7% |
| Cigna | 24 | 3% | $6,510 | 7.3% |
| Aetna | 10 | 1% | $3,144 | 5.7% |
| Humana | 6 | 1% | $2,383 | 4.2% |
Blue Cross Blue Shield in other states
FAQ
How many Wisconsin employers have Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance?
131 employer health plans in Wisconsin reported a Blue Cross Blue Shield major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 82,246 persons. Self-funded plans that Blue Cross Blue Shield only administers are not counted.
What is Blue Cross Blue Shield's share of the Wisconsin insured employer market?
18% of insured large employer health plans, 3rd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Wisconsin?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.0% of premium (2.5% across all carriers in Wisconsin).
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 131 Wisconsin 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: 120 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 106 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Blue Cross Blue Shield commercial rates at Wisconsin hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.