Cigna employer health plans in California
Who Cigna insures among California employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Cigna network pays physicians and hospitals.
Cigna employer health plans in California at a glance
What the data shows
Cigna insures 945 employer health plans in California (14% of 6,525 insured large plans), 5th of 8 carrier groups; Kaiser Permanente (3,845), Anthem (Elevance Health) (1,448) hold more.
Cigna has shrunk 7% in California since 2020, from 1,021 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (519 plans); 116 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $4,568, 40% below the California all-carrier median of $7,612. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
88% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Cigna contracts; where paid, the median was 6.4% of premium (middle half 4.3%–10.0%).
In Cigna national PPO, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a California benchmark, at a median of 214% of Medicare across those services.
At California hospitals, Cigna's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 10 of 16 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $22,024 across 12 hospitals.
Cigna plans in California, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,021 | 985,572 | 15% | $3,302 |
| 2021 | 969 | 968,346 | 15% | $3,161 |
| 2022 | 953 | 962,645 | 14% | $3,140 |
| 2023 | 952 | 949,568 | 14% | $3,889 |
| 2024 | 945 | 1,301,106 | 14% | $4,568 |
| 2025 (partial) | 759 | 847,424 | 17% | $4,650 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 203 | 21% |
| 100–499 | 519 | 55% |
| 500–999 | 105 | 11% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 97 | 10% |
| 5,000 or more | 19 | 2% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Cigna | All carriers, California |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $4,568 | $7,612 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $1,098–$10,755 | $5,825–$9,721 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 88% | 84% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 6.4% | 5.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 4.3%–10.0% | 4.0%–5.8% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $304 | $354 |
Industries
Cigna's California employer clients are concentrated in professional and technical services (220 plans) and manufacturing (191), followed by information (82).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and technical services | 220 | 23% |
| Manufacturing | 191 | 20% |
| Information | 82 | 9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 72 | 8% |
| Finance and insurance | 61 | 6% |
| Wholesale trade | 54 | 6% |
Cigna employer clients in California
928 employers in California have a Cigna major-medical contract, 116 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 |
What the Cigna network pays physicians in California
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $435 | $350–$672 | 152% | $326 | 74 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $102 | $77–$160 | 151% | $78 | 74 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $28 | $22–$45 | 180% | $23 | 75 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $99 | $83–$155 | 133% | $85 | 74 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $121 | $106–$185 | 165% | $99 | 75 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $292 | $213–$518 | 306% | $106 | 14 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $610 | $302–$734 | 371% | $237 | 13 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $409 | $200–$519 | 370% | $147 | 13 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $744 | $656–$1,125 | 161% | $644 | 78 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $53 | $42–$78 | 143% | $43 | 164 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $13 | $11–$19 | 139% | $12 | 162 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $116 | $86–$172 | 138% | $105 | 162 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $68 | $51–$106 | 138% | $60 | 164 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $14 | $11–$21 | 144% | $12 | 159 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $144 | $108–$221 | 137% | $139 | 164 |
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 Cigna network pays hospitals in California
Cigna commercial rates are on record at 44 California hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, Cigna's rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 10 of 16 services and lower for 5. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $321 to $4,640 across 6 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) | 12 | $22,024 | $13,205–$30,749 | Higher | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 6 | $1,805 | $321–$4,640 | Higher | $6,210 |
| CT, head | 6 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 6 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 6 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 11 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 10 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 10 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 10 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 12 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 12 | $3,612 | $2,318–$7,510 | Higher | $5,064 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 10 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 11 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Cigna rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedars Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital | $22,024 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Clovis Community Medical Center | $13,205 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Community Regional Medical Center-fresno | $13,205 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Foothill Regional Medical Center | $21,104 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Fresno Heart And Surgical Hospital | $13,205 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Los Robles Hospital And Medical Center | $26,634 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Riverside Community Hospital | $22,449 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Culver City | $30,749 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Hollywood | $30,749 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Thousand Oaks Surgical Hospital | $26,634 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 31%, fee schedules 29%, per diem 5%, percent of billed charges 22%, other 13% of Cigna's published commercial rates for these services in California.
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 California
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente | 3,845 | 59% | $7,918 | 4.6% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1,448 | 22% | $7,794 | 5.2% |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 1,178 | 18% | $8,573 | 5.3% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 1,165 | 18% | $6,939 | 5.0% |
| Cigna | 945 | 14% | $4,568 | 6.4% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 849 | 13% | $6,155 | 5.2% |
| Aetna | 800 | 12% | $7,192 | 5.0% |
| Humana | 19 | 0% | $749 | 11.6% |
Cigna in other states
FAQ
How many California employers have Cigna health insurance?
945 employer health plans in California reported a Cigna major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 1,301,106 persons. Self-funded plans that Cigna only administers are not counted.
What is Cigna's share of the California insured employer market?
14% of insured large employer health plans, 5th of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Cigna plans in California?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 6.4% of premium (5.0% across all carriers in California).
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 945 California employer health plans with a Cigna major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that Cigna only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 866 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 828 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: Cigna national PPO, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: Cigna commercial rates at California hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.