Cigna employer health plans in North Carolina
Who Cigna insures among North Carolina 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 North Carolina at a glance
What the data shows
Cigna insures 186 employer health plans in North Carolina (20% of 939 insured large plans), 2nd of 8 carrier groups; Blue Cross Blue Shield (478) hold more.
Cigna has grown 7% in North Carolina since 2020, from 174 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (111 plans); 24 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $2,375, 60% below the North Carolina all-carrier median of $6,006. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
80% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Cigna contracts; where paid, the median was 8.1% of premium (middle half 4.4%–11.8%).
In Cigna national PPO, 33 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a North Carolina benchmark, at a median of 171% of Medicare across those services.
At North Carolina hospitals, Cigna's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 2 of 11 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $18,244 across 26 hospitals.
Cigna plans in North Carolina, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 174 | 195,123 | 18% | $2,022 |
| 2021 | 184 | 208,098 | 19% | $2,003 |
| 2022 | 199 | 223,359 | 19% | $2,316 |
| 2023 | 200 | 228,521 | 20% | $2,180 |
| 2024 | 186 | 196,494 | 20% | $2,375 |
| 2025 (partial) | 129 | 191,507 | 23% | $2,023 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 29 | 16% |
| 100–499 | 111 | 60% |
| 500–999 | 21 | 11% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 20 | 11% |
| 5,000 or more | 4 | 2% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Cigna | All carriers, North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $2,375 | $6,006 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $873–$4,256 | $3,259–$8,027 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 80% | 79% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 8.1% | 4.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 4.4%–11.8% | 2.6%–6.3% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $234 | $216 |
Industries
Cigna's North Carolina employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (39 plans) and professional and technical services (29), followed by health care and social assistance (20).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 39 | 21% |
| Professional and technical services | 29 | 16% |
| Health care and social assistance | 20 | 11% |
| Construction | 17 | 9% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 | 5% |
| Retail trade | 10 | 5% |
Cigna employer clients in North Carolina
182 employers in North Carolina have a Cigna major-medical contract, 24 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 Cigna Prospect List for North Carolina →
What the Cigna network pays physicians in North Carolina
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $507 | $378–$636 | 177% | $515 | 84 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $108 | $87–$155 | 160% | $124 | 85 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $30 | $26–$35 | 192% | $25 | 84 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $121 | $92–$164 | 162% | $143 | 85 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $127 | $111–$163 | 173% | $111 | 84 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $530 | $319–$878 | 322% | $600 | 13 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $402 | $225–$711 | 364% | $298 | 13 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $718 | $615–$898 | 155% | $622 | 60 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $65 | $47–$91 | 174% | $65 | 131 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $16 | $12–$22 | 171% | $17 | 130 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $147 | $106–$210 | 175% | $157 | 129 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $89 | $64–$130 | 181% | $93 | 130 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $50 | $35–$69 | 151% | $49 | 126 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $187 | $134–$267 | 178% | $190 | 131 |
| MRI cervical spine without contrast | 72141 | $127 | $89–$180 | 186% | $124 | 131 |
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 North Carolina
Cigna commercial rates are on record at 41 North Carolina 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 2 of 11 services and lower for 7. For Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay), the rate runs from $1,966 to $36,422 across 26 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 | $18,244 | $1,966–$36,422 | About the same | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 26 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 17 | $264 | $239–$1,446 | Lower | $2,013 |
| MRI, knee | 17 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 18 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 18 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 13 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 10 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 10 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 10 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 8 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 10 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 15 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 11 | $418 | $417–$461 | Lower | $1,228 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 14 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center | $12,685 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center | $16,937 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Huntersville Medical Center | $16,226 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Matthews Medical Center | $15,969 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Medical Park Hospital | $13,419 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center | $19,340 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center | $17,378 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center | $19,017 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Rowan Medical Center | $18,244 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center | $24,909 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 3%, fee schedules 16%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 74%, other 7% of Cigna's published commercial rates for these services in North Carolina.
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 North Carolina
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 478 | 51% | $6,672 | 3.2% |
| Cigna | 186 | 20% | $2,375 | 8.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 153 | 16% | $6,004 | 4.8% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 89 | 9% | $1,360 | 9.6% |
| Aetna | 66 | 7% | $5,745 | 1.5% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 64 | 7% | $8,943 | 2.9% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 8 | 1% | $6,519 | 5.0% |
| Humana | 3 | 0% | $3,482 | 2.7% |
Cigna in other states
FAQ
How many North Carolina employers have Cigna health insurance?
186 employer health plans in North Carolina reported a Cigna major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 196,494 persons. Self-funded plans that Cigna only administers are not counted.
What is Cigna's share of the North Carolina insured employer market?
20% of insured large employer health plans, 2nd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Cigna plans in North Carolina?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 8.1% of premium (4.0% across all carriers in North Carolina).
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 186 North Carolina 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: 173 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 148 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 North Carolina hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.