Kaiser Permanente employer health plans in California
Who Kaiser Permanente insures among California employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the Kaiser Permanente network pays hospitals.
Kaiser Permanente employer health plans in California at a glance
What the data shows
Kaiser Permanente is the largest insurer of employer health plans in California: 3,845 plans held a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract in form year 2024, 59% of the state's 6,525 insured large plans, ahead of Anthem (Elevance Health) with 1,448.
The Kaiser Permanente book in California has held steady since 2020 (3,783 plans then).
Most of these plans cover Under 100 people (1,757 plans); 259 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,918, 4% above the California all-carrier median of $7,612. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
83% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Kaiser Permanente contracts; where paid, the median was 4.6% of premium (middle half 3.4%–5.1%).
At California hospitals, Kaiser Permanente's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 6 of 15 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $22,128 across 13 hospitals.
Kaiser Permanente plans in California, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 3,783 | 2,064,741 | 57% | $6,176 |
| 2021 | 3,730 | 2,612,213 | 57% | $6,310 |
| 2022 | 3,853 | 2,225,368 | 58% | $6,844 |
| 2023 | 3,957 | 2,076,660 | 59% | $7,230 |
| 2024 | 3,845 | 2,561,292 | 59% | $7,918 |
| 2025 (partial) | 2,799 | 1,431,979 | 62% | $8,202 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 1,757 | 46% |
| 100–499 | 1,601 | 42% |
| 500–999 | 224 | 6% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 202 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 57 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Kaiser Permanente | All carriers, California |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,918 | $7,612 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $6,668–$9,534 | $5,825–$9,721 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 83% | 84% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.6% | 5.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.4%–5.1% | 4.0%–5.8% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $342 | $354 |
Industries
Kaiser Permanente's California employer clients are concentrated in professional and technical services (784 plans) and manufacturing (560), followed by health care and social assistance (472).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Professional and technical services | 784 | 20% |
| Manufacturing | 560 | 15% |
| Health care and social assistance | 472 | 12% |
| Retail trade | 255 | 7% |
| Finance and insurance | 244 | 6% |
| Information | 238 | 6% |
Kaiser Permanente employer clients in California
3,702 employers in California have a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract, 259 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 Kaiser Permanente Prospect List for California →
What the Kaiser Permanente network pays hospitals in California
Kaiser Permanente commercial rates are on record at 35 California hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, Kaiser Permanente's rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 6 of 15 services and lower for 8. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $186 to $5,336 across 9 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) | 13 | $22,128 | $18,531–$51,997 | Higher | $24,949 |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 15 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 15 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 9 | $467 | $186–$5,336 | Lower | $5,895 |
| MRI, knee | 7 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| CT, head | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 9 | Locked | Locked | – | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 6 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 5 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 6 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 6 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 6 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 7 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 6 | $950 | $283–$4,314 | Lower | $5,017 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 9 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published Kaiser Permanente rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clovis Community Medical Center | $18,397 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Community Regional Medical Center-fresno | $21,540 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Fresno Heart And Surgical Hospital | $21,540 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Huntington Hospital | $51,997 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Mountains Community Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Culver City | $40,393 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Southern California Hospital At Hollywood | $40,393 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Stanford Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Ucsf Health Saint Francis Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Ucsf Health Saint Mary's Hospital | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 30%, fee schedules 23%, per diem 3%, percent of billed charges 30%, other 14% of Kaiser Permanente's published commercial rates for these services in California.
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 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% |
Kaiser Permanente in other states
FAQ
How many California employers have Kaiser Permanente health insurance?
3,845 employer health plans in California reported a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 2,561,292 persons. Self-funded plans that Kaiser Permanente only administers are not counted.
What is Kaiser Permanente's share of the California insured employer market?
59% of insured large employer health plans, 1st of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Kaiser Permanente plans in California?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.6% 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 3,845 California employer health plans with a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that Kaiser Permanente only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 3,473 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 3,179 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Kaiser Permanente commercial rates at California hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.