Kaiser Permanente employer health plans in Washington
Who Kaiser Permanente insures among Washington 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 Washington at a glance
What the data shows
Kaiser Permanente insures 281 employer health plans in Washington (37% of 759 insured large plans), 2nd of 8 carrier groups; Blue Cross Blue Shield (289) hold more.
Kaiser Permanente has shrunk 15% in Washington since 2020, from 332 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (131 plans); 17 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $9,261, 21% above the Washington all-carrier median of $7,632. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
71% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their Kaiser Permanente contracts; where paid, the median was 3.1% of premium (middle half 2.0%–4.7%).
At Washington hospitals, Kaiser Permanente's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 8 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $36,912 across 24 hospitals.
Kaiser Permanente plans in Washington, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 332 | 133,027 | 40% | $7,152 |
| 2021 | 325 | 139,974 | 40% | $7,719 |
| 2022 | 336 | 125,471 | 41% | $8,240 |
| 2023 | 330 | 139,290 | 40% | $8,379 |
| 2024 | 281 | 135,457 | 37% | $9,261 |
| 2025 (partial) | 190 | 90,785 | 37% | $10,233 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 113 | 40% |
| 100–499 | 131 | 47% |
| 500–999 | 19 | 7% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 13 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 4 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | Kaiser Permanente | All carriers, Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $9,261 | $7,632 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $7,176–$13,397 | $6,042–$10,523 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 71% | 78% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.1% | 4.0% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.0%–4.7% | 2.4%–5.1% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $307 | $298 |
Industries
Kaiser Permanente's Washington employer clients are concentrated in health care and social assistance (73 plans) and manufacturing (35), followed by professional and technical services (27).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 73 | 26% |
| Manufacturing | 35 | 12% |
| Professional and technical services | 27 | 10% |
| Finance and insurance | 23 | 8% |
| Retail trade | 19 | 7% |
| Administrative and support services | 13 | 5% |
Kaiser Permanente employer clients in Washington
274 employers in Washington have a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract, 17 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 Washington →
What the Kaiser Permanente network pays hospitals in Washington
Kaiser Permanente commercial rates are on record at 33 Washington 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 8 of 17 services and lower for 9. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $414 to $1,138 across 25 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) | 24 | $36,912 | $18,809–$39,897 | Lower | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 21 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 21 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 25 | $747 | $414–$1,138 | Higher | $1,419 |
| MRI, knee | 20 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, head | 25 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 25 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 27 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 24 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 24 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 24 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 24 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 24 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 24 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 25 | $1,306 | $725–$1,714 | Lower | $1,149 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 23 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 23 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadlec Regional Medical Center | $16,027 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center | $36,912 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Mary Bridge Children's Hospital | $60,797 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Auburn Medical Center | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Capital Medical Center | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Covington Medical Center | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Deaconess Hospital | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Good Samaritan Hospital | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Multicare Valley Hospital | $39,556 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Overlake Hospital Medical Center | $38,238 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 8%, fee schedules 71%, per diem 0%, percent of billed charges 4%, other 17% of Kaiser Permanente's published commercial rates for these services in Washington.
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 Washington
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 289 | 38% | $7,473 | 4.3% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 281 | 37% | $9,261 | 3.1% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 101 | 13% | $6,470 | 4.1% |
| Aetna | 71 | 9% | $7,274 | 4.0% |
| Cigna | 65 | 9% | $4,379 | 5.3% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 60 | 8% | $6,042 | 3.6% |
| Humana | 5 | 1% | $4,347 | – |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $238 | – |
Kaiser Permanente in other states
FAQ
How many Washington employers have Kaiser Permanente health insurance?
281 employer health plans in Washington reported a Kaiser Permanente major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 135,457 persons. Self-funded plans that Kaiser Permanente only administers are not counted.
What is Kaiser Permanente's share of the Washington insured employer market?
37% of insured large employer health plans, 2nd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on Kaiser Permanente plans in Washington?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.1% of premium (4.0% across all carriers in Washington).
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 281 Washington 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: 261 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 199 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Hospital prices: Kaiser Permanente commercial rates at Washington hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.