UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in Iowa
Who UnitedHealthcare insures among Iowa employers and what those plans pay in premium and broker compensation, and what the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians and hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in Iowa at a glance
What the data shows
UnitedHealthcare insures 38 employer health plans in Iowa (9% of 436 insured large plans), 3rd of 8 carrier groups; Blue Cross Blue Shield (331) hold more.
UnitedHealthcare has shrunk 16% in Iowa since 2020, from 45 plans, as insured plans moved carrier or to self-funding.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (30 plans); 2 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,027, 52% below the Iowa all-carrier median of $10,425. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
71% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their UnitedHealthcare contracts; where paid, the median was 4.2% of premium (middle half 2.3%–5.2%).
In UnitedHealthcare Choice, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Iowa benchmark, at a median of 152% of Medicare across those services.
At Iowa hospitals, UnitedHealthcare's commercial rates run higher than other carriers' at the same hospital for 7 of 17 services; a hip or knee replacement stay has a median rate of $21,900 across 12 hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare plans in Iowa, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 45 | 27,938 | 11% | $4,655 |
| 2021 | 47 | 26,346 | 12% | $5,073 |
| 2022 | 45 | 16,691 | 11% | $4,965 |
| 2023 | 42 | 12,991 | 10% | $5,087 |
| 2024 | 38 | 10,579 | 9% | $5,027 |
| 2025 (partial) | 29 | 9,244 | 9% | $6,544 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 4 | 11% |
| 100–499 | 30 | 79% |
| 500–999 | 2 | 5% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 2 | 5% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | UnitedHealthcare | All carriers, Iowa |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,027 | $10,425 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $2,487–$6,694 | $6,781–$13,580 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 71% | 41% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 2.3%–5.2% | 1.5%–5.2% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $174 | $189 |
Industries
UnitedHealthcare's Iowa employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (10 plans) and health care and social assistance (7), followed by wholesale trade (3).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 10 | 26% |
| Health care and social assistance | 7 | 18% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 8% |
| Professional and technical services | 3 | 8% |
| Retail trade | 3 | 8% |
| Finance and insurance | 2 | 5% |
UnitedHealthcare employer clients in Iowa
38 employers in Iowa have a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract, 2 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 UnitedHealthcare Prospect List for Iowa →
What the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians in Iowa
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $601 | $412–$818 | 209% | $505 | 20 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $183 | $105–$212 | 271% | $116 | 71 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $42 | $27–$44 | 272% | $26 | 39 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $143 | $95–$178 | 192% | $118 | 71 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $176 | $102–$197 | 240% | $125 | 44 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $141 | $113–$200 | 147% | – | 34 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45385 | $615 | $382–$686 | 275% | – | 14 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $295 | $223–$395 | 267% | – | 17 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $1,155 | $834–$1,655 | 250% | $968 | 30 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $175 | $139–$245 | 153% | $180 | 91 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $13 | $12–$20 | 144% | $15 | 89 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $122 | $107–$187 | 145% | $139 | 89 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $254 | $193–$324 | 191% | $230 | 91 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $15 | $13–$21 | 145% | $16 | 89 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $642 | $456–$796 | 202% | $570 | 90 |
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 UnitedHealthcare network pays hospitals in Iowa
UnitedHealthcare commercial rates are on record at 37 Iowa hospitals (the hospitals covered so far, not every hospital). Compared at the same hospitals, UnitedHealthcare's rate is higher than the other carriers' median for 7 of 17 services and lower for 7. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $171 to $4,478 across 14 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) | 12 | $21,900 | $17,929–$25,244 | About the same | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 12 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 12 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 14 | $171 | $171–$4,478 | Lower | $520 |
| MRI, knee | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 15 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 12 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 12 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 14 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 14 | $1,094 | $266–$1,280 | Higher | $221 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 15 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 14 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
Hospitals with the most published UnitedHealthcare rates
| Hospital | Joint replacement | MRI lower back | CT abdomen | Colonoscopy | ER level 4 | Vaginal delivery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unitypoint Health Allen Hospital | $24,336 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Grinnell Regional Medical Center | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Iowa Methodist Medical Center | $22,377 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Marshalltown | – | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health St. Luke's Downtown | $19,888 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health St. Luke's Hospital | $22,354 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity | $20,714 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity Muscatine | $21,900 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Health Trinity Regional Medical Center | $20,552 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Unitypoint Healthcare Finley Hospital | $17,929 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 5%, fee schedules 52%, per diem 1%, percent of billed charges 22%, other 20% of UnitedHealthcare's published commercial rates for these services in Iowa.
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 Iowa
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 331 | 76% | $11,665 | 2.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 64 | 15% | $4,579 | 4.2% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 38 | 9% | $5,027 | 4.2% |
| Aetna | 12 | 3% | $8,258 | 5.6% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 9 | 2% | $10,563 | 4.6% |
| Cigna | 8 | 2% | $1,058 | 7.9% |
| Humana | 4 | 1% | $2,921 | 3.3% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $8,531 | 4.7% |
UnitedHealthcare in other states
FAQ
How many Iowa employers have UnitedHealthcare health insurance?
38 employer health plans in Iowa reported a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 10,579 persons. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted.
What is UnitedHealthcare's share of the Iowa insured employer market?
9% of insured large employer health plans, 3rd of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on UnitedHealthcare plans in Iowa?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.2% of premium (3.1% across all carriers in Iowa).
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 38 Iowa employer health plans with a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted here.
- Premium and broker figures: 36 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 27 contracts that reported broker or agent pay.
- Network rates: UnitedHealthcare Choice, professional fees only, from a sample of providers.
- Hospital prices: UnitedHealthcare commercial rates at Iowa hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.