UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in Massachusetts
Who UnitedHealthcare insures among Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts at a glance
What the data shows
UnitedHealthcare insures 117 employer health plans in Massachusetts (8% of 1,524 insured large plans), 4th of 7 carrier groups; Blue Cross Blue Shield (801), Cigna (194) hold more.
UnitedHealthcare has grown 46% in Massachusetts since 2020, from 80 plans.
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (75 plans); 5 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $7,229, 12% below the Massachusetts all-carrier median of $8,252. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
96% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their UnitedHealthcare contracts; where paid, the median was 3.2% of premium (middle half 3.0%–4.1%).
In UnitedHealthcare Choice, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a Massachusetts benchmark, at a median of 190% of Medicare across those services.
At Massachusetts hospitals, UnitedHealthcare'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 $21,934 across 6 hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare plans in Massachusetts, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 80 | 33,429 | 5% | $6,089 |
| 2021 | 115 | 45,195 | 8% | $5,851 |
| 2022 | 131 | 64,931 | 8% | $6,565 |
| 2023 | 142 | 53,287 | 9% | $6,920 |
| 2024 | 117 | 54,034 | 8% | $7,229 |
| 2025 (partial) | 86 | 54,241 | 9% | $7,570 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 15 | 13% |
| 100–499 | 75 | 64% |
| 500–999 | 22 | 19% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 4 | 3% |
| 5,000 or more | 1 | 1% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | UnitedHealthcare | All carriers, Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $7,229 | $8,252 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $5,570–$9,295 | $6,634–$10,794 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 96% | 89% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 3.2% | 2.8% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.0%–4.1% | 2.1%–3.8% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $223 | $225 |
Industries
UnitedHealthcare's Massachusetts employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (27 plans) and professional and technical services (26), followed by health care and social assistance (18).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 27 | 23% |
| Professional and technical services | 26 | 22% |
| Health care and social assistance | 18 | 15% |
| Retail trade | 8 | 7% |
| Real estate | 7 | 6% |
| Information | 6 | 5% |
UnitedHealthcare employer clients in Massachusetts
115 employers in Massachusetts have a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract, 5 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 Massachusetts →
What the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians in Massachusetts
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $542 | $390–$1,176 | 189% | $427 | 17 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $440 | $366–$880 | 224% | $399 | 77 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $36 | $27–$61 | 234% | $26 | 58 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $757 | $650–$1,016 | 177% | $546 | 77 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $151 | $138–$317 | 205% | $135 | 60 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $162 | $141–$299 | 170% | $193 | 85 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $487 | $290–$693 | 296% | $364 | 23 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43235 | $453 | $177–$518 | 410% | $243 | 11 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $984 | $744–$1,503 | 213% | $800 | 96 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $226 | $155–$299 | 198% | $183 | 109 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $76 | $56–$110 | 194% | $71 | 110 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $569 | $408–$769 | 189% | $456 | 109 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $289 | $219–$372 | 218% | $265 | 109 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $19 | $14–$25 | 192% | $17 | 108 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $731 | $513–$954 | 231% | $659 | 109 |
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 Massachusetts
UnitedHealthcare commercial rates are on record at 13 Massachusetts 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 8 of 17 services and lower for 8. For MRI, lower back, the rate runs from $230 to $3,171 across 6 hospitals.
| Service | Hospitals | Median rate | Range (P10–P90) | vs other carriers, same hospitals | Cash price, median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hip or knee replacement (hospital stay) | 6 | $21,934 | $20,046–$64,043 | Higher | – |
| MRI, lower back | 6 | $307 | $230–$3,171 | Lower | – |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 6 | $1,505 | $537–$2,177 | Higher | – |
Hospital-by-hospital UnitedHealthcare rates for Massachusetts are in the Plan Cost Benchmark; this page shows them once 15 or more hospitals' files include them.
How the contracts are written: case rates 29%, fee schedules 42%, per diem 2%, percent of billed charges 17%, other 10% of UnitedHealthcare's published commercial rates for these services in Massachusetts.
Employers: request hospital prices 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 Massachusetts
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 801 | 53% | $8,043 | 2.6% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 405 | 27% | $10,172 | 2.5% |
| Cigna | 194 | 13% | $7,701 | 4.5% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 117 | 8% | $7,229 | 3.2% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 108 | 7% | $9,680 | 4.5% |
| Aetna | 52 | 3% | $7,400 | 1.8% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 5 | 0% | $7,414 | 2.7% |
UnitedHealthcare in other states
FAQ
How many Massachusetts employers have UnitedHealthcare health insurance?
117 employer health plans in Massachusetts reported a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 54,034 persons. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted.
What is UnitedHealthcare's share of the Massachusetts insured employer market?
8% of insured large employer health plans, 4th of 7 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on UnitedHealthcare plans in Massachusetts?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 3.2% of premium (2.8% across all carriers in Massachusetts).
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 117 Massachusetts 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: 111 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 112 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 Massachusetts hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.