UnitedHealthcare employer health plans in South Carolina
Who UnitedHealthcare insures among South Carolina 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 South Carolina at a glance
What the data shows
UnitedHealthcare insures 31 employer health plans in South Carolina (7% of 434 insured large plans), 4th of 8 carrier groups; Blue Cross Blue Shield (264), Cigna (60) hold more.
The UnitedHealthcare book in South Carolina has held steady since 2020 (31 plans then).
Most of these plans cover 100–499 people (15 plans); 4 cover 1,000 or more.
Median premium per person covered was $5,492, 40% below the South Carolina all-carrier median of $9,153. Benefit design and group mix differ, so this is not a price comparison.
81% of these plans reported broker or agent pay on their UnitedHealthcare contracts; where paid, the median was 4.4% of premium (middle half 3.2%–5.6%).
In UnitedHealthcare Choice, 34 of the 50 Employer 50 services have a South Carolina benchmark, at a median of 149% of Medicare across those services.
At South Carolina 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 $20,818 across 8 hospitals.
UnitedHealthcare plans in South Carolina, 2020–2024
| Form year | Plans | Persons covered | Share of state | Median premium / person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 31 | 11,841 | 7% | $5,721 |
| 2021 | 31 | 13,616 | 7% | $5,166 |
| 2022 | 30 | 8,927 | 6% | $5,799 |
| 2023 | 28 | 12,826 | 6% | $5,829 |
| 2024 | 31 | 12,488 | 7% | $5,492 |
| 2025 (partial) | 19 | 14,805 | 7% | $3,041 |
Plan size
| Persons covered | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100 | 7 | 23% |
| 100–499 | 15 | 48% |
| 500–999 | 5 | 16% |
| 1,000–4,999 | 4 | 13% |
| 5,000 or more | 0 | 0% |
Premiums and broker pay
| Measure | UnitedHealthcare | All carriers, South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Median premium per person covered | $5,492 | $9,153 |
| Premium per person, middle half | $4,413–$7,372 | $5,887–$11,894 |
| Plans reporting broker or agent pay | 81% | 77% |
| Median broker pay, % of premium | 4.4% | 4.1% |
| Broker pay, middle half | 3.2%–5.6% | 3.0%–5.4% |
| Median broker pay per person covered | $212 | $346 |
Industries
UnitedHealthcare's South Carolina employer clients are concentrated in manufacturing (8 plans) and health care and social assistance (4), followed by finance and insurance (3).
| Industry | Plans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 8 | 26% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 13% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 10% |
| Construction | 3 | 10% |
| Other services | 2 | 6% |
| Administrative and support services | 2 | 6% |
UnitedHealthcare employer clients in South Carolina
31 employers in South Carolina have a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract, 4 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 South Carolina →
What the UnitedHealthcare network pays physicians in South Carolina
| Service | Code | Median | Middle half | % of Medicare | Other networks, median | Provider groups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic heart catheterization with coronary angiography | 93458 | $371 | $331–$465 | 129% | $348 | 11 |
| Echocardiogram, transthoracic complete with Doppler | 93306 | $110 | $86–$131 | 163% | $81 | 58 |
| Electrocardiogram (EKG), complete | 93000 | $25 | $20–$30 | 164% | $21 | 39 |
| Nuclear stress test (SPECT myocardial perfusion) | 78452 | $128 | $95–$179 | 172% | $79 | 58 |
| Treadmill stress test, complete | 93015 | $109 | $93–$139 | 149% | $94 | 28 |
| Skin biopsy, single lesion (tangential) | 11102 | $94 | $87–$121 | 99% | – | 59 |
| Colonoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy, with polyp removal) | 45378 | $293 | $231–$490 | 178% | $431 | 28 |
| Upper GI endoscopy (diagnostic, with biopsy) | 43239 | $239 | $205–$382 | 194% | $318 | 23 |
| Cataract removal with lens implant | 66984 | $564 | $525–$919 | 122% | $692 | 59 |
| Abdominal ultrasound, complete | 76700 | $169 | $130–$246 | 148% | $158 | 72 |
| Bone density scan (DXA), axial | 77080 | $61 | $46–$91 | 154% | $70 | 72 |
| CT abdomen and pelvis with contrast | 74177 | $126 | $97–$177 | 150% | $111 | 71 |
| CT chest without contrast | 71250 | $240 | $173–$320 | 181% | $273 | 72 |
| Chest X-ray, 2 views | 71046 | $46 | $33–$63 | 138% | $41 | 72 |
| MRI brain without and with contrast | 70553 | $577 | $404–$772 | 182% | $652 | 72 |
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 South Carolina
UnitedHealthcare commercial rates are on record at 16 South Carolina 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 9. For Emergency visit, level 4, the rate runs from $404 to $4,692 across 7 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) | 8 | $20,818 | $15,522–$79,125 | Lower | – |
| C-section delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Vaginal delivery (hospital stay) | 8 | Locked | Locked | About the same | Locked |
| MRI, lower back | 7 | $230 | $229–$518 | Lower | $1,535 |
| MRI, knee | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, head | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| CT, abdomen and pelvis | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Screening mammogram | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee arthroscopy | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Cataract surgery | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Gallbladder removal, laparoscopic | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Knee replacement, outpatient | 8 | Locked | Locked | Higher | Locked |
| Emergency visit, level 4 | 7 | $3,873 | $404–$4,692 | Higher | $702 |
| Comprehensive metabolic panel | 7 | Locked | Locked | Lower | Locked |
| Complete blood count | 7 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center | $42,642 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Grand Strand Regional Medical Center | $16,753 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Hca Healthcare Colleton Hospital | $15,522 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Hca Healthcare Trident Hospital | $16,091 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Newberry County Memorial Hospital | $20,818 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Coastal Carolina Hospital | $79,125 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health East Cooper Medical Center | $50,229 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
| Novant Health Hilton Head Medical Center | $78,888 | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked | Locked |
How the contracts are written: case rates 39%, fee schedules 43%, per diem 2%, percent of billed charges 11%, other 6% of UnitedHealthcare's published commercial rates for these services in South 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 South Carolina
| Carrier | Plans | Share | Median premium / person | Median broker % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 264 | 61% | $10,298 | 4.0% |
| Other insurers (regional and local plans) | 78 | 18% | $9,778 | 5.0% |
| Cigna | 60 | 14% | $3,080 | 8.0% |
| UnitedHealthcare | 31 | 7% | $5,492 | 4.4% |
| Kaiser Permanente | 22 | 5% | $9,470 | 4.7% |
| Aetna | 12 | 3% | $5,455 | 1.4% |
| Humana | 2 | 0% | $543 | 8.0% |
| Anthem (Elevance Health) | 1 | 0% | $1,057 | 0.6% |
UnitedHealthcare in other states
FAQ
How many South Carolina employers have UnitedHealthcare health insurance?
31 employer health plans in South Carolina reported a UnitedHealthcare major-medical contract in their 2024 filings, covering 12,488 persons. Self-funded plans that UnitedHealthcare only administers are not counted.
What is UnitedHealthcare's share of the South Carolina insured employer market?
7% of insured large employer health plans, 4th of 8 carrier groups by plan count.
How much do brokers earn on UnitedHealthcare plans in South Carolina?
Where broker or agent pay was reported, the median was 4.4% of premium (4.1% across all carriers in South 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 31 South Carolina 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: 25 contracts with 20+ persons covered and a reported premium; broker percentages use the 25 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 South Carolina hospitals; stay and facility prices only.
- Full method and limits: how the employer health plan data is built.