Aetna negotiated rates in Minnesota
How Aetna's Minnesota rates compare with the other three national payers, across the procedures that matter most to high-revenue specialties.
Aetna in Minnesota at a glance
What the data shows
Aetna ranks 4th of 4 payers in Minnesota with a rate index of 55 (100 = the Minnesota market median), across 228 procedure codes.
Aetna has the highest median for only 0% of codes in Minnesota; UnitedHealthcare leads with an index of 141 in the files analyzed.
Aetna's Minnesota rates sit 16% below its own national level, the 48th highest of its 51 states.
Largest premium over the Minnesota market: CPT 88312 (Special stains group 1) at 95% of market; largest discount: CPT 43239 (Egd biopsy single/multiple) at 28%.
How the four payers compare in Minnesota
| Payer | Index | Rank | Level | Highest on | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | 141 | 1 | 64% | 618 | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 133 | 2 | 36% | 671 | |
| Cigna | 102 | 3 | 1% | 169 | |
| Aetna | 55 | 4 | 0% | 774 |
Where Aetna pays most and least against the Minnesota market
Highest above market
| Code | Aetna | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88312 Special stains group 1 | $108 | $114 | -5% | 195 |
| 88305 Tissue exam by pathologist | $68 | $72 | -6% | 196 |
| 71045 X-ray exam chest 1 view | $27 | $30 | -8% | 105 |
| 88342 Imhchem/imcytchm 1st antb | $96 | $107 | -11% | 112 |
| 92020 Gonioscopy | $22 | $25 | -11% | 81 |
| 70551 Mri brain stem w/o dye | $295 | $343 | -14% | 105 |
| 92134 Cptrz oph dx img pst sgm rta | $45 | $52 | -15% | 84 |
| 92235 Fluorescein angrph mltiframe | $154 | $181 | -15% | 80 |
Furthest below market
| Code | Aetna | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43239 Egd biopsy single/multiple | $128 | $458 | -72% | 84 |
| 43248 Egd guide wire insertion | $153 | $545 | -72% | 84 |
| 43235 Egd diagnostic brush wash | $113 | $402 | -72% | 84 |
| 45380 Colonoscopy and biopsy | $185 | $650 | -72% | 84 |
| 43251 Egd remove lesion snare | $181 | $632 | -71% | 84 |
| 45384 Colonoscopy w/lesion removal | $208 | $717 | -71% | 84 |
| 45378 Diagnostic colonoscopy | $170 | $568 | -70% | 84 |
| 45385 Colonoscopy w/lesion removal | $234 | $777 | -70% | 185 |
Where Aetna pays above and below its national level
Highest states
| State | Index | Prov. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 306 | 211 | |
| Idaho | 152 | 491 | |
| Washington | 142 | 708 | |
| Mississippi | 138 | 608 | |
| Montana | 136 | 80 |
Lowest states
| State | Index | Prov. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana | 80 | 698 | |
| South Dakota | 82 | 147 | |
| Florida | 82 | 758 | |
| Minnesota | 84 | 774 | |
| North Dakota | 85 | 211 |
Frequently asked questions
Does Aetna pay more or less than the other payers in Minnesota?
Aetna ranks 4th of 4 in Minnesota with an index of 55. It is highest on 0% of codes.
Are Aetna's Minnesota rates above or below its national level?
About 16% below.
Which procedure does Aetna pay most above market in Minnesota?
CPT 88312 (Special stains group 1), at 95% of the Minnesota median.
Methodology
- Source: in-network negotiated-rate files published under the federal Transparency in Coverage rule, August 2026 snapshot: UnitedHealthcare Choice plans (74 files); Aetna commercial plans (70 files); Cigna national PPO (1 files); BCBS licensees' own-network files (5,387 files). Payer comparisons describe these files, not each payer's entire book of business.
- Sample: rates come from a random sample of up to 150 providers per state and specialty. Counts on this page are sampled providers and TINs, not totals.
- Which providers count: only providers in a specialty relevant to the code, because a rate in a payer file attaches to a provider group and is listed under every provider in that group.
- Filters: fee-for-service, professional billing class, no modifier, negotiated or fee-schedule dollar rates. Rates outside 1% to 1,000% of the Medicare rate are excluded.
- Statistic: one median rate per provider, then percentiles across providers. A cell is shown only with at least 15 sampled providers and 4 TINs.
- Medicare benchmark: CY2026 national physician fee schedule, non-QPP conversion factor, unadjusted for locality. Where the non-facility rate is more than twice the facility rate (office rates that include device or supply cost), the facility rate is used so comparisons are like for like.
Is your Aetna contract at market in Minnesota?
Compare your negotiated rates for these codes with Minnesota medians for each payer.