Cigna negotiated rates in North Carolina
How Cigna's North Carolina rates compare with the other three national payers, across the procedures that matter most to high-revenue specialties.
Cigna in North Carolina at a glance
What the data shows
Cigna ranks 2nd of 4 payers in North Carolina with a rate index of 103 (100 = the North Carolina market median), across 227 procedure codes.
Cigna has the highest median for only 31% of codes in North Carolina; UnitedHealthcare leads with an index of 111 in the files analyzed.
Cigna's North Carolina rates sit 12% above its own national level, the 13th highest of its 51 states.
Largest premium over the North Carolina market: CPT 93229 (Remote 30 day ecg tech supp) at 152% of market; largest discount: CPT 11102 (Tangntl bx skin single les) at 60%.
How the four payers compare in North Carolina
| Payer | Index | Rank | Level | Highest on | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | 111 | 1 | 46% | 747 | |
| Cigna | 103 | 2 | 31% | 851 | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 100 | 3 | 22% | 976 | |
| Aetna | 64 | 4 | 1% | 568 |
Where Cigna pays most and least against the North Carolina market
Highest above market
| Code | Cigna | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93229 Remote 30 day ecg tech supp | $1,625 | $1,069 | +52% | 91 |
| 72158 Mri lumbar spine w/o & w/dye | $1,126 | $774 | +45% | 117 |
| 70553 Mri brain stem w/o & w/dye | $1,126 | $785 | +44% | 116 |
| 76872 Us transrectal | $252 | $189 | +33% | 98 |
| 76705 Echo exam of abdomen | $199 | $151 | +31% | 117 |
| 76512 Oph us dx b-scan | $104 | $79 | +31% | 92 |
| 76700 Us exam abdom complete | $266 | $203 | +31% | 117 |
| 77066 Dx mammo incl cad bi | $354 | $271 | +31% | 110 |
Furthest below market
| Code | Cigna | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11102 Tangntl bx skin single les | $53 | $89 | -40% | 115 |
| 43239 Egd biopsy single/multiple | $290 | $476 | -39% | 102 |
| 11104 Punch bx skin single lesion | $67 | $108 | -38% | 115 |
| 51702 Insert temp bladder cath | $64 | $102 | -38% | 99 |
| 45384 Colonoscopy w/lesion removal | $460 | $718 | -36% | 102 |
| 43235 Egd diagnostic brush wash | $255 | $397 | -36% | 102 |
| 51700 Irrigation of bladder | $79 | $122 | -35% | 99 |
| 45380 Colonoscopy and biopsy | $426 | $639 | -33% | 102 |
Where Cigna pays above and below its national level
Frequently asked questions
Does Cigna pay more or less than the other payers in North Carolina?
Cigna ranks 2nd of 4 in North Carolina with an index of 103. It is highest on 31% of codes.
Are Cigna's North Carolina rates above or below its national level?
About 12% above.
Which procedure does Cigna pay most above market in North Carolina?
CPT 93229 (Remote 30 day ecg tech supp), at 152% of the North Carolina 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 Cigna contract at market in North Carolina?
Compare your negotiated rates for these codes with North Carolina medians for each payer.