UnitedHealthcare negotiated rates in Iowa
How UnitedHealthcare's Iowa rates compare with the other three national payers, across the procedures that matter most to high-revenue specialties.
UnitedHealthcare in Iowa at a glance
What the data shows
UnitedHealthcare ranks 1st of 4 payers in Iowa with a rate index of 118 (100 = the Iowa market median), across 228 procedure codes.
UnitedHealthcare has the highest median for only 47% of codes in Iowa; UnitedHealthcare leads with an index of 118 in the files analyzed.
UnitedHealthcare's Iowa rates sit 32% above its own national level, the 9th highest of its 51 states.
Largest premium over the Iowa market: CPT 52332 (Cystoscopy and treatment) at 238% of market; largest discount: CPT 88313 (Special stains group 2) at 52%.
How the four payers compare in Iowa
| Payer | Index | Rank | Level | Highest on | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UnitedHealthcare | 118 | 1 | 47% | 605 | |
| Cigna | 117 | 2 | 46% | 604 | |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 99 | 3 | 8% | 687 | |
| Aetna | 64 | 4 | 0% | 295 |
Where UnitedHealthcare pays most and least against the Iowa market
Highest above market
| Code | UHC | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52332 Cystoscopy and treatment | $907 | $381 | +138% | 70 |
| 64566 Neuroeltrd stim post tibial | $136 | $65 | +109% | 55 |
| 43255 Egd control bleeding any | $934 | $452 | +107% | 52 |
| 52000 Cystourethroscopy | $394 | $191 | +106% | 70 |
| 51702 Insert temp bladder cath | $115 | $56 | +104% | 55 |
| 52648 Laser surgery of prostate | $3,050 | $1,518 | +101% | 55 |
| 43235 Egd diagnostic brush wash | $641 | $323 | +98% | 52 |
| 51700 Irrigation of bladder | $141 | $71 | +98% | 55 |
Furthest below market
| Code | UHC | Market | Gap | Prov. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88313 Special stains group 2 | $75 | $143 | -48% | 52 |
| 88312 Special stains group 1 | $105 | $194 | -46% | 108 |
| 88342 Imhchem/imcytchm 1st antb | $127 | $230 | -45% | 56 |
| 88305 Tissue exam by pathologist | $79 | $125 | -37% | 108 |
| 77280 Ther rad simulaj field smpl | $384 | $597 | -36% | 56 |
| 93298 Rem interrog dev eval scrms | $72 | $107 | -33% | 94 |
| 92235 Fluorescein angrph mltiframe | $197 | $283 | -30% | 78 |
| 92242 Fluorescein&icg angiography | $447 | $597 | -25% | 78 |
Where UnitedHealthcare pays above and below its national level
Frequently asked questions
Does UnitedHealthcare pay more or less than the other payers in Iowa?
UnitedHealthcare ranks 1st of 4 in Iowa with an index of 118. It is highest on 47% of codes.
Are UnitedHealthcare's Iowa rates above or below its national level?
About 32% above.
Which procedure does UnitedHealthcare pay most above market in Iowa?
CPT 52332 (Cystoscopy and treatment), at 238% of the Iowa 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 UnitedHealthcare contract at market in Iowa?
Compare your negotiated rates for these codes with Iowa medians for each payer.