Health insurance leaders were paid at least 206 times more than their respective median employee in 2025, according to recently filed proxy statements.
UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley was an outlier, getting paid 748 times more than the company’s median employee. UnitedHealth noted, however, that a significant portion of Mr. Hemsley’s compensation was due to his one-time stock option grant at the time of his appointment and the company anticipates the CEO to median employee pay ratio “will decrease significantly next year.”
By comparison, Mr. Hemsley’s predecessor, Andrew Witty, was compensated 348 times more than UnitedHealth’s median employee in 2024.
Mr. Hemsley was named UnitedHealth’s CEO in May 2025. He returned to the role after previously serving as chief executive from 2006 until his retirement in 2017.
Payers ranked by CEO-to-worker pay ratios:
UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 748:1
Annual CEO compensation: $60,950,571
Annual compensation for median employee: $81,474
CVS Health President and CEO David Joyner
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 336:1
Annual CEO compensation: $21,232,392
Annual compensation for median employee: $63,262
Cigna Group CEO David Cordani
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 310:1
Annual CEO compensation: $22,866,134
Annual compensation for median employee: $73,674
Elevance Health CEO Gail Boudreaux
CEO-to-worker pay ratio— 286:1
Annual CEO compensation: $22,593,979
Annual compensation for median employee: $79,007
Molina Healthcare CEO Joseph Zubretsky
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 228:1
Annual CEO compensation: $18,340,783
Annual compensation for median employee: $80,329
Humana CEO Jim Rechtin
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 226:1
Annual CEO compensation: $18,757,075
Annual compensation for median employee: $82,935
Centene CEO Sarah London
CEO-to-worker pay ratio — 206:1
Annual CEO compensation: $19,516,298
Annual compensation for median employee: $94,800
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