Analysis
NAICS 524114 is the 2022 national industry for direct health and medical insurance carriers, part of 52411 (Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers). Census lists 9 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 6,147 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 636,006 people at an average annual payroll of $96,365 per employee (81st percentile of national industries). 49% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 2 codes at this level within Direct Life, Health, and Medical Insurance Carriers, with 52% of them.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 12% and employment rose 16%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include dental insurance carriers, direct, group hospitalization plans without providing health care…, health insurance carriers, direct and hospital and medical service plans, direct, without…, among 9 in all.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 621491, 524130 and 525120. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in initially underwriting (i.e., assuming the risk and assigning premiums) health and medical insurance policies. Group hospitalization plans and HMO establishments that provide health and medical insurance policies without providing health care services are included in this industry.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| HMO establishments that provide both health care services and underwrite health and medical insurance | 621491 HMO Medical Centers |
| Reinsuring health insurance policies | 524130 Reinsurance Carriers |
| Legal entities (i.e., funds, plans, and/or programs) organized to provide health- and welfare-related employee benefits exclusively for the sponsor's employees or members | 525120 Health and Welfare Funds |
Index entries (9)
- Dental insurance carriers, direct
- Group hospitalization plans without providing health care services
- Health insurance carriers, direct
- Hospital and medical service plans, direct, without providing health care services
- Hospitalization insurance carriers, direct, without providing health care services
- Insurance carriers, health, direct
- Insurance underwriting, health and medical, direct
- Medical insurance carriers, direct
- Medical service plans without providing health care services