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Few insurance companies have as long and storied a history as Cigna, which has been around for more than 225 years. The company can trace its beginnings to 1792, when it was created by a few prominent citizens in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. Today it’s a global corporation with more than 180 million customer and patient relationships in over 30 countries.
The Basics About Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company
The formation of the Insurance Company of North America (INA) in the late 18th century created the first marine insurance company in the United States; it remains the nation’s oldest stockholder-owned insurer. The company issued the first marine policy for cargo on a voyage from Philadelphia to Northern Ireland.
In 1865, Connecticut’s governor incorporated Connecticut General Life Insurance Company; INA and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company would go on to work together to insure individuals in the U.S. and across the globe.
By 1926, both INA and Connecticut General issued their first individual accident policies — a forerunner to modern-day health insurance — offered to airline passengers. And in 1982, INA and Connecticut General Corporation combined their health insurance businesses to form Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company.
As of 2020, Cigna offers individual and family health plans in 10 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia.1 Dental plans and Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans are offered in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.2
Cigna maintains a global network of more than 1.5 million relationships with healthcare providers, clinics and facilities and contracts with more than 67,000 pharmacies.
What Types of Health Insurance Does Cigna Offer?
Cigna offers policies for:
- Individual and family health plans
- Group health plans
- Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug, and Medicare Supplement plans
- Supplemental plans
- Dental plans
Variety of Plans
Cigna doesn’t offer plans in most states, but it does sell a wide variety of policies, including individual, family and group plans, Medicare plans, and dental plans.
What Member Benefits Does Cigna Offer?
When you purchase a Cigna health insurance plan, you get additional member benefits, including no-cost telehealth/virtual visits in most states.3 Cigna also offers low- and no-cost diabetes medicines and supplies through its Diabetes Care plans.4 Additional wellness programs are available depending on the health plan you select.
How Do You Enroll in Cigna Health Insurance Coverage?
Every year, the federal or state Health Insurance Marketplace Open Enrollment Period to buy an Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) policy is open from November 1 to January 15 in most states. (Check your department of health for the dates where you live.)
At this time you can enroll in a Cigna health insurance plan by applying online or by phone (you can’t enroll by email). And if you recently lost your health insurance for any reason (including COVID-19) or had a major life change like having a baby or getting married, you could qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Hundreds of Years
Cigna has been around since the late 18th century and ranked #13 on the 2020 Fortune 500 List.
How Do You File a Claim with Cigna?
Most doctors and medical facilities will file a claim on your behalf after you’ve received a service. Your ID card as a member of Cigna will have all the information they need to make a claim.
If you do need to make the claim on your own, download a claim form, complete the documentation, make a copy of every invoice you send, and submit your completed form to Cigna.
Cigna encourages its members to file claims as quickly as possible so they can get paid faster. You have up to 90 days from the time of service to submit a claim if you met with an in-network provider and 180 days to submit an out-of-network claim.5
How is Cigna Health Insurance Rated?
Cigna Health Insurance is rated by multiple financial institutions, including:6
- AM Best: “A” (Excellent)
- Standard & Poor’s: “A”
- Moody’s: “A2” (upper medium grade, low credit risk)
- Fitch Ratings: “A”
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Complaint Index, Cigna had 647 company-wide complaints in 2019, including 140 complaints from policyholders who held individual accident insurance or health insurance. The company’s complaint index rating is 1.07, higher than the national index of 1.0. The top two complaints were inadequate reimbursement services and denial of claim.7
Next Steps
If you’re interested in purchasing a Cigna health insurance plan or learning more about the company, visit Cigna.
You can get a free quote for an individual or family plan online or by calling 1-866-621-8181, and if you’re eligible for Medicare, you can also compare the company’s Medicare Advantage plans, Part D prescription drug plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Or you may want to find out if the providers you trust are part of Cigna’s network; look for a doctor, dentist or facility using Cigna’s online directory.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of HealthCareInsider.com or HealthCare, Inc.
