Cigna offers individual health insurance coverage in 13 states on the ACA Marketplace to millions of families and individuals. It has over 1.5 million associations with healthcare providers, facilities, and clinics, and contracts with over 67,000 pharmacies.
Cigna offers exclusive provider organization and health maintenance organization schemes on the health insurance marketplace.
It also offers Medicare Advantage schemes in 16 states and the District of Columbia, and Medicare Part D prescription drug schemes in each state.
Cigna insurance schemes include Medicare, health, and dental policies for families and individuals. Policyholders have online access to their dental schemes or health insurance via the Cigna website. But the health insurance company has an above-average number of customer complaints and below-average reviews.
Cigna is a satisfactory option for cheaper Medicare Advantage rates, but scheme availability is limited. The company’s individual scheme prices are lower than rivals in some states and more costly in others.
Company Overview
| Company Founded | 1981 |
| Coverage area | Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, Arizona, GeorgiaIllinois, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah Virginia, South Carolina, Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Washington, D.C. |
| A.M. Best rating | A |
| Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating | A- |
| National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation | Yes |
| NCQA rating | 4 to 2.5 |
| Plans available | Dental and vision schemesGroup health insurance like health maintenance organization (HMO), Preferred provider organization (PPO), customized local plans, Open Access, and high-deductible health schemesHealth and wellness programsIndividual and family insuranceMedicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) schemesPharmacy programsSavings and spending accounts such as flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings accounts (HSAs)Supplemental schemes |
| Provider network | 180 million patient and customer relationshipsMore than 500 hospitals in the Hospital Quality Incentive Program (HQIP)67,000-plus contracted pharmacies1.5 million providers, clinics, and facilities all over the world |
Types of Insurance Offered by Cigna
Cigna provides various types of health insurance, including:
- Health insurance
- Supplemental insurance
- Medicare
- Dental insurance
- Cigna health insurance schemes and options
- Cigna sells individual and Medicare health insurance schemes, along with stand-alone vision and dental policies. Health scheme availability differs by state:
- Individual schemes are provided in 13 states.
- Medicare Advantage schemes are sold in 26 states and Washington, D.C.
- Medicare Supplement schemes are available in Washington, D.C., and every state but New York and Massachusetts.
- Dental schemes are available via Cigna in 50 states and Washington, D.C. Some dental schemes are bundled with hearing and vision coverage.
Cigna Individual Health Insurance
You can purchase Cigna individual health insurance via your state or federal health insurance exchange. Consumers can buy individual policies there if they cannot obtain health insurance via a state or an employer or federal program like Medicaid or Medicare. Plans are either EPO or HMO schemes based on where you live.
Cigna offers four levels of individual coverage that vary in deductibles, costs, and coinsurance benefits. Within tiers, Cigna offers multiple scheme options that differ by state.
Below are the average rates for each metal tire sold in Virginia.
| Metal tier | Rate per month |
| Bronze | USD 357 |
| Expanded Bronze | USD 375 |
| Silver | USD 485 |
| Gold | USD 447 |
Average rates per month in each stratum for a 40-year-old in Virginia.
You can buy Cigna’s individual insurance schemes via the Marketplace only during your state’s open enrollment duration or if you are eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).
Cigna vs. competitors: Average cost by state
Cigna is moderately priced overall, but whether it’s the best deal depends on where you live. For example, Cigna offers great rates in Illinois and Missouri, where you can spend USD 100 less per month than the average. But prices are weaker in Arizona, where you can spend USD 100 more per month on Cigna than the state average.
Cigna’s individual scheme rates comparison
Cigna’s individual scheme rates are higher than rivals in some states and lessen in others.
| Cigna | UnitedHealthcare | Aetna | Kaiser Permanente | |
| States where ACA marketplace schemes are offered | Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, Mississippi, Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Missouri, North Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia | Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Virginia, Tennessee, Texas, Washington | Arizona (Banner Aetna), Florida, Georgia, Illinois, California, Delaware, New Jersey, North Carolina, Missouri, Nevada, Texas, Virginia | California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, District of Columbia, Maryland, Washington, Oregon, Virginia |
| Types of schemes offered | HMO, EPO | HMO, EPO | HMO, EPO | HMO, EPO |
| Metal tier schemes provided (may vary based on location) | Bronze,Silver, Gold | Bronze, Silver, Gold | Bronze, Silver, Gold | Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum |
| Size of provider network | Global network of more than 1.5 million connections with health care providers, clinics and facilities | 6,500 hospitals and over 1.3 million medical providers and other care facilities across the nation | Over 1 million providers across the U.S. | Over 23,656 physicians of the Permanente Medical Groups, 65,005 nurses, and 75,000 allied health experts in our 734 medical facilities and 39 hospitals |
| Number of five-star NCQA commercial schemes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| State | Cigna’s average cost | State overall average |
| Arizona | USD 677 | USD 577 |
| Colorado | USD 379 | USD 409 |
| Florida | USD 568 | USD 585 |
| Georgia | USD 427 | USD 394 |
| Illinois | USD 454 | USD 556 |
| Kansas | USD 554 | USD 534 |
| Mississippi | USD 474 | USD 511 |
| Missouri | USD 510 | USD 620 |
| North Carolina | USD 649 | USD 634 |
| Pennsylvania | USD 452 | USD 498 |
| Tennessee | USD 460 | USD 508 |
| Utah | USD 527 | USD 563 |
| Virginia | USD 485 | USD 512 |
Average cost per month for a 40-year-old buying a Silver scheme.
Cigna has low- to mid-range prices among competing schemes in Virginia. Below we compared Cigna with Anthem HealthKeepers, Kaiser Permanente, and Oscar.
In a state such as Illinois or Missouri where Cigna is a more affordable alternative, it may be the most suitable value. But you’ll want to think other factors such as how a company operates its schemes and customer service. For example, UnitedHealthcare and Kaiser normally rate nicely with members and are worth checking out if they are sold in your region.
Where Cigna rates are more heightened, like in Arizona, we suggest looking at schemes from UnitedHealthcare or Oscar.
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement
Cigna provides Medicare Advantage schemes and Medicare Supplement policies for Medicare enrollees.
Cigna Medicare Advantage schemes have different deductibles, monthly rates, and copays depending on where you live and which scheme you purchase. Your costs also depend on the type of policy – HMO, HMO-POS or PPO – and the network providers you use.
Cigna Medicare Advantage plans bundle Medicare Part A and Part B benefit into one policy, and most add dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
The company’s only HMO-POS scheme, Cigna Premier Medicare, is available only in Tennessee and Illinois.
Member Benefits and Resources
Cigna policyholders can avail additional benefits like online portal and MyCigna Mobile App. Policyholders can use these instruments to view their Cigna health ID cards, monitor claims, and find in-network doctors. Cigna consumers can also sign up for recurring medication delivery via Express Scripts. Pharmacists will be in contact to fill prescriptions and answer questions 24/7. Cigna also offers 24/7 access to virtual care and free/low-cost preventive care.
Financial Strength and Customer Reviews
While Cigna rates may be good, customers state the provider network is inadequate and service is poor when it comes to handling claims. In fact, the company has obtained more complaints than predicted for a company of its size, as cited by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). But Cigna’s NAIC score was 0.73 for Medicare supplement coverage, indicating fewer complaints than similarly sized companies.
Cigna’s Medicare Advantage HMO scheme accepted lower ratings than most competitors because of member concerns about Cigna’s customer service and its management. The score was 2.5 to 3.5 out of a potential 5, as informed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), which rates health schemes on performance and customer satisfaction. Cigna Medicare Advantage PPO schemes obtained an overall NCQA rating of 3.5.
Cigna is financially stable, as cited in Standard & Poor’s rating and its AM Best financial strength rating. Cigna received an “A” rating from both companies.
Compare your Options for Cigna health insurance plans
| Plan name | Monthly Premium | Annual Deductible | Office Visits | Annual maximum out-of-pocket cost |
| Cigna Connect 8550 – EPO | USD 357 | USD 8,550 | Doctor visits: no charge after deductibleSpecialist visits: no charge after deductible | USD 8,500 |
| Cigna Connect 5900 – EPO | USD 373 | USD 5,900 | Doctor visits: USD 60Specialist visits: 50% after deductible | USD 8,500 |
| Cigna Connect 4750 – EPO | USD 428 | USD 4,750 | Doctor visits: no charge after deductibleSpecialist visits: no charge after deductible | USD 8,550 |
| Cigna Connect 3200 – EPO | USD 431 | USD 3,200 | Doctor visits: USD 20Specialist visits: USD 75 | USD 8,550 |
| Cigna Connect 1000 – EPO | USD 640 | USD 1,000 | Doctor visits: USD 15Specialist visits: USD 60 | USD 6,500 |
FAQs
1. What states are covered by Cigna?
Ans: The states covered by Cigna differ depending on the type of plan. For example, individual marketplace schemes are only sold in 13 states, while you can find them in Washington, D.C., and can get a Cigna Medicare Supplement scheme in any state except Massachusetts and New York.
2. Should I get a Cigna HMO or PPO?
Ans: Deciding between a Cigna PPO and an HMO depends on your individual health needs. If you’re okay with using network providers and getting specialist referrals, HMO schemes are generally a good choice and can save you money. If you need the choice of getting care outside of the plan’s network, a PPO may be a more suitable option. But remember that you usually pay more when you use out-of-network providers.
3. Is Cigna Public or Private Insurance?
Ans: It’s private insurance you buy through Cigna. These include individual policies via health insurance exchanges, vision and dental coverage, or Medicare Advantage. Examples of public insurance are government-run health programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), original Medicare, and Medicaid.
4. Is Cigna the right insurance?
Ans: Cigna has good rates overall but below-average customer satisfaction scores. Also, Cigna individual health and Medicare Advantage schemes are not widely available. By comparison, Humana and UnitedHealthcare sell affordable, well-rated Medicare Advantage schemes throughout the U.S. For low-cost personal insurance with top ratings, consider Kaiser Permanent or Blue Cross Blue Shield plans with mid-range rates and good customer satisfaction scores if the plans are available where you live.