NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna Corporation, a
global health service company, is rapidly expanding its Medicare
Advantage (MA) plans to make it easier for more customers to access
affordable, predictable and simple health care.
During the 2021 Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), beginning
October 15, customers will be offered
comprehensive, highly-rated, affordable MA plans – including a
$0 premium plan in every market.
Telehealth services offered to all customers, including
behavioral health and physical therapy
To help seniors access care from the safety and comfort of their
homes, Cigna is offering telehealth services to all MA customers,
including no-cost access to behavioral health providers via audio
and video. For the first time, Cigna also is adding virtual
physical therapy services to its MA plans. This new feature is an
addition to 2021 plans to help customers gain strength and/or
recover from less complex procedures at home.
"Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen a significant change in
how people want to receive care and these patterns vary based on
regions of the country and individual preferences. We're offering
our customers more options than ever before, so they can seek
affordable, high-quality care in a way that meets their lifestyle –
whether that's in-person, over the phone or virtually," said
Brian Evanko, president of Cigna's
government business. "No matter the setting, our Medicare
Advantage plans ensure our valued customers get the proper
preventive care, chronic condition management and emotional support
they need during these challenging times."
Medicare Advantage provides additional benefits beyond what
Medicare traditionally offers. In most of its MA plans for 2021,
Cigna includes vision, dental, fitness, and discharge meal benefits
along with an allowance on common over-the-counter products, like
aspirin, adhesive bandages, and dental care products.
Cigna is also offering benefits associated with social
determinants of our customers' health, addressing key factors like
transportation and nutrition. In select markets in 2021, the
company is adding Healthy Benefits Plus, a new program making it
easier for customers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables
through a produce card with a monthly allowance of up to
$30.
Reaching more communities
In 2021, Cigna will offer plans in 369 counties spanning 23
states, representing a 22 percent increase in our county
footprint.
Cigna is expanding to 67 new counties for 2021, including a
broad portfolio of HMO and/or PPO plans. In addition to the new
county expansion, Cigna is expanding PPO offerings in 154 counties
in our existing footprint. PPOs typically offer an out-of-network
benefit, while HMO plans generally do not.
Cigna will enter markets in five new states in 2021 with MA
plans:
- Ohio (Cleveland area)
- Virginia (Tri-Cities area in
the southwest part of the state)
- Oklahoma (Oklahoma City area)
- Utah (Salt Lake City area)
- New Mexico (Albuquerque area)
This expansion builds upon Cigna's 2020 footprint, which
currently serves more than 500,000 MA customers across 18 states
and the District of Columbia. The
2020 footprint includes Alabama,
Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Maryland, Mississippi, New
Jersey, North Carolina,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the District of Columbia.
Driving better health care outcomes
To accommodate the expansion, Cigna has significantly increased
its network, adding more than 25,000 physicians throughout its
service territory. Physician collaboration is an important part of
the Cigna MA model, with more than 85 percent of its customers
cared for by doctors who are in a value-based arrangement.
Value-based care increases coordination, emphasizes preventive care
and generally results in better health outcomes and greater patient
satisfaction. Additionally, Cigna continues to offer a Dual Special
Needs Plan in many geographies that coordinates care for people who
qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
Increased consumer choice
The company offers six standalone Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)
for 2021 in all states, including three branded Cigna and three
branded Express Scripts, providing cost savings and benefit options
for all customer needs.
The Cigna Secure Rx and Express Scripts Medicare –
Value plans are collectively qualified for CMS low-income
subsidy auto-enrollment in 33 regions in 2021. The
Secure and Value plans offer $0 copays (Tier 6) and $1 copays (Tier 1) for medications purchased at
preferred pharmacies, and will offer $0 copays (Tier 6) for select insulins at
preferred pharmacies.
All six plans have $0 copay
options for select medications purchased through preferred mail
order.
Additionally, the Cigna Secure-Extra Rx plan and
Express Scripts Medicare – Saver and Express Scripts
Medicare – Choice plans will participate in the CMS Part
D Senior Savings Model, helping Medicare customers manage diabetes
with affordable and predictable insulin copays of $35 or less.
Cigna also offers Medicare Supplement plans in 48 states and the
District of Columbia. Medicare
Supplement insurance helps pay for what Original Medicare doesn't
cover, including copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.
Medicare's AEP begins October 15
and continues through December 7.
Plans selected during AEP are effective January 1, 2021.
For more details about Cigna's Medicare Advantage plans, please
visit www.Cigna.com/Medicare.
About Cigna
Cigna Corporation is a global health
service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and
peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice,
predictability, affordability and access to quality care through
integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that
advance whole person health. All products and services are provided
exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna
Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company,
Cigna Life Insurance Company of New
York, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth
companies or their affiliates, Express Scripts companies or their
affiliates, and Life Insurance Company of North America. Such products and services
include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical,
dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits,
and other related products including group life, accident and
disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30
countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 185 million customer
relationships around the world. To learn more about Cigna®,
including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit
www.cigna.com.
All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or
through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including
Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna HealthCare of
South Carolina, Inc., Cigna
HealthCare of North Carolina,
Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia,
Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Arizona,
Inc., Cigna HealthCare of St.
Louis, Inc., HealthSpring Life & Health Insurance
Company, Inc., HealthSpring of Florida, Inc., Bravo Health Mid-Atlantic,
Inc., and Bravo Health Pennsylvania, Inc. This information is not a
complete description of benefits. Call 1-800-668-3813 (TTY 711) for
more information.The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are
owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. Cigna complies with
applicable Federal Civil rights laws and does not discriminate on
the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
Cigna cumple con las layes federales de derechos civiles aplicables
y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad,
discapacidad o sexo. English: ATTENTION: If you speak
English, language assistance services, free of charge, are
available to you. Call 1-800-668-3813 (TTY
711). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su
disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al
1-800-668-3813 (TTY
711). Chinese: 注意:如果您使用繁體/中文,您可以免費獲得語言援助服務 請致電1-800-668-3813
(TTY 711). Cigna is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and
PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid
programs. Enrollment in Cigna depends on contract renewal. © 2020
Cigna
Media Contact
Doug Bennett
Jr.
1 (812) 557-5312
doug.bennett@cigna.com
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