NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective
immediately, global health service company Cigna (NYSE: CI) is
expanding its support for customers during this unprecedented
COVID-19 pandemic by eliminating cost-sharing for all primary care,
specialty care and behavioral health care in-office or telehealth
visits for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 care. This expansion applies
to all U.S. customers enrolled in Cigna's Medicare Advantage and
Individual and Family Plans, including those sold on the Individual
Marketplace. Additionally, Cigna is making enhancements to its
Medicare Advantage meal plan benefits to further protect customers
during this pandemic and underscore the company's continued
commitment to enabling access to simple, affordable and predictable
health care.
"COVID-19 has affected all age groups – physically, financially
and emotionally," said Brian Evanko,
President of Cigna's Government Business. "We want everyone to
focus on getting and staying well – including those being tested
for and diagnosed with the virus and their loved ones – and not
having to worry about how they will access or afford the care and
services they need."
Waiving copays, deductibles and coinsurance for physician
services
Effective immediately, Cigna is waiving all
cost-sharing for in-network medical or behavioral telehealth visits
for customers in the U.S. covered by Medicare Advantage and
Individual and Family Plans. This waiver further supports customers
and the medical community as we work together in preventing and
treating those with COVID-19, as well as continuing to provide
alternatives to access for all other health and wellness needs.
"For many customers, virtual care is an effective way to address
their health concerns and continue to access their medications
without leaving the safety of their homes," said Dr. Gina Conflitti, Chief Medical Officer of Cigna's
Medicare Advantage business.
While telehealth is not suitable for every condition, it is
important for people not to defer critical care needs at this time.
To further promote health and wellness, Cigna is also waiving
cost-sharing for office visits to in-network primary care
physicians, specialists and behavioral practitioners for customers
covered by its Medicare Advantage and Individual and Family
Plans.
"We know it's important for people to continue to address all of
their health and wellness needs – both mind and body – during these
stressful times," Conflitti said. "By waiving cost-sharing for
these behavioral health visits, in addition to medical services,
we're making it easier and more affordable for customers to attend
to both their mental health and physical well-being in a setting
that works best for their individual needs."
Cigna reminds customers to talk to their provider's staff and
take any necessary precautions before an office visit.
Extending previously announced support for customers
These measures are an expansion of Cigna's previously-announced
efforts listed below to protect customers, providers and
communities against COVID-19.
- Reimbursing providers for COVID-related virtual visits as if
they were in-person visits
- Easing Primary Care Provider (PCP) referrals for specialists in
certain situations
- Eliminating cost share for COVID-19 testing and treatment
Doubling meal benefit for customers following a
hospitalization
The company is also extending the meal
benefit currently available in its Medicare Advantage plans,
providing additional days of nutrition for customers following
their discharge from a hospital stay for any condition, including
COVID-19. Nutrition is critical following a hospitalization. Meal
delivery allows people to shelter in place and recover safely in
their own homes.
Cigna's Medicare Advantage customers will now have access to 28
meals for 14 days at no extra cost following their discharge from a
hospital, which doubles the meals offered previously. These
home-delivered meals incorporate individual dietary restrictions,
and are delivered frozen with preparation instructions.
For Cigna's Medicare Advantage customers, these cost share
measures, benefits extensions and policy changes will be in effect
through the end of December 2020. For
our Individual and Family Plans/Exchange customers, these changes
will apply until the end of applicable federal and state public
health emergencies.
Special enrollment periods
Customers who were eligible
to pick a Medicare Advantage plan earlier this year, but could not
because of the pandemic, are entitled to a special enrollment
period. For details, please call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For questions about Cigna's
MA plans, please call 1-866-626-2334 or visit
www.cigna.com/medicare.
Additionally, individuals who lost health care coverage from
their employer, or had other significant life events, are entitled
to a special enrollment period for individual health plans. To see
if you qualify for a special enrollment, go to Healthcare.gov. For
questions about Cigna's individual plans, please call
1-888-GET-CIGNA (866-438-2446) or visit
https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families.
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. 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
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, 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 180 million customer relationships throughout the world. To
learn more about Cigna®, including links to follow us on Facebook
or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.
Media Contact
Doug Bennett
Jr.
1 (812) 557-5312
douglas.bennett@cigna.com
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SOURCE Cigna