Cigna expands Medicare Advantage offerings to 67 new counties in 2021

Cigna will be introducing Medicare Strengths designs in new communities subsequent yr as nicely as featuring up to date companies in each new and outdated spots, the business declared this week.

In 2021, Cigna will expand its MA designs into 67 new counties in five new states, with each HMO and PPO designs offered. The new marketplaces will be in Ohio, Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah and New Mexico. Additionally, it is broadening its PPO choices in additional than one hundred fifty of its present communities.

To help facilitate its geographical advancement, Cigna’s community will add above 25,000 doctors during its territory.

With these expansions, Cigna will present designs in nearly 370 counties throughout 23 states, a 22% maximize in county representation from the yr in advance of. In each and every market place that Cigna handles, it will present a $ high quality strategy choice for the impending yr.

What is THE Effects?

With these new spots also come new company choices for 2021.

Cigna will present telehealth companies to all MA members, which includes digital visits with behavioral health companies at no price tag. It is also introducing telehealth physical treatment companies to its MA designs adhering to less complex procedures.

The business will also present 6 prescription drug designs for 2021, a few branded by Cigna and a few branded by Express Scripts. All 6 designs have $ copay options for select medications when requested by mail.

Additionally, some of the designs will take part in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Element D Senior Personal savings Product, which supplies insulin for copays of $35 or less.

To help handle the social determinants of health, Cigna is starting off the Balanced Positive aspects Plus application in select marketplaces. The application offers consumers a card with a monthly allowance of up to $30 to buy fresh fruits and greens.

THE Larger sized Development

The 2021 Medicare Annual Election Time period starts October 15 and runs by way of December 7. Strategies chosen through that time will start out on January one, 2021.

Ahead of the Annual Election Time period, Cigna rebranded its health companies portfolio with the start of Evernorth. It contains Cigna’s health companies, as nicely as outdoors partners in pharmacy options, gains management and treatment options.

It is also growing its Cost-effective Care Act footprint in 2021 with the addition of 79 new counties.

Previously this summer season, Cigna and its husband or wife Oscar declared little enterprise health designs. Plan gains include no cost 24/7 digital doctor-visits, $three drug copays, member assist companies, entry to Cigna Behavioral Health’s specialized coaching courses and its 24/7 disaster helpline, and admittance to multiple Cigna networks of doctors, specialists and hospitals.

Outside of growing its protection options for the impending yr, Cigna located alone in a lawsuit with the U.S. Section of Justice for allegedly distributing $one.four billion worthy of of false MA promises.

ON THE File

“Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve found a sizeable change in how men and women want to acquire treatment, and these designs range dependent on regions of the nation and personal preferences,” stated Brian Evanko, president of Cigna’s government enterprise.

“We are featuring our consumers additional options than at any time in advance of, so they can seek out affordable, higher-high quality treatment in a way that satisfies their life-style – no matter if that is in-human being, above the telephone or just about. No issue the setting, our Medicare Edge designs make certain our valued consumers get the suitable preventive treatment, chronic affliction management and emotional assist they have to have through these challenging instances.”

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