Payers

Cigna to offer ACA marketplace plans in 79 new counties

Cigna plans to add marketplace plans in 79 new counties next year, part of a planned expansion on the individual exchanges.

Cigna will substantially increase its ACA marketplace footprint next year. The insurer plans to offer plans in 220 counties across 10 states, an increase from its current coverage across 141 counties.  Cigna said this represents a 50% increase in customer reach.

While more people are expected to turn to marketplace plans in light of the recent downturn, Cigna said its expansion plans had been in the works prior to the pandemic.

“While our expansion in 2021 was previously planned, and unrelated to the Covid-19 public health emergency, Cigna continues supporting our individual and family customers impacted by the pandemic in a number of ways. Given the current environment, we believe there will be continued growth and expansion across the industry – creating even greater choice for consumers,” Lisa Lough, president of Cigna’s individual and family plans, wrote in an emailed statement.

The plans also include expanded telehealth services, a benefit that has been highlighted since the start of the pandemic. For example, most virtual visits will have no copay, including for behavioral health services.

Cigna is also rolling out a new diabetes care plan that includes some equipment and refills of supplies at no cost.

Lough said the company moved to remove copays for telehealth visits to make it more affordable for members of its plans to access care.

“We have certainly seen an increase in the number of customers choosing to utilize telemedicine over the last few months,” she wrote. “We believe this trend will continue and we’re excited for our customers to continue having this option for their health care needs.”

The new plans will be available in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.

Photo credit: omersukrugoksu, Getty Images

Shares0
Shares0