“SIGNA” Health Insurance Company

Signa Health Insurance Company actually runs under the name CIGNA and is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The CIGNA Health Insurance Company is commonly and incorrectly referred to as “SIGNA Health Insurance” and so in order to direct people to the proper place there are actually two articles reviewing CIGNA: the abbreviated review article on this page and the full review of CIGNA. To read the full review then please visit the CIGNA Health Insurance Company Review article.

During its 125 years of existence, Signa Health Insurance Company has developed business affiliations with CIGNA Group Insurance, CIGNA HealthCare, CIGNA International, Intracorp, Choicelinx, CIGNA Voluntary, and Union & Government. Backed by financial strength ratings of “A,” Signa Health Insurance Company offers plans for accident, behavioral care, dental, disability, international and expatriate, life, medical, pharmacy, and vision. The insurer offers multiple health insurance plans with varied deductibles to offer a greater choice in premiums.

Employer sponsored consumer driven health plans are available for groups of 200 employees or more. It is available for smaller groups of 50 or more employees in some states. The CIGNA Choice Fund® Health Savings Account (HSA), administered by JP Morgan Chase, is a tax deferred savings plan that gives the member control over the medical spending. The plan also gives members complete control over the choice of doctors and hospitals without the worry of a network.

HRA Plans

The CIGNA Choice Fund Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is an employer funded plan that also gives the member control over the spending of the funds while offering complete freedom in the choice of providers. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) can also be established as either a Health Care Reimbursement Account or a Dependent Day Care Reimbursement Account.

HMO Plans

Four types of plans exist within the CIGNA Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): HMO and Network, HMO and Network with Open Access, HMO and Network Point of Service (POS), and HMO and Network Point of Service with Open Access. In addition to HMOs, Cigna offers the CIGNA Open Access Plus, which contains the national provider network and gives participants the choice to pick a Primary Care Physician (PCP). Specialist referrals are not needed and you have the choice of going out of the network, although going out of the network will reduce some benefits. Emergency care can be provided by any facility, regardless of network coverage.

PPO Plans

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO’s) allow members to visit any provider in the network because no PCP is required and referrals are not needed to see a specialist. Going out of the network is also an option, but is not usually recommended due to the higher cost. With the PPO all emergency care is handled as in-network. For people who are willing to stay in the network at all times, the Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) may be a good choice. You can see any doctor in the network whenever you need to and you can go to any specialist in the network without a referral. In the event of an emergency, you may be able to obtain approval to go out of the network and still receive coverage. The plans available for individuals and families vary from state to state and may include choices of an HMO plan, an Open Access plan, and a Health Savings plan.

People who are waiting for major medical coverage and would like interim insurance may choose the Voluntary Limited-Benefit Health Plans, called Starbridge and Fundamental Care. While this is not a major medical plan, it covers basic every day medical care for reasonable rates. This is also an option for employees who are hourly or part-time and it is also ideal for temporary laborers.

Indemnity plans are unique in that you have complete flexibility in your choice of doctors and hospitals and you never need a referral. As with more traditional plans, you have a pre-set deductible and a co-insurance. However, unlike traditional plans, with the indemnity plan you pay for all of your services up front and then submit a claim form for reimbursement. The plan covers routine services as well as emergency care.

National Medicare participants will find two options, the CIGNA Medicare RX or the CIGNA Medicare Access. Arizona residents can choose from CIGNA Medicare Select Plus Rx or CIGNA Medicare Access (Plus Rx).

Additional Health And Wellness Services

CIGNA includes additional health and wellness programs with many of their plans. Services can include personalized health improvement programs and a 24 hour health information line. The CIGNA Health Advisor (SM) proactively identifies conditions that put a member at risk for certain diseases and there is support for chronic conditions as well as cancer prevention and education. Maternal programs are available under CIGNA HealthCare Healthy Babies® and CIGNA Healthy Pregnancies, Healthy Babies (SM). In addition to the CIGNA Health Steps to Weight Loss (SM) program, the Healthy Rewards® discount program can provides savings of up to sixty percent for weight management programs. Healthy Rewards® can also be used for other services such as acupuncture.

Awards And Recognition

In 2009, CIGNA received a first place gold medal from “Gartner and 1 to 1 Customers Awards” for their customer strategy and excellent customer experience. They have been ranked number one by InformationWeek 500 for customer intimacy and Arizona Business Magazine recognized Cigna with their 2008 HealthCare Leadership Award. Cigna has received numerous awards for their Healthcare Call Center, including “Outstanding Customer Service Experience” from J.D. Power and Associates. Accredited with the CEO Cancer Gold Standard and full accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Cigna continues to receive numerous awards and recognition for their services in the health insurance industry. They also receive community service awards and employer recognition awards such as the Working Family Support Award.

Get “SIGNA” Health Insurance Quotes!

GIGNA appears to be a secure company with many health plan choices. When considering insurance companies, financial stability, longevity, and reputation are essential. By having several choices in plans, you increase the likelihood of finding suitable coverage for an affordable price. Learn about other insurers by using the free rate device provided on this web page. Start shopping for quotes now by simply entering your zip code above!