Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans Review

Quick Cigna Medicare Advantage plans review

	Cigna offers affordable health plans in 16 states, but network providers and coverage options may be limited.

Medicare rating: 3.9 stars

A.M. Best financial strength rating: A

BBB rating: not rated

NCQA rating: 2.5 to 4 stars

Consumer Affairs rating: 3 stars

J.D. Power ranking: 3rd out of 10

Cigna is an international health insurance provider that’s been in business for over 225 years. It serves over 17 million customers and manages Medicare Advantage Plans in 16 states and Washington, D.C., and prescription drug plans in every state. The company provides a network of support for its customers, including a free 24/7 Veteran Support Line and 22 service centers across the United States that offer around-the-clock medical and dental care. Cigna’s plans are generally affordable, but you’re limited to getting care from network providers. Reviewing the plans’ provider networks and formularies, in addition to out-of-pocket costs, is essential when looking for a plan that meets your needs.

What Do Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans Cover?

Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans are comparable in their scope of coverage to other Medicare Advantage Plans, offering all the benefits of Original Medicare, along with coverage for additional health services. Medicare Advantage Plans, also called Medicare Part C, often include prescription drugs, vision, and dental coverage, and wellness programs. Your out-of-pocket costs depend on the plan you choose, as do rules for how you get services, such as whether you have to choose a primary care doctor or get a referral to see a specialist.

Your hospital and medical insurance are covered and you’ll get prescription drug coverage with most plans. Additional benefits from Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans may include:

Dental, including a dental allowance
Vision
Hearing
Over-the-counter (OTC) Program
Transportation services
Fitness benefit
Home-delivered meals
24/7 telehealth
Pharmacists and case managers to assist with care coordination

What Are Cigna Medicare Advantage Plan Options?

Cigna offers Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, including an HMO-POS (point of service) plan, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, and three types of Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Most plans include drug coverage and have zero-low premiums and deductibles. Annual max out-of-pocket limits are lower than some carriers. Plans vary by region.

Review these four 2022 Cigna Medicare Advantage plans in Cook County, IL:

Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans

Plan Name	Monthly premium	Annual deductible	Office visits	Annual maximum out-of-pocket cost
Cigna Fundamental (HMO)	$0 (health only, no drug coverage)	$0	$0 primary care/$40 specialist	$6,700
Cigna True Choice (PPO)	$0	$0	$0 primary care/$30 specialist	$4,400 in network $7,550 in and out of network combined
Cigna Premier (HMO-POS)	$0	$0	$0 primary care/ $35 specialists	$4,500
Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)	$0	$0	$0 primary care/$25 specialist	$3,150

*Based on pricing in (Chicago, IL)

Pros and Cons of Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans

What we like about Cigna Medicare Advantage plans	The drawbacks of Cigna Medicare Advantage plans
No monthly premiums or annual deductibles Low annual out-of-pocket maximums Affordable copays	Not all plans include dental coverage Plans are only available in 16 states

Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans Reviews and Ratings

Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how Medicare, A.M. Best, the Better Business Bureau and more rate Cigna’s Medicare Advantage Plans.

Medicare rating: 3.9 stars	For 2022, Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans received an overall average rating of 3.9 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Find each plan’s star rating on Medicare.gov
A.M. Best financial strength rating: A	A.M. Best sets credit ratings for insurers. In March 2021, A.M. Best affirmed it’s A Financial Strength Rating (FSR) for Cigna Life and Health Group, which includes Cigna HealthSpring Companies. An A rating indicates Cigna has an excellent ability to meet financial obligations.
BBB rating: Not rated	Cigna is not accredited or rated by the Better Business Bureau. There have been 569 complaints closed in the last three years.
NCQA rating: 2.5 to 4 stars	Cigna has eight plans rated by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, about half of which are accredited by the organization. One plan has a high-performance rating of 4.0, while the others have midrange ratings between 2.5 and 3.5. Across the three metrics, including Consumer Satisfaction, Prevention, and Treatment, most plans have midrange scores between 2.5 and 3.5.
Consumer Affairs rating: 3 stars	Consumer Affairs gives Cigna a rating of 3 out of 5 stars based on 261 customer reviews submitted in the last year. Many customers speak highly of the plan’s affordability and provider network, although for some, medical expenses weren’t covered to the extent that they expected.
J.D. Power ranking: 3rd out of 10	In its 2021 Medicare Advantage Study, J.D. Power measured Medicare Advantage Plan satisfaction based on coverage and benefits, provider choice, cost, customer service, information and communication, and billing and payment. Cigna HealthSpring scored 822 points out of 1,000 and came in third out of the top 10 Medicare Advantage providers.

LeRon Moore

Medicare consultant

LeRon Moore has guided Medicare beneficiaries and their families as a Medicare professional since 2007. First as a Medicare provider enrollment specialist and now a Medicare account executive, Moore works directly with Medicare beneficiaries to ensure they understand Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans.

Moore holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University and is A+ Certified with a Medical Records Clerk Certification and Medical Terminology Certification from Midlands Technical College.

He’s passionate about educating, informing, and resolving issues concerning Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans, and considers it imperative that he does all he can to educate and inform the senior community as much as possible about Medicare.