Cigna Expands Medicare Advantage Plans for Third Year in a Row

For the third year in a row, health insurer Cigna is expanding its Medicare Advantage plans, expanding to 108 new counties and three new states – Connecticut, Oregon and Washington – which will increase its geographic presence by nearly 30%.

As part of the expansion, Cigna said most current customers will pay the same or lower premiums, and promised that every market will have at least one $ 0 premium plan. Other benefits will include a social connection program to tackle loneliness, personalized plans for people with diabetes, and incentives for annual wellness checkups and other preventative care.

Cigna has increased its geographic presence in MA by 80% since 2019, the insurer said. The company now offers plans in 477 counties across 26 states and the District of Columbia.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT

During the Medicare 2022 annual election period, Cigna clients will be offered plans with perks like a $ 0 co-payment for primary care, behavioral health, and physical therapy in a virtual setting. While there is at least one premium $ 0 MA plan available in each market – similar to 2021 – most MA customers with a premium will pay the same or reduced premiums compared to last year, the company said. insurer.

Cigna is also rolling out benefits for seniors, such as the Social Connection Program, which gives some MA clients access to a partner who can help them with activities of daily living such as meal preparation, transportation. or housework, or just spending time talking or watching a movie.

The company is also adding the senior savings model to a number of its MAI plans for 2022, which caps the price of insulin at $ 35 per month for clients of those plans, regardless of their coverage phase. .

In some dual special needs plans (DSNP), Cigna offers customers a debit card that they can use to pay for certain expenses. The card is replenished monthly and the maximum amount varies depending on the plan. Some DSNP plans also offer a co-payment of $ 0 for all covered drugs to clients eligible for any level of subsidy for low-income people.

Cigna also offers Medicare supplement plans in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Medicare supplemental insurance helps pay for what the original Medicare did not cover, including co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

The AEP begins October 15 and runs until December 7. Most plans purchased during the AEP go into effect on January 1, 2022.

THE BIGGEST TREND

The average premium for Medicare Advantage plans will be lower in 2022 to $ 19 per month, up from $ 21.22 in 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, although Part D coverage increases to $ 33 per month, from $ 31.47 in 2021.

The agency released 2022 premiums, deductibles and other key information for the Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans ahead of the annual Medicare open enrollment, which begins October 15 and ends December 7.

Master’s enrollments continue to increase, CMS said. In 2022, it is expected to reach 29.5 million people compared to 26.9 million enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021.

As for Cigna, it announced in August that it would expand its presence on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, entering markets in three new states for the 2022 plan year.

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