As you may be aware, Cigna Individual and Family Plans has notified California regulators that Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company will not offer or renew Cigna LocalPlusIN (EPO), California LocalPlus (PPO), or California LocalPlusIN (EPO) medical plans in California in 2018.
Anthem & California Insurance Commissioner Respond To Blocked Cigna Merger
“Anthem is significantly disappointed by the decision as combining Anthem and Cigna would positively impact the health and well-being of millions of Americans – saving them more than $2 billion in medical costs annually,” said Joseph R. Swedish, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Anthem.
Cigna California 2017 Individual and Family Plans
Cigna has released their 2017 health plans available in select counties of Northern and Southern California. Cigna has decided not to pay agents commissions for 2017. (Cigna Cuts All Agent’s Commissions to 0% for 2017) Consumers will have limited options for assistance with enrollment and the explanation of the health plans from Cigna in 2017. Most all Cigna plans have been converted to EPO plans. The exception is one Bronze plan that still remains a PPO product.
Commissioner Jones supports DOJ block of health plan mergers
I’m very pleased with the U.S. Department of Justice action today to block these mergers because they are anti-competitive and would harm consumers and businesses. As insurance commissioner of the largest insurance market in the country, I urged the DOJ to prevent both of these health insurance mergers, which if approved would have resulted in a highly concentrated, less competitive health insurance market doing irreparable harm to consumers and businesses.
Cigna files for 18% increase in California individual and family plan rates
Cigna has filed their 2017 California individual and family plan rates with the California Department of Insurance requesting overall rate increase of 18%. Cigna’s rate filing states the new 2017 health insurance premiums would affect 18,253 of their members in California.
Commissioner Jones urges blocking Anthem Cigna merger
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today urged the U.S. Department of Justice to block the merger deal between Anthem, Inc., and Cigna Corporation. After an extensive review of the Anthem and Cigna merger, Commissioner Jones issued detailed findings that the merger of the second and fourth largest national health insurers is anti-competitive and will harm California consumers, businesses, and the California health insurance market.
Public Meeting on the Acquisition of Cigna by Anthem Blue Cross
The Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) invites you to a public meeting on the acquisition of Cigna by Anthem Blue Cross. Representatives from both plans will be present. The meeting will be held in Sacramento on March 4, 2016 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss DMHC’s jurisdiction and authority to oversee the transaction and to solicit public comment for DMHC’s consideration as it reviews the transaction. Public comment will be limited to 3 minutes. Comments may also be submitted to [email protected] until 5:00 p.m. on March 11, 2016.
Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans receive sanction from CMS
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an immediate suspension of enrollment and marketing activities for Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans on January 21, 2016. The immediate intermediate sanctions against enrollment and marketing activities to Cigna, HealthSpring, and Bravo Health Medicare Advantage plans sold in the states of Alabama, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida. The CMS sanctions were imposed on Medicare Advantage medical plan which include prescription drug coverage also known as MA-PDs.
Cigna to require proof of identity, residency and payment for health insurance
Cigna has announced they will be sending letters out to individuals newly enrolled in their health plans in 2016. The letters requesting verification of identity, residency, and premium payment will be sent to Cigna Individual and Family health plan enrollments regardless of whether the plan was purchased either through a Market Place Exchange or off-exchange directly from Cigna. If Cigna doesn’t receive the requested information within 45 days the health insurance may be cancelled.
Cigna discontinues some California health plans for 2016
Cigna will be discontinuing some off-exchange plans the following plans and moving current members to an equivalent health plan. The marketing term “myCigna” preceding 2015 non-standard benefit design plans is being dropped on some plans, but the overall benefit design will remain the same. For example, myCigna California Platinum will now be called Cigna California Platinum.