Cigna Medicare Advantage Plans – How To Choose

Cigna Corporation is a health insurance company that offers a wide range of health insurance options, including Medicare Advantage plans.

Cigna Corp also offers dental insurance, whole life and cancer treatment insurance. In addition, it offers Cigna Medicare Supplement Insurance and Part D plans.

Cigna is one of the Medicare Advantage plans providers across the US, with over half a million beneficiaries as of October 2022. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare coverage.

It is an alternative to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) offered by the federal government. Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance plans approved by Medicare and offer additional benefits beyond what is covered by the Original Medicare plan.

The specific benefits and coverage vary depending on the plan and location. The MA plans may include coverage for routine vision and dental care and offer additional benefits such as access to fitness programs and telehealth services. It’s important to carefully review the details of any Medicare Advantage plan before enrolling.

How to Choose Cigna Medicare Plans

When choosing a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan, it’s important to consider a few key factors:

Cigna’s Medicare Advantage Plans Available in Your Area

You’ll need to ensure that the plan is available in your area. Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans are available in 28 states and over 580 counties. You can check with Cigna or the Medicare website to see which plans are available in your location.

Plan Options Available to You

Cigna offers several different Medicare Advantage plan options, including HMO and PPO plans. Each plan has unique benefits and costs, so it’s important to compare the different options to see which fits your needs best.

Also, compare Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans to other options available in your area, such as Original Medicare or a Medicare Supplement plan. This will help you determine which plan offers the best value and fits your needs.

Your Budget vs Cost of Your Cigna Preferred Plan

You want to go for a plan that provides the coverage and services you need at a price you can afford. Look at the plan’s premiums, deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums.

Also, check the specific benefits offered, such as coverage for prescription drugs, vision and dental care, and any additional services. If not, remember that you will have to pay for them out of pocket.

Cigna offers some $0-premium plans, but they have out-of-pocket costs such as copays and deductibles. The rest of the plan has a consolidated monthly premium ranging between $16 and $118, inclusive of Medicare Part C and D.

Regardless of the Cigna Medicare Advantage plan you choose; you will still be required to pay a Medicare Part B premium.

Your Healthcare Needs

Think about the types of medical services you use the most, and make sure your plan covers those services. You may also consider whether you need additional benefits, such as prescription drug coverage or routine vision and dental care.

Review the plan’s benefits and exclusions carefully to ensure that it covers the services you need. Also, check whether the plan includes coverage for the medications you take.

Plan’s Network of Doctors and Hospitals

It’s also a good idea to consider the provider network for each benefit plan. This is the group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers included in the plan’s network.

You’ll want to make sure that the insurance plan you choose has a provider network that includes the healthcare providers you already use and trust and any specialists you may need to see in the future.

Plan’s Customer Service and Satisfaction Ratings

Finally, you should check the plan’s reviews regarding customer service, the convenience of its coverage and services, and any additional features or perks it offers.

Considering all these factors, you can choose a Cigna Medicare Advantage benefit plan that meets your needs and provides the best value for your money.

Steps for Choosing a Cigna Medicare Advantage Plan

Here are a few steps to take when choosing a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan:

1. Compare the plans available in your area: Look at the different Cigna Medicare Advantage plans available in your area and compare their benefits, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs to determine which plan best fits your needs and budget.
2. Contact Cigna or a licensed insurance agent: You can enroll in a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan by contacting Cigna directly or a licensed insurance agent.
3. Determine your eligibility: To be eligible for a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. The plan should also be available in your area. In addition, you should not have an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) unless you are eligible for a special ESRD Medicare Advantage plan.
4. Provide the necessary information for enrolling. When enrolling, you will need to provide your Medicare information, such as your Medicare number and the effective date of your Part A and Part B coverage. It’s important to enroll during the annual Medicare open enrollment period, which runs from October 15 to December 7, to avoid a penalty. If you have a qualifying life event, such as moving to a new area or losing employer-sponsored coverage, you may be allowed to enroll outside the open enrollment period.
5. Choose your primary care physician: If the plan requires, you must choose a primary care physician from the plan’s provider network.
6. Pay your premium: Most Medicare Advantage plans have a monthly premium in addition to the premiums for Medicare Part A and Part B. You will need to pay this premium to enroll in the plan.
7. Enjoy your plan benefits.

Once you have completed these steps, your enrollment in the Cigna Medicare Advantage plan will be processed, and you will receive a welcome packet with details about your plan coverage and benefits.

Types of Cigna Medicare Advantage plan

Cigna offers several different types of Medicare Advantage plans, including Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans.

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans: An HMO plan typically has a lower premium and provides coverage for services from doctors and hospitals within the plan’s network. An HMO plan requires you to choose a primary care physician and get a referral to a specialist.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans: A PPO plan typically has a higher premium but offers more flexibility than an HMO plan. A PPO plan allows you to see doctors and hospitals outside the plan’s network, although you may pay more for these services.
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans: PFFS plans allow you to see any provider who accepts the plan’s terms and conditions and is willing to see you. These plans typically have more flexibility than HMO or PPO plans, but you may pay more for services outside the plan’s network.

Cigna also offers Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage, known as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plans, as well as Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for individuals with specific health care needs, such as chronic conditions or living in a nursing home. The specific types of Medicare Advantage plan available through Cigna may vary depending on your location.

Notably, Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are not considered Medigap plans. A Medigap plan is a private health insurance policy designed to supplement Original Medicare Part A and Part B and is offered by private insurance companies.

A Medigap plan helps cover some out-of-pocket costs associated with Original Medicare, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, are an alternative to Original Medicare that is offered by private insurance companies.

Medicare Advantage plans provide the same basic benefits as Original Medicare but may also include additional coverage for services such as prescription drugs and routine vision and dental care.

However, Medicare Advantage plans may have more limited networks of doctors and hospitals and may require you to pay higher out-of-pocket costs in some cases.

Instead, Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans are considered “creditable coverage” for the purposes of the Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D) creditable coverage disclosure requirements.

If you have Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plan, you will not be subject to the Medicare Part D late enrollment penalty if you later decide to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.

The late enrollment penalty is an additional charge applied to your Medicare Part D premium if you go without creditable prescription drug coverage for a certain period.

Conclusion

Choosing a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan requires careful consideration of your healthcare needs, budget, and preferred providers. It’s a good idea to compare different plan options and consult a licensed insurance agent or broker to help you make the best decision.

Contact Cigna or a licensed insurance agent. If you have questions or need help choosing a plan, contact Cigna or a licensed insurance agent for assistance.