CIGNA WORLDWIDE INC

unknown

So far we have had a good experience with coverage.

The representatives at Cigna were helpful and friendly. They gave me information about my benefits and what procedures would be covered, how much the lifetime coverage would be for particular benefits, and what the deductibles would be.
I was able to go online to the Cigna website and find a doctor in their network who could do the procedure. The particular plan I have requires me to go to an in-network doctor, but all of the doctor's I've wanted to go to have taken Cigna.
When I got the procedure done, the billing was handled well. The doctor's office sent the claim to the insurance company, who accepted the claim and paid the doctor's office. Cigna negotiated a discount on the procedure, so I did not have to pay anything except for the copay.
Through Cigna I was also able to set up a Flexible Spending Account, so when I paid the copay at the doctor's office, the amount for the copay was refunded back to me by a check in the mail from my FSA. I didn't have to submit paperwork claims for the copay amount. It was just taken care of automatically.
I am pleased with Cigna as a health insurance company.

I have had good experiences with some of the agents, one agent was very helpful and went out of their way to call a doctor's office to try to correct a billing error. Other agents have given incorrect information, which ended up costing me out of pocket fees. I think they should do a better job of training, so that all of their agents can give correct information.
I cannot stand their automated system. Often I need to get in touch with Cigna quickly, since I am waiting in a doctor's office and the automated system does not direct me to the correct options. I would like to have an option to speak to a person immediately, rather then going through several automated options and then waiting on hold for 20 or 30 minutes.

They get the job done. We've had them for a while. We haven't had to communicate with them.

They are not the best insurance you can have. I did not have a choice there. The problem with them is that you have to fight for every MRI or tests you have to get done. You need to be prepared to be denied the first time you are told any tests. Once the tests are approved they send lot of mails telling you how much you owe or you saved. I then get a letter from the doctor in which the payment I owe is different. I then end up paying them and get refunds from the doctor's office as everything is wrong. They are very cumbersome in taking care of insurance. Everybody you talk to over the phone in their office is very polite and lovely. The problem is with the letters you get. They never approve any tests first and I have to ask the physician's assistant to contact them and convince that it is medically necessary. There is a lot of unnecessary paper work. They find the tests are unnecessary and then the doctors have to make it clear that it is necessary. It is a waste of time. Their price is inflated for the kind of service they give. The quality of their customer service is good but they have a team of doctors who do not give any service to save their money. Doctors whom you don't even know make the decision about you treatments. They keep telling me that they need to see how much Medicare will pay for this service and I am not on Medicare. I have told them repeatedly that I am not on Medicare. I have told three people about this. They are in the health business and unfortunately what they do affect people a lot.