Original Medicare (Parts A and B) is a public health insurance option provided by the federal government for citizens aged 65 or older. Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services through CMS, Medicare offers an important foundation of coverages for older Americans.
However, Original Medicare does has coverage gaps that can be closed by purchasing supplemental Medicare policies from private insurance companies (such as Humana, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield).
This article reviews those CIGNA plans offered by CIGNA Medicare, including CIGNA Part D, HMO CIGNA, and other advantage plans available.
CIGNA Part D
Medicare Part D offers supplemental prescription drug coverage, and can be purchased from private insurance companies. The drug coverage is added to Original Medicare (Parts A and B), thus providing expanded prescription drug coverage for beneficiaries.
The available CIGNA Part D plan – called CIGNA Medicare Rx – offers the following benefits:
- coverage for 94% of available drugs
- access to over 58,000 network pharmacies
- no deductibles for select plans
- no copayments for common drugs, such as those for diabetes and drug pressure
CIGNA Part D offers three different plan options, all of which have specific coverage terms and coverages:
- Plan 1 – this is the lowest premium plan, and offers low copayments for most drugs
- Plan 2 – this is the mid-range premium plan, and offers no copayments and no deductibles for common drugs
- Plan 3 – this is the highest premium plan, and offers expanded coverage with access the the widest variety of generic and name-brand drugs
To find out exact rates and whether or not a CIGNA Part D plan is right for you, visit the company's website or call 1-800-592-9231.
CIGNA Medicare – PFFS Plan
Medicare CIGNA offers several Advantage plans, one of which is its private fee-for-service (PFFS) option.
(Note: Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies, and offer full Medicare coverage [Parts A and B] with added benefits, such as prescription drug coverage).
The PFFS plan offered by this company – called CIGNA Medicare Access – offers the following benefits:
- full coverage for Original Medicare (Parts A and B)
- additional dental, hearing, and vision benefits
- the freedom to choose any health care provider, with no network limitations
- emergency coverage across the globe
- limited prescription drug coverage for some plans
CIGNA Medicare Access offers four different plan options, each of which have different coverage benefits and rates:
- Plan 1 – basic medical benefits and low premiums
- Plan 2 – basic medical benefits with added prescription drug coverage and low premiums
- Plan 3 – comprehensive medical coverages with higher premiums
- Plan 4 – comprehensive medical coverages with added Part D benefits and higher premiums
For information on rates and to lean if any of the CIGNA plans are right for you, visit the company's website or call 1-800-592-9231.
HMO CIGNA Plans
Medicare CIGNA offers a standard HMO Advantage plan in which beneficiaries are required to say within the provided coverage network. While this provides care which is limited to health care professionals within the designated network, the HMO premiums are much lower than those of other Advantage offerings.
The HMO CIGNA option – CIGNA Medicare Select Plus – offers the following benefits:
- full coverage for Parts A and B
- prescription drug coverage offered by Part D
- minimal out-of-pocket costs
- a broad coverage network
- wellness program opportunities
Currently, this HMO Cigna plan is only available for Arizona residents. In addition, beneficiaries must be eligible for Original Medicare, and must apply in the open enrollment period between November 15 and December 31. (However, individuals may apply for special enrollment outside of this time frame and still be eligible for CIGNA plans.)
For more information, visit any CIGNA website or call 1-800-592-9231.
Medicare CIGNA Plans
CIGNA offers a number of different Advantage and supplemental plans for beneficiaries to choose from, including HMO CIGNA plans and CIGNA Part D.
Beneficiaries are encouraged to weigh their coverage needs against the added costs of purchasing private policies, and determine whether buying a private coverage makes sense.
David Harris-Gershon - David Harris-Gershon – a blogger for Tikkun magazine and a freelance writer on Israel, the Middle East and America’s role in ...
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