Cigna Health Insurance Reviews

In a letter from the Social Security Administration dated February 6, 2008, it stated, "You may enroll for Medicare medical insurance at any time you are covered under a group health plan. However, you may wait and enroll during the 8-month period that begins when the work ends or your coverage under the plan ends, whichever occurs first." So, we elected to stay with Cigna since we had been so satisfied, even though their premium had jumped so drastically in January 2009.

I have called and written letters to Cigna trying to get $2,500 in medical bills paid but they were rude and non-responsive to our problem. I finally got someone to promise to mail me an Appeal form but I haven't received it yet. They were even rude enough to return a several-page document with cover letter that I sent them asking for a review. Cigna's stand is that we were required to go on Medicare when it became available but why didn't they tell us that? Why did our bills have to pile up before they finally told us their policy? Why have they collected the high premium but not provided the services?

It's frustrating when you try to do everything right and make the contacts to correct problems only to be told "It's your fault. Deal with it." My husband needs some more diagnostic work done but now, we can't afford it. He has some new medical problems that need attention, but we can't afford the doctor visits. His health has been put on hold until July, when he will start receiving Medicare benefits. Does Cigna care? No!

I also had an ongoing complaint regarding harassment in the work place due to my FMLA. I sent a long grievance letter to Ms. **. I had not heard anything about the grievance and I had been very sick, so it was a month or so that I tried to get info on grievance. I was told that they had sent me a letter, certified mail for their response. I told Ms. ** that the only letter I received (certified mail) was where they fired me. I asked what the letter said and she said she couldn't remember but she would send the letter again. I received it in June. Nothing was done, period. My doctors put me out of work due to several health issues. I have had to get a lawyer to fight for my short term and long term disability. The last full day of work for me was 1-29-08. I worked 3 hours on 2-6-08.

I have had four surgeries from 4/08 to 12/08. I had bilateral cervical fusion, gallbladder surgery and two surgeries (10/08 and 12/08) at MUSC in Chas to help me breathe. I still have apnea. I cannot use a cpap or bipap. I have chronic migraines and nausea, arthritis in my back, slight scoliosis, back pain, carpal tunnel in both hands and wear braces on them. I have fibromyalgia, severe depression and stress, chronic pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hyperthyroidism, trouble sleeping, trouble with concentration and memory to name a few. I take pain meds everyday. I have not had a paycheck since Feb '08. Cigna keeps saying that I was a sedentary nurse. I'm only 46 and was educated. My job was triaging patients on the phone. Most people, even in the hospital, did not know the extent of what our job was.

I did work on the computer 10 hours a day. I had to have an SC multistate license and a Penn state license. I have had to get a lawyer but according to them, I have been turned down twice already. They are filing an appeal. I think it is so ridiculous that when a person truly needs help and has documented health problems that they can't get the help they need or deserve. My medical bills are ridiculous and I'm getting very frustrated. I do have a lawyer who is trying to help me with the STD/LTD and Social Security Disability. This has been going on now for a year. I just want to know why this is so hard. My family is living paycheck to paycheck and I have a son that graduates high school this year. Cigna has drawn this out so long. Now, I understand why people who are sick/disabled have to file for bankruptcy.

After almost 24 hours of vomiting, she was becoming dehydrated. Once in the hospital (which is not a Cigna provider) I.V. fluids, medications and a CT of the abdomen with rectal contrast were ordered. A mass was found in her lower abdomen and it appeared to have ruptured. South Haven Community Hospital has only 40 beds and has no emergency surgery or pediatric services available. Within 15 mins of this diagnosis, we were in an ambulance being transported to The Children's Hospital at Bronson Methodist in Kalamazoo, Mi. Once there, we met with the Chief of Pediatric Surgery, and the diagnosis was confirmed, there was a mass and it appeared to have ruptured. Surgery was scheduled immediately.

They removed a tumor the size of a large grapefruit and my daughter's right ovary. Shortly after surgery, the surgeon informed me of a hospital appointment with an pediatric hematologist and oncologist. Dr. ** is with Michigan State University's Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, she would be my daughter's oncologist. To make an extremely long story short, my daughter had an extremely rare form of juvenile ovarian cancer. We (i.e. me and my ex husband) were informed that since both hospital visits were emergency, Cigna would cover both at 80%. This would not be the case.

First, we were told that because we didn't call for prior authorization, the coverage wouldn't be decreased (It was Saturday and the call centers were not open). Then it was the fact the hospitals were not in network. Emergent or not. Then that ruptured tumor was not emergent. Finally the bill at South Haven Community was paid at 80% after a battle. Things like the CT had to be pre-authorized etc. etc. Any excuse not to pay. Then Bronson wasn't part of the network, so they would only pay at 60%. Then the oncologist wasn't in network, they would authorize to see a geriatric oncologist but not a pediatric oncologist. And since I have found the oncologist office did apply for network years ago. But Cigna only authorizes one name in the entire office. They all bill under the same tax I.D. why aren't they all listed?

Bronson applied and became part of Cigna's network October 1, 2008. They had no choice, the other pediatric provider for the area discontinued pediatric services June 5th, 2008. We go back to Bronson for testing every 3 months but as of yet cannot get Cigna to pay what they should. And every time you call, they agree that it should be covered and then they don't pay. The reasons are numerous and will vary from operator to operator. The latest is no visits to the oncologist are covered because the deductible hasn't been met! An Emergency room visit, the ambulance transfer to a children's hospital with an in-patient stay, and her deductible hasn't been met. It's unbelievable. How they determine what to pay at 80% and what to pay at 60% I don't know. The anesthesiologist at Bronson was paid at 80% but the pathologist wasn't. The hospital wasn't and the oncologist wasn't (even though she is supposed to be in network). It's unbelievable.

Today, Dec. 12, 2008, I received a bill from them for $1,303.59 due in full by Dec. 29, 2008. I called to inquire about this since I had not received a bill from them in some time. The customer service representative who would only identify herself to me as Claire was extremely rude with me as I tried to figure out why I had stopped receiving bills from them, and why I was getting a large bill now. I asked if they could simply start sending me the monthly bills again (as they had neglected to keep doing), and she said no, because I should have kept sending them money even though I didn't get any bills! When I said I couldn't send money when I had no payment amount, no account number, or an address to send it to, her reply was, "Well lady, I can hide bills just as well as you can!"

I have never been so insulted by a customer service representative. I was so astonished that I asked her to repeat herself to make sure I heard her correctly, and she said, You heard me in a very rude tone. I then asked to speak to her supervisor and she put me on hold for at least five minutes. When she came back she said that her supervisor said there was nothing she could do and I had had better pay the bill in full by the end of the year. I asked to speak to the supervisor directly and she put me on hold for another five minutes. When she came back she said there was not a supervisor available and she would take my number and someone would call me back in 24 hours.

I am emotionally hurt, physically drained, economically poorer, and my trust level has dropped to 0%. I have been speaking out to anyone else who will listen. I don't know what else to do. I feel so small.

So now they are telling me it will take 30 business days from July 29 2008 becausethat is when it got to the right place which is ridiculous. My son is suffering because they dropped the ball and took 23 business days to get the information to the right department. My son only has until 12 months of age to truely correct the problem and he is currently 6 months. Cigna has already wasted 2 months of precious time that he could have been getting the proper help. In the meantime they have given me the runaround and lied and shoved me around only to get no answers only more waiting while my childs head gets worse.

My son head is very noticeably crooked and misshapen. Also his torticollis has not gotten better because his head needs fixed so we can fix his neck. We have to take him to physical therapy once a week to try to help and pay out of pocket for that.

I completed this in a timely manner, within a week, because I needed to make a request to the previous insurance company, wait for the document to be mailed, and then I would have to fax it to Cigna, where they would then scan it into their system, from there it would take up to 10 business days for the system to be updated. I did not learn any of these facts until my third phone call. The second phone call that I made approximately two weeks after the first was to verify that the information had been received. I was informed that it had been received but that I needed to provide more proof. I explained that I had been told I only needed to prove that I had not become a diabetic in the interum between health insurances. I was then corrected. They needed proof that I had health insurance coverage for one continuous year; so that I could be released from the pre-existing condition, while doing this I also needed to show that there was no more than 61 days of a lapse of insurance.

The fourth time that I called to verify that I had sent the proper documentation, I was told that I needed to send more because I was 20 days short of showing a year of coverage. I responded by asking what would happen if I did not send any more documentation? I was told that I would be put in a hold, which means that every time my endocrinologist or any thing that appeared to be for my diabetic condition presented, a survey would be sent to the patient and to my doctor. My endocrinologists billing department-where I am a current patient for 12 years-called and told me that Cigna informed them that a survey had been sent out. I have to this day not received the survey even after requesting it be sent to me after converation number 4 with my health insurance company.

What has inspired me to write this is the second phone call I received today, once again from my endocrinologists office, where the billing supervisor spoke to Cigna and was told that; I refused to provide any additional information. When I asked: what happens if I don't send any more documentation? that was considered refusal. I called my health insurance company for the sixth time today and was told that all documentation was up to date and that the last time my dr's office called was two weeks ago; however, the office had called this morning. Finally, under the HIPAA compliance act which is supposed to protect the patient; states under the federal government that you cannot request an excess of six months of health insurance coverage. How is this Cigna Plan even offered to the public?

As a result of this situation I have had to use time designated for lunch to make calls to old insurance companies, fax documentation, and follow up. I have received bills totaling $700.00, one of the bills is about to go to collections. Stress is something that most diabetics try to avoid, this situation has now been going on for four months.

Luckily I was reimbursed once for charges I was billed for. But this is an on going saga with no end in sight.

The insurance wanted me to pay for the full amount ($4,000) stating the Hospital was not part of the network. But, even if the hospital was not, I had a PPO at the time, which means if the hospital WAS NOT part of the network Cigna would still have responsibilities towards the bill; instead of a full amount coverage it would have to pay 60%.

After almost 2 years of fight, I was able to get them to recognize the Hospital and pay part of the bill. I am still fighting to have the remaining balance paid for.

If you have a choice (i.e. insurance not offered through your employer) run away from this company, it's just not worth it makes several mistakes with payments, misleads consumer with incorrect & false explanation of benefits.

My name was sent to collection for the amount of $1,200

I have always felt that the rate hikes were due to something wrong with CIGNA CORPORATION and possible stock fraud etc. so they raised the health insurance member rates to off set alleged stock fraud. I found out yesterday , since I own a few shares of CIGNA stock that Cigna had a class action suit filed against them for alleged misrepresntaion of their computer transformation system and alleged artificial stock inflation of common stock from Mov. 1, 2001 to oct. 24, 2002. there is a proposed settlement that CIGNA would have to pay out 93 million dollars to the people who lost money when they bought and sold common stock during 2001-2002.

Now I beleive that to offset the costs of their calss action suit and allegations of stock fraud and a propsed settlement that CIGNA Health Insurance then raised their rates in California and other states enormously. And I as well as other people are suffering. Inother words to offset a loss of 93 million dollars Cigna corpororation is price -gouging consumers who have their helath insurance.

TEIGIT is a group opf guilds such as the Dramatist guild , people in entertainment and writing and not all of us are so succcessful that we can afford these Health insurance rate hikes. Do you hae an investigative journalist that would lookin to this matter?

I now have to pay $3081 a quatrer for my health insurance premiums and I only make about $2600 a month from part-time work, diability payments and a friend renting a room in my house. And when ever I applied to any other health plan as an individual I got rejected due to pre-exisiting conditions which are not fatal or contagious. this includes AARP's Hospital advantage plan, Aetna, And Midwest life Insurance of Tennessee.

I have wasted valuable time and energy trying rto get on other health plans and I also applied to two government plans which took a lot of time and paperwork and I don't know if they will accept or reject me. the point is that I complained to every governemnt agency about this and today again complained ans asked them to investigate wheter or not the Class action law suit against CIGNA or the alleged stock fraud is realtred to these enormous rate hikes by CIGNA Helath insurance here in California. I call it pulling an Enron.

I am tired of complaining to govt. agencies that do nothing and tired of the discrimination I get when I apply to private health incurance plans as an individual and I know I am not the only one in this boat.

But Cigna does not consider or don't care about individuals or group of people that needs insurance.

Cigna has the power and ability to increase premiums without any regards to the people.

Cigna increased the premium up to 300% this year!

Are they not making enough money?

This is a case of an increase in my premium without
notifying me. I was paying $1153 for the last year or more than that.
then all of a sudden this month, I have to pay $2095.10! That is a big jump from the amount I
was paying for no reason at all.
I was not abusing the plan or benefits nor was I

using it a lot for outrageous costs.

that is an increase of $939 which is outrageous!

the other members were using it a lot therefore, I have to pay for this... I am self-employed and I work to support myself and pay for this health insurance among other insurances I have to have.

But a $939+ increase is inhuman.

Then, every time I call there is a different reason why the claim isn't paid, the customer service rep promises to check the inconsistencies and call me back. I receive a call-back roughly 50% of the time. In my latest conversation this morning, the rep says my claim is in limbo b/c the cost of the prescribed medicine is too high and my doctor failed to provide the necessary information. Yet, there is NO COST information required on the doctor's form, downloaded from the Cigna website.

Additionally, I have received ZERO communication on prescription reimbursements submitted beginning March 24, 2006. The claims are not even processed yet - nearly a month and a half after submission.

They continue to come up with excuses not to pay even though they are not at all valid and have informed me after I get the letter from the doctor (the doctor that seems to have rotated to another hospital and cannot be found), then there are more hoops I have to jump through. As soon as I track the doctor down to get the form filled out that they have sent me, no doubt they will say I have a preexisting condition based on telling the doctor that I urinate alot at night and have always - that might be considered a history of a condition and that is not even a condition. Many people complain that this company does not pay claims and that they may as well be wearing a black mask and a gun....

emotional stress from having to do their job by tracking down the doctor and jumping through a thousand hoops to get them to pay a claim, and financial stress from the claim being perptually unresolved, paying their monthly bills and receiving no service...these people are crooks.

On 9/18, the check was processed for $469 payable to the provider, Rebecca Appelbaum, and sent to the address indicated in her invoice.

I tried to call Rebecca Appelbaum at the phone numbers she had given me but all the numbers are disconnected. I heard that she rellocated somewhere in Florida. There is no way I can track her down to get the reimburesement from her. CIGNA is at fault because they did not perform due diligence in processing the check.