Cigna offers low-cost Medicare Advantage plans with about-average member experience scores and below-average star ratings.
Aug 7, 2024 Written by Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer Kate Ashford, CSA®
Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance
Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.
Assigning Editor Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Cigna plans are low-cost and member experience scores are about average, but star ratings from CMS have declined.
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Pros & Cons29 states and Washington, D.C.
Members in high-rated plans
Percentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Medium (50% to 89%)
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
29 states and Washington, D.C.
Members in high-rated plans
Percentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Medium (50% to 89%)
The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
Cigna Medicare Advantage is available in just over half of U.S. States, and Cigna is the seventh-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. The provider also offers stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plans nationwide.
Cigna offers a lot of $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans — at least one in every market the provider serves. Although the majority of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage members are in highly rated plans, the company’s overall star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have declined for 2024.
Here’s what you should know about Cigna Medicare Advantage.
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Cigna’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages.
Low-cost options: More than 8 in 10 (83%) of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage offerings are $0-premium plans.
Prescription drug plans widely available: Cigna offers three stand-alone prescription drug plans that are available in all states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Breadth of benefits: Cigna offers a number of helpful member benefits, such as 24/7 telehealth, meal delivery and transportation to and from health facilities.
Sliding star ratings: Cigna’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are lower in 2024 than the previous year, landing below the average for all providers.
Limited availability: Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are available in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
Third-party ratings: The National Committee for Quality Assurance doesn’t give any Cigna plan a rating higher than 3.5 out of 5 on its ratings scale.
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.75
Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are rated below the industry average, receiving an average rating of 3.75 stars out of 5 from CMS for 2024, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04 [0]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Fact Sheet - 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings. Accessed Jul 31, 2024.
While some plans have lower ratings, the majority of Cigna’s members are in highly rated plans. Of members who are in contracts with a Medicare star rating, 66% are in contracts rated 4.0 or above as of March 2024 [0]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . 2024 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Apr 25, 2024.
CMS maintains its own star ratings , which rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures.
You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool .
Cigna offers a $0-premium plan in every market in 2024, and more than 8 in 10 of Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans are $0-premium plans. You'll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024 .
(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay more. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium [0]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Jul 31, 2024.
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium. The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.Here are examples of Cigna Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:
Cigna Medicare Advantage plan
Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
Monthly premium: $0.
Out-of-pocket max: $3,900.
Primary care: $0. Specialist: $25. Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.Cigna Preferred Plus Medicare (HMO)
Monthly premium: $24.
Out-of-pocket max: $3,900.
Primary care: $0. Specialist: $15. Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.Cigna Preferred Select Medicare (HMO)
Monthly premium: $0.
Out-of-pocket max: $3,900.
Primary care: $0. Specialist: $25. Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.Selected plans are available in ZIP code 27513.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s Plan Finder to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Cigna plans or compare across carriers.
Cigna offers a few kinds of Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in terms of structure, costs and benefits. Cigna offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (MAPDs) as well as stand-alone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually limited.
HMO-POS plansHMO point-of-service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’ll pay more for those services.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Cigna offers two types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
CMS Star Rating
Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org GET A QUOTEWe will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
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Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ETCigna acquired HealthSpring in 2012, allowing Cigna to expand its Medicare business. As recently as 2020, Cigna sold Cigna-HealthSpring-branded plans, but none are currently available. HealthSpring is a subsidiary of Cigna.
There are a few companies that weigh in on health plans or on the strength of the company in question, and we’ve included three here:
AM Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry. In May 2023, AM Best affirmed its Financial Strength Rating, or FSR, of A (Excellent) for The Cigna Group, including its U.S. life/health subsidiaries, health maintenance organizations and Europe-based insurance companies. AM Best also affirmed the FSR of A (Excellent) for Medco Containment Group and Cigna HealthSpring Companies, which are Cigna subsidiaries [0]
An A rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes Cigna has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
In its 2023 Medicare Advantage Study — the ninth it's done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the five biggest Medicare markets: California , Florida , New York , Pennsylvania and Texas . On these measures, Cigna placed second of all major providers in Texas (one of the four markets from the study in which Cigna has plans) [0]
The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on clinical quality, member satisfaction and results from the NCQA's accreditation survey. The ratings highlight the results of care and what patients say about their care.
In its September 2023 ratings of Cigna plans, the NCQA awarded ratings between 2.5 and 3.5. Out of 11 plans rated, five plans received a 2.5 rating [0]
NCQA . Health Plans. Accessed Jul 31, 2024.Cigna offers Medicare Advantage plans in 29 states and Washington, D.C. It offers Medicare prescription drug plans in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
Overall, Cigna is the sixth-largest Medicare Advantage provider in the country among for-profit health plans. More than half a million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Cigna Medicare Advantage plans, and the company added 14,000 new members for the 2024 plan year [0]
Cigna, headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, was created in 1982 when Connecticut General Corp. (CG) and the Insurance Company of North America (INA) merged. Cigna offers health insurance for individuals and families, dental insurance, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, and other insurance coverage such as whole life and cancer treatment insurance. The company also offers insurance for businesses.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other Cigna Medicare offerings:
Cigna Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service in a few ways:
Call a customer service representative at 800-997-1654, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (TTY/TDD dial 711 and follow the prompts.)
Chat with a member services representative, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself . Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
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The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
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