How Cigna Is Expanding Its Insurance Coverage
The healthcare system in the United States is broken. Cigna is one insurance provider working to remedy that.
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Cigna has been a long-time private insurance provider under the Affordable Care Act. Now, the insurance group is looking to expand its coverage to three more states in the US. By extending its reach to Texas, Indiana, and South Carolina, the company hopes to gain 500,000 more customers by 2023.
In an announcement this past week, Cigna stated that citizens in 16 different states would be eligible for coverage. Other than the three new additions, these states include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia. The company joins the ranks of other insurance providers who are looking to expand their coverage next year.
What’s helping these insurance providers reach more people in the US? Obama’s Affordable Care Act, and Biden’s administration, have provided better regulations for healthcare companies. Both Biden and Obama have moved to expand public health insurance in the country, ensuring more people are eligible for public health coverage instead of bolstering private insurance. Companies like Cigna are allowed to develop their customer base through the Affordable Care Act, hoping to get more uninsured Americans on a healthcare plan.
The Biden Administration is being proactive about connecting uninsured Americans with viable coverage. On Friday, Biden announced a $100 million investment in a navigation program to make healthcare more accessible. For uninsured folks in the United States, red tape and convoluted laws make accessing their rightful healthcare coverage too confusing. Biden’s new investment would fund navigators connecting those looking for healthcare to a feasible plan. This move also aids insurance companies like Cigna, who want to expand their consumer base from coast to coast.
Health and Humana Services Secretary Xavier Becerra applauded Biden’s healthcare investment. Becerra stated that in 2021, investments like Biden’s recent proposal resulted in the “lowest uninsured rate” in US history. This evidence showcases a need for navigators with healthcare knowledge to provide uninsured people with proper insurance plans. Connecting people to high-quality healthcare from Cigna or a comparable company is one of the critical ways to get Americans covered successfully. Healthcare navigators can also be excellent sources of knowledge, educating those unfamiliar with healthcare policies about coverage eligibility and plan options.
Some people, though, are nervous about how competitive the market might become with Biden’s significant investment. In the US, healthcare, unfortunately, operates as a business, sometimes focusing too much on competition instead of providing proper coverage to its citizens. Cigna is one of the few healthcare companies that want to remain available for ACA applicants and has maintained that availability since 2014.
Charles Berg, president of Cigna’s U.S. Government business, believes that expansion is the best way to provide substantial coverage to Americans. Expanding its scope to different areas creates new partnerships as well as provides healthcare to those who are devoid of essential care. Making sure everyone is insured in this country is something the US has been slowly moving towards for years. Private healthcare companies widening their territory and retrieving new customers will hopefully accomplish this healthcare goal.
