CIGNA® welcomes all brokers and consultants to our new The Big Picture newsletter. The Big Picture covers topics for CIGNA business enterprise-wide, so you may find that details in the “Latest News” updates may not always be relevant to your business. For Select Segment specific updates please see the CIGNA Select Segment News section of this newsletter. 

Reform Swings into Action

Health care reform sets in motion this fall as the initial provisions take effect. From 100 percent coverage for preventive care to the expansion of dependent coverage to age 26, to big decisions about grandfathering, the Affordable Care Act is changing U.S. health care. Clients, customers and consultants have questions about the provisions listed above plus the dozen or so others that are already impacting business. CIGNA’s reform website, informedonreform.com, continues to be a trusted, highly used resource. Check back often for breaking news and updates.

Election Update: Impact of Health Care Reform

In less than 60 days, the public will go to the polls to elect all 435 Members of the U.S. Congress, 36 members of the U.S. Senate, 37 Governors, and many state and local officials. For the national elections, many key issues of the first two years of President Obama’s Administration will play a large role in determining election outcomes – especially the volatile health care issue.

Read more information here.

Empowering Customers with Tools and Resources to be Better Informed

Customers today are being asked to take more accountability and control of their health – and their health spending. Not surprisingly, they expect to have the information and tools* to make smart decisions. CIGNA’s award-winning suite of decision support tools does just that. We’ve collected cost and quality information, simplified the language, redesigned the tools, and added new features that make it easier than ever for individuals to choose and use health care wisely.

Take a look at the experience our customers can expect.

* MyCIGNA.com® and CIGNA.com resources discussed in the linked information do not apply to all health plans. Please contact your CIGNA representative if you have questions.

Health and Wellness at Work

Bringing health and wellness programs directly to the workplace is the work of CIGNA Onsite Health®, which has built an extensive suite of onsite capabilities as an integral part of the health management programs CIGNA provides to employers and their workers. CIGNA now offers onsite health centers, pharmacy services, one-on-one health coaching, health promotion, health improvement programs, educational seminars, biometric screenings and flu shots.

Read more information here.

Health Care Reform Impacts on HRA, HSA, FSA Plans

Health care reform has specific impacts on health plan spending accounts that clients and customers will want to know. The impacts may change the way customers plan for and use their HRAs, HSAs or FSAs. Specifically, there are a number of changes related to over-the-counter eligibility for reimbursement, penalties on HSA distributions and reimbursement for expenses of dependents.

Get the details.

CIGNA Pharmacy Management® / Merck Outcome-Based Contract a Proven Success

In April 2009, CIGNA Pharmacy Management and Merck & Co., Inc. entered into the country’s first national outcome-based contract between a pharmaceutical company and a pharmacy benefit management company. 

Check out the results of this agreement.