Cigna Corporate (800) recorded Line!
Teacher's Tale:
I've been teaching in the State of Florida since 1999 & I have never encountered such a disreputable & dishonest medical insurer as Cigna.
I needed emergency foot surgery to return to my teaching job during Covid 19 & I called to get allowable amounts & preauthorization. I received terrific assistance, to help me move forward, on a recorded line.
Cigna Recorded Line:
Later Cigna stated, "We listened to the recording and we only paid $167.35 for your $16,135.00 surgery because our rep gave you too much information, shared too much with you, & he wasn't suppose to tell you all that information. Your doctor was out of network and we only pay 50% of the allowable amounts. We only cover surgery for out of network doctors if it is emergency surgery. We did allow $2000 for your out of network doctor deductible & you have also met your add'l in network $2000 deductible as well--You have the right to appeal!"
"By the way, as of October 1, 2020 Cigna is no longer the provider for your School District."
How to terminate Cigna employer group plan:
(1) Opt out of medical coverage during open enrollment or a qualifying life event (request form)
(2) Shop for better medical plans & superior coverage with the Marketplace.
(3) If you stay with Cigna, include yourself on your spouses medical plan as a backup & file what Cigna does not cover with your alternative insurer. Cigna will often send you a form requesting whether or not you have add'l coverage so they can reduce or decline paying claims. Under HIPAA, you never have to reveal whether you have add'l coverage--privacy act. With that being said, you only submit what Cigna does not cover to you alternative insurer. You don't want to face insurance fraud.
(4) Avoid Cigna Pharmacy & retail pharmacies by filling prescriptions at the hospital. Most hospitals are in-network & have out patient or pharmacy depts. where you can fill your prescriptions. My prescriptions were $646.00 & now they are $128, but I just filled my inhaler for $16 & $0 for foot cream at the hospital. My wait time was 15-min.
(5) Instead of purchasing disability insurance, heavily pay yourself 1st by depositing those dollars in your 401K. You take adv. of all the tax breaks, pretax dollars & lower taxable income. During emergencies, borrow from yourself & pay yourself back at a higher rate of interest than any bank.
Pros:
1. Employee offered
2. Payroll deduction
3. Easy to sign up
4. Choice of in-network & out-of-network options & HMO
5. District employee monthly payout $300/month individual
Cons:
1. Not teacher friendly
2. Dishonest--even if coverage & allowables stated on a recorded line
4. Does not pay allowable medical expenses
5. Refused to pay allowable claims when cancelled by the District
6. Uses coding issues to delay payment of claims
7. Changes coding to refrain from paying legitimate claims
8. $2000 individual deductible in-network & an add'l $2000 individual out-of-network deductible
9. Lower than normal market value for surgical procedures (pay $2000 for major surgery--really)
10. Lower than normal market value for orthotics & other medically necessary devices.
Annual Premiums:
I've paid $300/month for 5 years of premiums thru the School District = $15,000 to Cigna which they've invested thru their corporate owner CT General Insurance and have assets of $154,000,000,000 billion.
Connecticut General Insurance (Parent Company) annual revenue $700,000.000 Million. FL teacher average salary $40,000/yr. w/master degree & bachelors $37,000/yr.
If I had invested the money in my 401K I would have gains of $18,000 or a total of $33,000.00 (conservatively speaking). read more
