CIGNA Corporation Consumer Reviews - Page 3

NEW YORK -- In October, 2004, I left my job at a major record company in New York City after seven years, due to the ongoing debilitating symptoms of an autoimmune disorder called Behcet's Disease. The pain, neuropathy, fatigue, photosensitivity, and cognitive dysfunction caused by this disease proved to be too much for me to continue working at my job as Vice President of the Copyright Department. I am covered for disability benefits through my job by CIGNA Group Insurance. Unfortunately, CIGNA has refused to pay any long term benefits, citing what my wife and I believe are spurious reasons for defaulting on their contractual obligation.

Despite medical support from recognized specialists knowledgeable about this rare disease, testimonials from employees at BMG, CIGNA's initial granting of short-term disability benefits for this condition, and my being approved for Social Security benefits following a medical review, CIGNA is maintaining their position even though their doctors have never even seen me.

My wife and I have had to hire legal counsel to request that CIGNA provide documentation under ERISA law and regulations that support their position. We sent a detailed response that included further doctor's letters and treatment records, however CIGNA replied that they are affirming the previous denial. The cessation of income and mounting legal fees are causing my family severe financial hardship. I paid premiums for benefits that were clearly not available when needed.

We do not feel that CIGNA has been full or fair in reviewing this claim, and are denying benefits using stall tactics in an apparent effort to bankrupt and discourage our efforts in securing the benefits to which we are contractually entitled. A quick online search reveals numerous instances in which insurance companies have behaved similarly, often using the exact same boilerplate language to deny claimants of their benefits.

In some industries, this type of apparently collusive practice is viewed as anti-trust. We believe that CIGNA's denial was a foredrawn conclusion, and is patently unfair. For the sake of your family, please do not place full confidence in this type of coverage. We did nothing wrong, but learned the hard way.

TEXAS -- In June 2009 a Bariatric Surgeon's office staff, on my behalf, called Cigna customer service to find out if Bariatric Surgery was a covered benefit. The representative verified coverage, stating that Cigna would cover Gastric Bypass or Lapband, but not Gastric sleeve. She told the office lady that I had to wait six months, and in that time I had to complete several steps, which included attending a monthly information "class" on diet, nutrition, behavior modification and exercise. I had to have a psychiatric evaluation done. An EDG(?), upper GI was done as well as a sleep study where it was determined that I had Sleep Apnea and needed to sleep with a CPAP machine.

All of the claims for all of these tests and procedures were paid by Cigna. That have spent over $7000 and my copays amount to over $500. I completed every requirement, jumped through every hoop. Last week I received a call from the doctor's office representative. She stated that she had called Cigna to submit all of my information in order to get the final approval and pre-certification and was told that my plan did not now nor had they ever covered any bariatric treatment. They showed record of the call in June, but it did not state one way or the other whether their representative verified coverage or not.

The new representative "apologize" for the error and said she did not know why the previous rep would have verified coverage... so I am out all of my copays and Cigna has spent all of that money for me to have a procedure that they will not pay for. Why would they pay a Bariatric Surgeon for classes on weight loss etc if they do not cover any type of weight loss treatment? Why would they pay claims for tests ordered, not by my primary physician, but by a Bariatric Surgeon?

Anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Any advice? Would it be worth talking to an attorney? Any way to force their hand? Can I request that they listen to the tapes of that original call to see that the representative verified coverage (in case it is the doctor's office mistake, which I doubt, because Cigna did pay the claims)? Any help is appreciated!

MOOSIC, PENNSYLVANIA -- I left Cigna on 9/7/13 (gave 2 week notice), they sent my last check to me. However on Monday 12/2/13 I received a letter stating they overpaid me by almost 800.00 in PTO days... they want payment in full by 12/12/13. I am so furious that it took them 3 months to figure out that they overpaid me which I request proof of my PTO days that I took and what I was allowed and it will take 7-10 business days. How dare they do this to me. Is there anything I can do about this if I do owe them the money?

Recently by error a bank payment of $1908 was transmitted to CIGNA for a monthly payment on a life insurance policy. The amount due was $19.08. Soon as the error was discovered their customer service was contacted and said that they could not send it back. Even the bank representative could not get them to send it back to correct. I ask for a supervisor and was told there was none available. I ask for one to call me.

Hours later I received a call and was told they could not return the amount. They said they could send me a form to fill out and request that it be returned and they would review and let me know what could be done. I said not acceptable. I owe them no money and they are holding nearly $2,000 of my money. They have had it for a week and if I waited for a form and followed their suggestion it could be weeks if ever before that money could be returned. Until and unless this $2000 is returned my home budget is in the red that amount. I have no idea what they plan to do with the money but they won't return it. Now I must pay a lawyer to sue for me to try to get some of it back. With their unethical business procedure I question how reliable their product is. Shame on CIGNA.

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI -- I am so glad I found this site! I am ready to spit nails I am so mad at this insurance company!! I do not claim to fully understand insurance companies, and rarely go to the doctor, but never have I had such a poor experience with an insurance company!

This week, I made an appointment to see a doctor for an outpatient procedure/diagnosis at a local hospital. I went to the first appointment and everything was fine, scheduled to return the following day for medications and treatment options. Well, I return the next day and the financial office representative comes to speak with me on payment options!! I explain to her that I have insurance through my husband's place of work, and his employer pays a percentage of the deductible before it ever reaches the insurance. Well, the representative looks into it, and can't find any such info, so I am stuck paying 1450.00 out-of-pocket, when I am supposed to be INSURED!!!

My husband was told and he is trying to make sense of it through his employer, and told me not to worry. I then go to fill my prescription, and am told that they need the Dr.'s authorization to use the generic form instead of the name brand. It was only for a 30 day supply, and nowhere on our info does it mandate that we MUST have the generic, or nothing at all!! Needless to say, a medicine I was supposed to begin today, can't be picked until maybe next Tuesday at the EARLIEST!!! I am soooo upset!! This company is a JOKE!!!

I and my doctor's office called CIGNA and CIGNA Telepharmacy over a period of two days and were told the following by various associates: 1) My daughter had not been covered for prescriptions since August 2009; 2) My daughter was covered for prescriptions and still is, but the injectable medication is not considered a prescription (although you need a prescription to get it); 3) The injectable medication could be covered under "Medical" but only if purchased through CIGNA TelePharmacy.

4) The injectable medication would have a co-pay of $20.00 through CIGNA TelePharmacy as for a prescription even though the terms of the policy indicate it is not a prescription. No deductible would apply; 5) The injectable medication would be covered under "Medical" and the associate did not know if a deductible would apply or if copay would apply.

6) Last answer - If the injectable medication is delivered to my home by CIGNA TelePharmacy there is no coverage under CIGNA. However, if the injectable medication is delivered to the doctor's office, then the doctor's office could bill CIGNA and the deductible would be waived. Who knows what the truth is, except my daughter does have prescription coverage, for all the good it does her in this situation!

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA -- I was at one time a participant in a CIGNA HMO, and the experience was a nightmare. I was referred by my family physician for surgery, and the procedure was approved by the CIGNA office in my area. I took three days off from my job, hired a driver/companion, since I was having anesthesia, and booked two hotel rooms at the hospital three hours away. I arrived at the surgical suite at 6:00am, since I was first on the schedule, and the attendant informed me that CIGNA had cancelled my operation, because they had "made an error" in authorizing it. I then guaranteed personal payment, and I was added to the end of the day's schedule, which caused a 9-hour wait.

Upon my return home, I filed a complaint and a lawsuit, and settled, but it was insufficient compensation for the stress and interference that CIGNA employees delivered. From that point, I paid all of my medical expenses out of pocket, until an enrollment period when I could change to another company. I was afraid CIGNA would continue to make errors and cause problems. Interestingly, I never received an explanation or apology.

I always recommend to colleagues that they stay as far away from this company as possible, unless it's the only thing available. If that is the case, I advise them to prepare for confrontation, to record all conversations, and to keep records of names, phone numbers, and all correspondence. Most have thanked me later.

Ever since my husband's company changed their insurance healthcare plan to Cigna, it has been nothing more than problems with this healthcare insurance company. I am forever calling our Health Advocate for help paying the claims. This is always after several times of talking to Cigna's customer service reps. This is not an HMO Plan but their Open Access Plus Plan where the company pays $1500 monthly for this insurance. One would think, $1500 a month would give you some decent service. Not the case with Cigna.

I will be pushing to have the company change insurances at the next renewal and hopefully Healthcare reform will do something about companies like Cigna who seem to care about nothing more than their bottom line. We were happy with Great-West Healthcare, our prior insurance company now acquired by Cigna. I understand now how this was feasible. What a shame for our healthcare services in America today!

For 2 years I have been receiving my birth control pill ortho-tri-cyclen lo through home delivery service. I recently had refilled my order and I was sent the generic drug (Tri-Lo-Sprintec) versus the brand name Ortho-Tri-cyclen lo. As you must know, I was very upset because that is not what I wanted. In the meantime, I wanted to go get the prescription refilled at my local pharmacy until I straightened out the matter with the pharmacy delivery service and my doctor's office.

I was told that the brand medication is no longer available to be through refills by a local pharmacy, the only way I can receive the medication is through the home delivery service. I think it is ** that patients do not have the option to be informed ahead of time that their prescription will automatically be sent as a generic when a generic version becomes available!!! Cigna is ridiculous and I hate this insurance!!!

How do they have they say so to tell you where and where you cannot get your prescription refilled. Prior to even starting the home delivery service, I used to get the ortho-tri-cyclen-lo refilled at my local pharmacy and now 2 years later that option is no longer available? Cigna sucks and I am also going to write a complaint about the home delivery pharmacy as well!!!

VISALIA, CALIFORNIA -- I just wanted to vent about the way employees are treated in this company. After I was approved and even received correspondence from the company for short term disability due to my pregnancy. The Dr. wanted to take me out early due to severe stress and the fact that my manager would threaten to write me up if I used the bathroom more than twice a day. After I came back from maternity leave I received an email letting me know that my maternity leave was now denied and I owe them over $2000 and it will be taken out of my paycheck. I called and let them know I will be seeking legal advice because that isn't right.

About a couple months later my newborn son was sick. So sick I could not take him to daycare. I remembered I saw that I had sick time leftover so I decided to take it. The next day I returned I worked half a day and my manager called me into a room and said it was Cigna's new policy to terminate any employee who takes any unplanned time in January. I never signed anything or was even verbally warned about this ahead of time.

I did notice in the same month a supervisor's son had taken unplanned time but was never terminated. However being terminated was the best thing that could happen seeing as how our health benefits were horrible and we have not gotten a raise in almost two years.