CIGNA Corporation Consumer Reviews - Page 2

P.O. BOX 696018, TEXAS -- BEWARE SENIORS OR ELIGIBLE MEDICARE RECIPIENTS!!!! Check Medicare vs. Advantage replacement plans before you sign up!!! They will offer you "fluffs", and you will pay more out of pocket than original Medicare!!! Cigna's Medicare Access Plan (PFFS) 2010 does not pay for some medications that have to be administered by a physician in their office. Cigna states that the medication (medical Botox) has to go through their Part B; they gave me the run-around. I have been told more than 4++ (I lost count) different excuses from Cigna.

Here is their latest "Mumbo Jumble" that was stated by a company representative (SUPERVISOR) in Arizona: "Yes, we do cover the ADMINISTRATION of medically necessary medications MEDICARE PART B-but, you must meet your $3,000 deductible; any and all the co-payments that you have made throughout the year do not count." I reminded that their contract stated that an individual on their plan is only responsible for a $20.00 co-payment for a specialist MAXIMUM. Then, ** stated that Part B was separate from a regular office visit for the administration of the drug.

CIGNA insisted that I had to get this drug from their pharmacy (covered under "Argis-I am guessing their preferred drug company ‘Medco' uses this pharmacy.”). First, Cigna's Part D called and told me I would have to pay $241.00 out of pocket. Then, they called back and stated that the cost would be $999.60 out of pocket.

Again, Cigna called and stated that the drug would cost $940.00 out of pocket. ** called and stated that she could get the drug for $760.00, but... I still did not meet my $3,000 out of pocket for the neurologist, so, I would have to pay for the drug and an out-of-pocket expense for the doctor to administer it (they told the Botox Assistance Programs that they were going to pay for it). I called Medicare; they told me that if I had regular Medicare after I met Part B deductible, that my cost would only be 20%. Medicare stated that these replacement, access, etc. could make up their own rules without government regulations.

Now, I had to reschedule my appointment for December 21st, 2010 until after the January 1st, 2011, when regular Medicare kicks in. I am in so much pain that it is difficult lying in bed to type this. My neck, face, jaw, and eyelids are in painful spasms. I have had surgeries, pain management without any relief. I am a disabled RN due to a patient assault. I thought Cigna was a good company; I should have googled them instead of trusting them prior to signing up with them (I was ill when I signed up with them, and I was not thinking properly due to serotonin toxicity).

As a nurse (although disabled), I believe it is my duty to warn our senior population and disabled individuals, so that they do not end up paying more out of pocket expenses that regular Medicare (Please note: I paid CIGNA $95.00 monthly + Medicare Part B premiums + co-payments; this equals-MORE than REGULAR MEDICARE).

DURANGO, CO -- During my 14 years as customer with Cigna, I was denied coverage only 1 time worth $350, and I did not have problem with their decision taking into account. They steadily paid every single claim systematically, at sometimes I was surprised with their generous coverage. Overall, I was a happy customer. I am surprised for all bad review, I think people expects handout from a big corporation for free. You get based on the plan you choose. Cheers.

PENNSYLVANIA -- Having to interact what Cigna calls "customer service" is difficult, time-consuming and draining. And given their dishonest inefficiency, every claim has to be followed up manually. Avoid at all costs. Ask your employer to switch. And vote for whichever candidate will put these parasitical companies out of business.

ORLAND PARK, ILLINOIS -- We have been trying to get Cigna to cover annual Mammograms they refuse we alwas have to pay for all charges.

11095 VIKING DR., SUITE 350, EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA -- I am dropping Cigna as soon as I can because its service has been appalling. I have been submitting claims since February 2010 and never once have I received the amount of reimbursement that I was promised (70% of Reasonable and Customary for an LCSW in 20912=105 out of 150); it was solely on the basis of that promise that I chose Cigna. I could not make up the nightmare this company has been. I have met every possible roadblock: one claim was denied based on my mistake of copying the diagnosis code incorrectly from my provider's itemized bill to my itemized bill—BOTH itemizations were included with the claim, however.

I have been repeatedly denied full reimbursement (70% of reasonable and customary for out of network) because initially my provider was in an affiliated network, without knowing that that was still active (or that that affiliation with Cigna even existed). He has since TWICE provided documentation that his association with that affiliated network was ended AS OF 1 March 2010, and still, as of this date, I am being told that Cigna has no record of this change having been made. I have had to call twice monthly and each time explain the entire situation because apparently no record is made of my calls.

I am convinced that Cigna is deliberately blocking my access to reimbursement, and thus to ongoing health care provision, in order to frustrate me out of pursuing my claim. I will not only not renew my policy with Cigna, but I will tell all my family and friends and everyone else I meet that Cigna is just a typical Insurance company whose SOLE concern is its own profit, and who is willing to sacrifice anyone's health and well-being to its bottom line. I will also continue advocating for socialized medicine and the abolition of all such companies as Cigna.

The only recourse the U.S. has to such abuses is to nationalize health care and place limits on the unprincipled actions of those who believe that capitalism is an ethical system entitling them to exploit and abuse those who have physical and mental illnesses.

EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA -- I'm have been on Cigna as insurance for 8 months. I have been with the same therapist for many years, using the insurance plans offered through the companies I've worked for. I suffer from mild depression and working with a therapist has helped my quality of life immensely. I recently received something in the mail from Cigna.

A letter that begins: "Have you recently experienced trouble concentrating or sleeping? Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious or withdrawn, or having difficulty adjusting to a major life change? Did you know there's a free service through your medical benefits that can help you manage your symptoms? Recently, a claim we received from either your doctor or pharmacy, or information from a health assessment you completed, has helped us identify you as someone who may benefit from this program."

I am feeling completely violated by this. I have never had an insurance company feel they were entitled to step in and comment on my private health information or assume they were qualified to inject one of their staff into my life to comment on personal health issues. It's like a new level of intrusion. How could this possibly be in compliance with HIPAA?

My expectation is that an insurance company can approve or deny claims, not that they can administer care or provide health care advice. Cigna has taken my health care information--either privileged information that I share with my doctor or specifics of medications that I have been prescribed, and run it through a marketing program that would identify me as someone they could put into a bucket for solicitation about a mental health "coaching product" they offer.

I'll be taking this up with my doctor as well as the attorney general about privacy and legality. I can't just let this end with Cigna pushing the envelope with methods that are intended to intimidate patients into ending medical care that is of a highly private nature. I'm sure it would be quite convenient if Cigna could get me to end my therapy with a qualified physician with whom I've been working for years, and call their free "phone coach" for therapy instead, but this is totally unacceptable to me.

I don't want Cigna to monitor my private health care and diagnoses and offer me tailored marketing based on their business objectives. I pay my premiums, percentages and copays and am entitled to proper medical care. So I have two choices: 1. End my care so that they no longer have access to my private health care information and diagnoses, or 2. Fight back and tell Cigna that I don't want them using my private health care information and diagnoses for anything other than a yes/no vote in their claims system. Knowing that my disapproval with their policy won't be enough to bring about change, I have no choice but to bring this issue to a wider audience.

I am a current recipient of disability benefits from Cigna. I received a call today from my representative at Cigna informing me of a policy change. I was supposedly to have received prior notification of said change -- but, of course, did not. My case is under review -- I had Cancer surgery 2 years ago and currently am being treated by a pain management specialist for chronic visceral abdominal pain syndrome. I also have systemic lupus erythematosus, and recurrent bladder cancer. I have one kidney and have had 5 other cancer-related surgeries (three abdominal, one testicular, and one for parathyroid cancer).

I am on so much pain medication that I can barely type this message and have severe short term memory loss. Yet I am under review again. Social Security still carries me a permanently disabled and I receive a 20% service connected disability payment for service in Vietnam. I am well educated and have worked in government scientific research since 1974. Again, Cigna gave no prior notice of a review nor was information regarding the nature of the policy change forwarded. I still don't know what exactly that change is - but I would guess they are divorcing themselves of Social Security determinations.

We have lost over half of our 401K and I cannot interest any reputable company in refinancing our VA loan -despite the low interest rates and the streamline procedure mandated by the VA. By the way my combined credit score is 787. Now I am to lose my only other source of income - due to a "policy change". I have had one physician refuse to treat me because according to him I am so ill that I belong in a tertiary (hospital) treatment setting. What are we to do? I just returned from a grocery store that cheated me out of $10.00 worth of their own coupons -- due to "system failure".

What recourse do we have - is America finished?? Beware -- those who served their country -- it will probably dance on your grave after starving you to death when you are physically unable to work -- by the way I was exposed to Agent Orange - and what has been done about that - a lot of verbiage and still no support for veterans who are now dying by the score due to cancer and other premature illnesses.

PORTLAND, OREGON -- I got Cigna through my husband's work. This is the first time I have Cigna. The coverage said that they cover acupuncture. Since my cancer treatment, I had many pains on my body. I had tried physical therapy many times, but it doesn't seem to work. Since my Cigna insurance cover acupuncture, I decided to try it with my doctor permission. I picked an acupuncture doctor through the network, cause I don't want to have any problem on denial of my treatments. After a few treatments, I felt better. My neck was able to move better and shoulder not so tight. My back pain was almost gone. I felt so much better emotionally and physically.

Then, my acupuncture doctor told me that Cigna was not paying him. When I called, they told me, they denied the coverage, cause I didn't call them for permission to go see an acupuncture. In my entire life, I have never experienced this before. If my insurance coverage said they will cover acupuncture with my family doctor's permission, then, this should be covered. I even picked a doctor under their network, hopefully this way will have no problem, but Cigna, just finds ways to not pay their coverages. What kind of insurance company is this?

My husband paid for our insurance coverage every month through his paycheck, so we won't have to worry about paying so much when we need to go see a doctor. Cigna has fail to do that for their clients. Because Cigna had rejected to pay for my acupuncture bills, now I had to stop my treatments. My neck, shoulder and back pain have come back.

Due to this experience, we will not buy Cigna again next year. I will encourage whoever out there trying to look for a health insurance coverage, make sure you do not pick Cigna Corporation. You do not want to deal this kind of situation like me. P.S. I will research this kind of practice about Cigna. I believe, this kind of company practice is totally wrong. Maybe a big cost of lawsuit will get them understand the basic moral of human nature.

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- My first experience with Cigna has thus far created three problems. Upon receiving 5 prescriptions from my doctor they first canceled the order because they "could not reach my doctor for verification". I was not notified by them and continued to wait for my prescriptions in the mail. It was only when I looked on-line that I found out that the order was canceled. When I called them they said were unable to reach my doctor and get approval. I told them to try again and they called back to tell me they had received approval.

After waiting another 2 weeks for my mail order prescriptions I checked on-line again. Only the cancellation was shown. When I called them they said they could not fill one of the prescriptions because my illness (CFS) was not among those listed for this medicine. The medicine is an antiviral drug, and what I have is a virus, but Tel-drug determined it was therefore an experimental drug and "they do not cover experimental drugs". This drug has been around for about 100 years and I have been taking it for 20 years. I don't know of ANY medication specifically for CFS.

The written notification said that they would not fill that prescription because they were "unable to obtain authorization to fill my prescription". However, it was not my doctor who refused authorization, it was a pharmacist at Tel-drug. I asked if it was common practice for them to cancel all of a person's prescriptions because one could not be filled. The Tel-Drug representative had no answer. After five phone calls four of the five medications were delivered.

During this pharmaceutical hell, they had asked for how I would pay for the drugs. I gave them credit card information and my statement showed the payment to Tel-Drug on August 11. I then received a statement from Tel-drug dated September 3 showing the amount as unpaid. When I called today and told them the charge had been made nearly a month earlier on my credit card, they said they had no record of receiving payment and I need to mail the credit card statement to them. So thanks to I do not have my main medicine and they do not show payment for the others so grudgingly filled.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA -- Forced to stay in hospital now insurance won't pay! In the early morning of March 12th of 2005 I tried to take my own life. In a drunken hopelessness I took as many of my newly refilled prescriptions of Welbutrin, Strattera, and Zoloft as I could fit into my stomach. I started to get sick and not wanting to lay there in now physical pain too, I called 911.

I was admitted to the hospital and not long after the pills that I took started making me have seizures. The combination of those pills and the alcohol gave the doctors the impression that I might be permanently brain damaged after reviewing the CAT scans.

I don't remember anything although I was conscious and verbally communicating until the following Thursday, nearly a full week. I would remain in the hospital until Saturday waiting to get admitted into a behavior health facility to stabilize me mentally. During my hospital stay I was tied down to help protect myself from the seizures until those subsided and had 24 hour surveillance by a sitter. I was not allowed to leave my hospital room until they found a behavioral health facility to have a bed available. This took two days.

After spending four days in Banner Behavioral Health I was released. I completed the intense outpatient program and have not touched alcohol since. Not long ago I received a bill from the hospital for $5,360. This amount is for the two days I spent waiting to find a behavior health facility to accept me. The hospital appealed both the Cigna Medical and Cigna Behavioral to have them pay the balance. Neither will accept responsibility stating it was not medically necessary or that I was not receiving mental health care at the time.

The hospital states that this does happen from time-to-time and usually the patient ends up paying. This is not right. I have insurance. I was not allowed to leave even if I wanted to. Now I have to pay! I did put myself into the hospital, but I did everything that I was supposed to do since and have never touched alcohol again. I am fighting this because I don't think it is right that I have to pay when I am insured and when I needed to use it the most. I need help. I need advice. I need to get through to these insurance companies that this is not right.