Cigna Healthcare Review – Is It Good International Medical Insurance for Expats in 2025?

Cigna Healthcare is one of the most well-known insurance companies in the world, offering excellent plans for expats worldwide. It’s also a company we frequently hear good things about from various brokers we speak with, as well as expats who are insured with them.

From what we’ve gathered, three standout aspects of Cigna Healthcare are:

• Comprehensive coverage
• Fast claims processing
• Seamless support

However, the plan isn’t perfect. It can be slightly more expensive than other expat health insurance options available, but it also offers more customization. You can tailor your coverage to fit your needs, including outpatient benefits, medical evacuations, deductibles, copayments, and more.

In this review, we’ll break down Cigna Healthcare’s health insurance plans for expats in detail, covering options, pros, and cons, and taking a deep dive into what this service has to offer.

By the end of this review, you should have a clear idea of whether Cigna Healthcare is the right choice for you.

*Cigna Healthcare was previously known as Cigna Global.

Company Introduction – Background 

Cigna Healthcare is a U.S.-based medical insurance company specializing in expat medical insurance. They are also one of the biggest insurance companies in the world. 

Compared to other insurance providers, Cigna Healthcare plans are highly flexible, allowing you to customize your coverage to suit your specific needs with a wide range of options.

All plans are built around Inpatient/Hospitalization and Day-Patient coverage (standard benefits) and can be enhanced by adding optional benefits such as Outpatient, Health and Wellbeing, Vision and Dental, and Medical Evacuation and Repatriation.

No matter where you are in the world or how old you are, there’s a plan available for you.

Why Cigna Healthcare? 

• Extensive Health Benefits: Their plans cover all the essential healthcare needs for expats.
• Personalized Medical Advice: You can contact their medical doctors anytime for extra guidance.
• Worldwide Coverage: No matter where you are, Cigna Healthcare has you covered.
• Flexibility: Customize your plan based on your specific needs.
• Easy Claiming: In most cases, claims are approved within a few hours and paid directly to the hospital.
• 24/7 Support: Their customer support team is always available.
• Competitive U.S. Coverage: If you need coverage in the U.S., Cigna Healthcare’s pricing can be attractive.

Read below for more details.

Extensive Health Benefits 

Cigna coverage starts at US$500,000 per year (Close Care plan) and goes up to unlimited coverage (Platinum plan).

Cigna’s Silver Plan, which includes a US$1,000,000 annual limit, is the most popular option. This amount is sufficient to cover most healthcare costs, including major surgeries at private hospitals in countries such as Thailand, Costa Rica, Mexico, many European countries, and more.

The overall coverage is extensive and includes everything expats need, such as:

• Hospitalization
• Pandemic outbreak coverage
• Transplant services
• Advanced medical imaging
• Cancer treatment
• Air ambulance services

In addition, Cigna Healthcare offers coverage for treatments that are rarely included by other health insurance providers, such as:

• Stem cell transplants
• Palliative care
• Home nursing
• Inpatient cash benefit

Furthermore, Cigna covers all ages and all nationalities, while many other insurance providers have age or citizenship restrictions.

Personalized Medical Advice:

This is one of the coverages we personally like and that is often overlooked by many people.

Cigna Healthcare offers a program called Clinical Case Management, which provides medical advice throughout your journey of getting treatment.

Here’s what you can do with it:

• Telehealth: Their licensed doctors can guide you on what to do when you’re sick. They can also recommend which hospitals to visit or doctors to see based on your symptoms.
• Case Management: For complex conditions, Cigna has a dedicated support team that works with you to ensure you have access to quality medical treatment.
• Second Opinion: If you need a second opinion, you can easily contact Cigna Healthcare for help.

This means that with Cigna Healthcare, you not only have access to a wide range of hospitals, but they can also help you choose the best course of treatment to ensure a smooth experience throughout your medical journey.

This level of support is often not provided by other insurance providers.

A Wide Range of Area of Coverage

Being one of the biggest insurance companies in the world, Cigna Healthcare has a wide range of coverage that covers most countries on Earth, including countries that have a high healthcare cost such as Switzerland, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which might not be covered by other insurance companies. 

This is quite rare among international insurance providers since most insurance companies, including William Russell and IMG Global, won’t offer coverage in countries with expensive healthcare costs. 

Flexibility

Cigna Healthcare offers a flexible plan that allows you to customize your coverage based on your needs, including:

• Core plan: Choose the essential coverage that fits your requirements.
• Area of coverage: Decide whether you need worldwide coverage, including or excluding the U.S.
• Optional coverage: Add benefits such as dental, vision, outpatient care, medical evacuation, mental health care, and more.
• Deductibles and cost-sharing: Adjust your deductible and copayments to balance coverage and cost.

This flexibility allows you to remove coverage you don’t need to help lower your plan’s premium.

Claiming and Excellent Support

One of the biggest headaches anyone faces with insurance is filing claims and getting support from the company.

In a typical scenario, after you present your Cigna Healthcare insurance card at a hospital, the hospital will contact Cigna for approval. In most cases, Cigna Healthcare will “guarantee” your payment and pay directly to the hospital as long as it’s covered by your policy.

If this doesn’t happen, you can upload your documents online via Cigna Healthcare’s website or app to make a claim, which should be approved within 5 working days.

Tip: To ensure Cigna Healthcare pays directly for your treatment, you can contact them first and request “prior authorization.” Fortunately, contacting them is easy, as they have one of the best customer support systems we’ve seen. The company is available 24/7, and you can reach them via phone, email, or within their app.

Competitive Pricing Within the U.S.

Many global health insurance plans provide limited coverage in the U.S., or choosing to be covered in the U.S. significantly increases the price of the plan. 

Being a U.S. insurance company, Cigna Healthcare offers a competitive price point for expats looking for cover in the country. While adding U.S. coverage will increase the price of a Cigna plan, it’s still a competitive price point compared to some other plans.

Cigna Healthcare Disadvantages 

Cigna Healthcare isn’t perfect. Let’s take a look at its main disadvantages:

• Pricing: Since you get better support and more comprehensive coverage, Cigna Healthcare can be 10% to 30% more expensive than other options.
• Moving to a New Country: Cigna Healthcare operates through various branches and sub-companies in different countries, so there may be some changes to your coverage when you move to a new country. It’s best to check with a Cigna Healthcare representative to confirm your specific situation.
• Location Restrictions: Cigna Healthcare cannot provide coverage to residents in Cuba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iran, Israel, Libya, Sudan, and Syria, or U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.
• Optional Medical Evacuation: Cigna Healthcare’s basic plans only include local ambulance service (both road and air). If you need international medical evacuation coverage, you’ll need to pay extra for it.

How to Choose the Right Cigna Healthcare Plan

Here are the steps you’ll take to use Cigna Healthcare Insurance.

1. Choose a plan
2. Customize your plan
3. Get a quote
4. Purchase the plan
5. Use your insurance

Step One: Choose Your Plan

Cigna’s medical insurance for individuals and families offers three different product tiers:

• Close Care: The most affordable plan
• Silver: The standard plan and also the most popular plan 
• Gold: Mid-tier plan with lots of added benefits
• Platinum: Most expensive plan with the most inclusions and coverage

Close Care Plan 

Close Care is the cheapest plan offered by Cigna Healthcare that is targeted at expats who only need coverage in the country they are currently living in or plan to move to. 

In our opinion, Cigna’s Close Care plan is a good choice for

• Retirees or senior citizens as it’s more affordable than the other global plans.
• American citizens who live in other countries and plan to return to the States for a short period
• Anyone who lives in a country that doesn’t have expensive healthcare, such as Thailand, and does not travel regularly.

The plan also covers trips back to their home country. Keep in mind that this plan only covers these two countries and isn’t a worldwide plan like the other Cigna Healthcare plans. Close Care includes a yearly limit of US$500,000 and covers most of the basic healthcare needs.

Here are some of the main things covered under the Close Care Plan:

• US$500,000 annual limits
• Cancer treatment in full (except for preventative treatment)
• Semi-private hospital room in full
• US$2,500 in advanced medical screening cover
• US$2,000 in rehabilitation cover
• US$2,500 in hospice and palliative care
• Ambulances (road only) paid in full
• Pandemic cover

What doesn’t the Close Care plan cover?

• Emergency room treatment
• Transplants
• Home nursing
• Obesity treatment
• Private hospital rooms
• Access to optional modules (Dental and Vision, International Outpatient, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation, and Health and Wellbeing)
• Congenital visits
• Maternity, childbirth, or newborn care

Important: While the policyholders with the Silver, Gold, and Premium plans have the option to add additional modules of cover, Close Care Plan holders are limited to the coverage under the basic plan.

Silver Plan

The Silver Plan is the base-level insurance plan of Cigna Healthcare. It’s the most popular plan because of its balance between price and coverage.

The overall annual plan limit under the Silver Plan option is US$1 million and includes a variety of essential benefits that should be covered under any reasonable basic hospitalization and day-patient medical insurance plan.

Here are some key things that are covered in Cigna Healthcare’s Silver Plan:

• US$1,000,000 annual limits
• Hospital charges in full
• Pandemic coverage
• Medication in full
• Cancer treatment in full
• Intensive care in full
• Ambulances (road and air) in full
• Unlimited telehealth consultations
• Up to US$500 for emergency room treatment
• Up to US$10,000 for advanced medical imaging
• Up to US$35,000 of palliative care treatment
• US$25,000 in newborn care
• Transplants in full

What doesn’t the Silver Plan cover?

• Senior care
• Obesity treatment
• Maternity and childbirth
• Pre and post-natal care
• Sleep apnea
• Infertility
• Diabetes consultations
• Limited coverage on advanced imaging (MRI, CT scans), congenital conditions, physio- and complementary therapies, home nursing, rehabilitation, mental health conditions, and more

Is the Silver Plan Worth It?

The Silver Plan is a good balance between a premium and a cost-effective plan. This plan covers a lot and is the perfect option for most policyholders. 

The Silver Plan is a good basic health plan that covers most major surgeries and other hospital bills. 

However, if you’re on a tight budget, you might consider using a different provider or instead opt for Cigna’s Close Care Plan.

Gold Plan

The Gold Plan covers many essential benefits. The annual overall limit is much higher than the Silver Plan, and Gold provides coverage of up to US$2 million and includes maternity benefits.

For certain benefits, sub-limits apply similarly to the Silver Plan, but the limits are generally higher, making the Gold plan a much better medical insurance plan overall.

Here are some key things that are covered in Cigna Healthcare’s Gold Plan:

• US$2,000,000 annual limits
• Senior care
• Hospital charges in full
• Pandemic cover
• Up to US$1,000 in emergency room coverage
• Medication in full
• Cancer treatment in full
• Intensive care in full
• Ambulances (road and air) in full
• Unlimited telehealth consultations
• Up to US$15,000 for advanced medical imaging
• Up to US$60,000 of palliative care treatment
• US$75,000 in newborn care
• US$20,000 in congenital conditions
• 70 percent refund for obesity care (up to US$20,000)
• Transplants in full
• Up to US$21,000 in maternity care

What doesn’t the Gold Plan cover?

• Infertility
• Diabetic consultations
• Limited cover on many of the different conditions

Platinum Plan

Cigna Healthcare’s top Platinum Plan provides unlimited coverage on most conditions, which is unique among international medical insurance providers for expats.

However, there are some limitations with the Platinum Plan:

• US$1,200 in emergency room treatment
• 80 percent refund on obesity treatment (up to US$25,000)
• 90 percent refund on cancer prevention surgery (up to US$18,000)
• US$39,000 in congenital conditions
• US$42,500 in maternity care
• US$156,000 in newborn care

Is The Platinum Plan Worth It?

Cigna Healthcare’s Platinum Plan is one of the most inclusive healthcare options for expats. While it’s definitely a pricey option, it’s the perfect choice for expats who want to be fully covered in case of any health care issues. 

That said, those who are on a tighter budget can still get a good amount of care with the Silver or Gold plans.

Step Two: Customize Optional Coverage

The Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans all have several optional coverage you can add, giving you access to more benefits. 

These include International Outpatient, Health and Wellbeing, Vision and Dental, and Medical Evacuation and Repatriation. The offers on these modules differ depending on your base plan.

Area of Coverage

There are two areas of coverage that can be chosen for the Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans. 

• Worldwide Coverage excluding the U.S.
• Worldwide Coverage including the U.S.

Worldwide Coverage excluding the U.S.

This is a go-to choice for many people. 

If you choose Worldwide Cover excluding the U.S., Cigna still provides emergency coverage for temporary trips of a maximum of three weeks per trip and a maximum of 60 days per period when traveling to the U.S. But you won’t be covered for non-emergency medical treatment.

Worldwide Coverage including the U.S.

The Worldwide Cover including the U.S. doesn’t limit coverage in the U.S., and treatments are covered within the limits of the particular plan and aren’t limited to emergency coverage.

In general, we recommend only getting the Worldwide Cover including the U.S., if you plan to live in the United States or visit often. This is because adding the U.S. to your area of coverage can significantly increase your annual insurance premiums. 

Tip: If you’re a U.S. citizen who is living abroad, it’s beneficial to add the U.S. to your area of coverage if you plan to spend time in the States visiting family and want to be able to see a doctor or receive non-emergency medical care.

International Outpatient

Should I get it?: No, it’s often more economical to opt out of outpatient coverage and pay for outpatient treatment out of pocket.

International Outpatient is an optional module for Cigna Healthcare that assists patients when their condition isn’t severe enough to be admitted to a hospital. This add-on covers things like outpatient medication, rehabilitation, vaccinations, and tests.

Cigna’s Outpatient plan is better when compared to other providers because it has an annual limit of US$10,000 at a minimum. Other plans are limited to a set amount of outpatient visits and may limit when you can use the service. 

For example, with IMG Global you can only receive outpatient cover after surgeries. With Cigna you can visit whenever you want and as many times as you want as long as you stay under your limit. 

The Silver Outpatient Plan covers non-hospitalization or day-patient treatments up to an overall annual limit of US$10,000. It includes coverage for general practitioner and specialist consultations, prescribed medications, diagnostic tests, physio- and other alternative therapies, vaccinations, well-child tests, immunizations, and annual eye and hearing tests, as well as dental emergencies caused by accidents.

The Gold Outpatient Plan has an overall annual limit of US$25,000, with similar benefits and sub-limits to the Silver Plan, but the sub-limits are much higher for the benefits mentioned under the Silver Outpatient section. In addition, the Gold Outpatient Plan includes benefits for pre- and postnatal maternity care.

For the Platinum Outpatient Plan, basically all benefits are covered in full, except pre- and postnatal maternity benefits, which are limited to US$7,000 per year. Furthermore, there is no annual overall outpatient limit – it’s unlimited.

Health and Wellbeing

Should I get it?: Maybe. Health and Wellbeing is a great option if you need mental health support or want to ensure you get regular health check-ups.

The Health and Wellbeing optional addition to Cigna Healthcare offers mental health counseling, physical wellness examinations, lifestyle coaching, and cancer screenings. According to the CDC mental health treatment has increased by over 20 percent in the past few years. 

So it’s very beneficial to have this type of care included in your plan. While many healthcare plans cover cancer treatment, it’s important to consider adding cancer screenings to your plan, to ensure you catch signs of cancer as early as possible.

Here is what each plan covers.

The Silver Health and Wellbeing add-on provides coverage for adult routine annual physical checkups of up to US$325.

Additionally, women’s checkups, as well as checkups for certain cancer types, are covered up to US$325 if over a certain age. Cigna also provides a life management assistance program and an online health education, health assessment, and web-based coaching program under the Health and Wellbeing plan.

The Gold Health and Wellbeing module has the same benefits as the Silver Plan but with a higher annual limit of US$650. This allows better and more comprehensive annual routine checkups, as the Silver plan limit is quite low for many countries.

The Platinum Health and Wellbeing plan covers all necessary women’s checkups and cancer checkups in full. Routine medical checkups are limited to US$2,000 a year, but that is a sufficient amount for most comprehensive checkups anywhere in the world.

Vision and Dental

Should I get it?: No. It’s generally more affordable to pay for your own vision and dental treatment out of pocket.

Vision and Dental is self-explanatory. The plan covers dental and eye care, including orthodontics, routine dental treatment, surgeries, preventative care, eye tests, glasses/contacts prescriptions, and more.

The Silver Vision and Dental module has an annual overall limit of US$255 for vision and US$1,250 for dental benefits. The vision benefits include a US$150 allowance for prescribed lenses and glasses, including sunglasses.

The dental benefits can be used for preventative dental-like routine examinations and cleanings, but also major orthodontic treatments. However, copayments apply under dental benefits: 

• Preventative treatments = zero copays (fully covered by Cigna)
• Routine treatments = 20 percent copays (80 percent covered by Cigna)
• Major treatments = 30 percent copays (70 percent covered by Cigna)
• Orthodontic = 60 percent copays (40 percent covered by Cigna)

Medical Evacuation and Repatriation

Should I get it? Yes, unless you only plan to stay within the same country, as Cigna Healthcare’s core plan already includes domestic road and air ambulance coverage.

It also covers you if you need to be repatriated for ongoing or urgent treatment. Cigan covers the repatriation of mortal remains, too, and the travel costs of an accompanying person.

Cigna’s optional Evacuation and Repatriation plan fully covers medically necessary evacuations and repatriations within the annual overall limits of the plan you choose (Silver, Gold, or Platinum). 

If you travel internationally often, this is a crucial add-on to have. On the other hand, if the country you’re currently living in offers good healthcare, and you don’t plan to travel much, you might not need it. 

After all, Cigna Healthcare plans come with full coverage and coverage for ambulances. 

Related content: What to Consider When Buying Health Insurance as an Expat

Step Three: Get a Quote

Once you have chosen your desired Cigna Healthcare plan and decided which optional add-ons to go for, it’s time to get a quote for your medical insurance. 

To get a quote with Cigna Healthcare, you’ll simply need to fill out a quick online form directly from the Cigna Healthcare website with some personal information. 

You’ll then see the pricing options for the Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans, which will differ depending on the deductible and payment schedule.

Once you’ve chosen your plan, you’ll then get the option to add on optional coverage, giving you your final quote amount for the insurance.

Step Four: Purchase Your Insurance

Finally, it’s time to purchase your Cigna Healthcare insurance plan. Here is some important cost-related information to know before purchasing your plan.

Deductibles and Cost-Share Options

Cigna Healthcare has several cost-share and annual deductible choices. This allows you to reduce your yearly insurance premiums.

Your deductible is the amount you must pay per year out of pocket before your insurance starts covering the costs. Your copay is the percentage of coverage you must pay out of pocket for all care.

Your copay has an out-of-pocket maximum, so you won’t have to pay the copay for all coverage during the period. Once the out-of-pocket maximum has been reached, Cigna will cover 100 percent of your eligible medical expenses.

Deductible options under Standard plans
US$0 / US$375 / US$750 / US$1,500 / US$3,000 / US$7,500 / US$10,000

Copay options under Standard plans
0 percent / 10 percent / 20 percent / 30 percent
up to an out-of-pocket maximum of US$2,000 or US$5,000 per year

Deductible options under Outpatient plans
US$0 / US$150 / US$500 / US$1,000 / US$1,500

Copay options under Outpatient plans
0 percent / 10 percent / 20 percent / 30 percent
up to an out-of-pocket maximum of US$3,000 per year

Under the Outpatient plan, a US$150 annual deductible with a 30 percent copay option with an out-of-pocket maximum of US$3,000 is a good choice if you’re looking to reduce your insurance premiums and still be insured against high-cost medical bills.

Calculation Example

Here’s an example of how the costs break down under Cigna’s Standard plan:

• You start with a US$3,000 annual deductible (the amount you pay before insurance kicks in).
• After that, you pay 10% of your medical bills until you reach your US$5,000 out-of-pocket maximum (the most you’ll have to pay in a year).

If your hospital bill is US$20,000 and you haven’t had any other claims:

1. You first pay your US$3,000 deductible.
2. Then, you pay 10% of the remaining US$17,000 (which is US$1,700).
3. Since this brings your total to US$4,700, you still owe US$300 to reach the US$5,000 out-of-pocket maximum.
4. After you hit the US$5,000 limit, Cigna covers the rest.

From this point on, for the rest of the coverage period, Cigna will cover 100% of your medical expenses.

Contract Renewal 

All Cigna plans are annual contracts with guaranteed renewability and no age limits as long as the client lives somewhere abroad. This doesn’t mean, however, that the rates stay the same, as they are subject to change due to a number of different factors. 

Costs 

In general, people pay around US$2,000 to US$3,000 per year for Cigna on average.

• If you’re young and healthy and don’t choose any add-ons, you can expect to pay as little as US$700 per year for a Worldwide Plan, excluding the U.S.
• If you’re older and require more care, your plan can cost more than US$20,000 per year in some cases.

As you can see, the price fluctuates significantly depending on your individual situation, as costs vary based on several factors, including the regions you plan to cover, your age, and your selected copay and deductible.

Because of this, Cigna’s insurance premiums can be slightly higher than those of other international medical insurance providers with similar benefits.

However, Cigna does offer very competitive rates in certain regions of the world, including:

• Anyone residing in Europe
• U.S. citizens living abroad but seeking full elective U.S. coverage

Step Five: Use Your Insurance

The final step is to use your insurance. Once the plan is chosen and paid for, you will receive an insurance card and can use it right away, similar to other providers.

To help them stand out from other global insurance providers, Cigna Healthcare offers two additional programs to help with your health and wellness. 

• Cigna Wellbeing App
• Case Management Program

Cigna Wellbeing App

The Cigna Wellbeing app is a unique benefit that you get when you go with Cigna Healthcare insurance. The app comes with a whole host of features that help you track your health, make appointments, talk with practitioners, and more.

• Telehealth Program: Cigna’s Telehealth program is one of the best among all international insurance companies. It allows you to easily contact doctors and specialists within 24 hours.
• Health Tracking: The app has a health-tracking biometrics feature that allows users to keep track of their weight, blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. 
• Coaching: With the Cigna Wellbeing app, you can also access valuable life coaching and wellness help from exclusive blog and video resources. 

Case Management

Cigna’s Clinical Case Management Program is a very useful feature when you have serious medical conditions.

You will be assigned a team of doctors and specialists who will give you expert advice and planning you need to navigate your condition in the best way possible. You will also be assigned a case manager who will help monitor your severe condition. 

Customer Service

Cigna Healthcare has a secure online customer area where all policy documents are listed,  including the insurance certificate and claim forms. Within the member portal, you can check out all policy documents, policy rules, and coverage, submit claims online, and search for a healthcare provider (clinic, hospital, or any doctor) nearby.

In addition, Cigna has a global multi-language assistance and support customer service team reachable 24/7 through its helpline. The Customer Care Team can be contacted by the following:  

Phone: +44 (0) 1475 788 182
Email: [email protected]

If you’re unsure about your treatment or wondering if the costs will be covered, it’s always advisable to contact Cigna’s customer service team first. They may even be able to arrange an appointment for you.

Tip: In any emergency situation, Cigna should be informed as soon as possible (within 48 hours) through the hospital, the customer, or a representative of the customer.

Plan Comparison

You can check the below table here to quickly compare four plans from Cigna. 

Treatment/Plan	Close Care	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Annual Limits	$500,000	$1,000,000	$2,000,000	Unlimited
Hospital Rooms	Semi-private room	Private room	Private room	Private room
Hospital Accommodations for Parents/Guardians	Not covered	$1,000	$1,000	Unlimited
Inpatient Cash Benefit Per Night	Not covered	$100	$150	$200
Emergency Room Treatment for Accidents	n/a	$500	$1,000	$2,000
MRT, CT, and PET Scans	$2,500	$10,000	$15,000	Unlimited
Transplants	n/a	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered
Cancer Treatment(In- and Outpatient)	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered
Home Nursing	Not covered	$2,500	$5,000	Up to 120 days
Palliative Care	Not covered	$35,000	$60,000	Unlimited
Local Ambulance	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered
Out of Area Emergency Hospitalization Coverage	$40,000	$100,000	$250,000	Unlimited
Maternity Care	Not covered	Not covered	$7,000	$14,000
Newborn Care	Not covered	$25,000	$75,000	$156,000

Optional Coverage

Treatments	Close Care	Silver	Gold	Platinum
Annual Outpatient Benefits	$5,000	$15,000	$35,000	Unlimited
Vaccinations	$250	$250	Fully covered	Fully covered
Dental Accidents	$500	$1,000	Fully covered	Fully covered
Medical Evacuations	Not available	Fully covered	Fully covered	Fully covered
Routine Checkups	$100	$325	$650	$2,000
Vision Expenses	Not available	$155	$155	$310
Annual Dental Benefits	$750	$1,250	$2,500	$5,500
Dental Routine Treatments	80% refund	80% refund	90% refund	Fully covered
Dental Major Restoration	70% refund	70% refund	80% refund	Fully covered

How to Make the Most From Cigna Healthcare

Here are some of our top tips for making the most of your Cigna Healthcare insurance plan.

Understand Your Coverage

Before using your insurance, take the time to understand what is covered and what isn’t. Read the fine print (however grueling it may seem) of your policy documents and terms and conditions carefully.

Ask questions. Your Cigna representative is there to help you make informed decisions about your health care. Doing so will help you avoid any surprises later on.

Take Advantage of Preventive Care

Cigna Healthcare’s preventive care services are one of the company’s standout features. These include annual physicals, immunizations, cancer screenings, dental preventative treatment, and more.

Take advantage of these services, as they can help you catch illnesses early and prevent more serious conditions down the road.

Get Prior Authorization

When it comes time to actually use your insurance, it’s vital to understand how to file a claim and make sure your claim will be covered with Cigna.

If it’s just a common cold, you don’t need to contact Cigna first. You can go to the hospital right away. On the other hand, if you need to be admitted to the hospital or require a particularly expensive procedure such as an MRI, it’s a good idea to get prior authorization from Cigna.

By doing this, Cigna can pay the hospital directly, saving you the time and hassle from making a claim. In addition, Cigna can also recommend the best hospital or doctor to treat your condition.

During this process, you can also check with Cigna to see what’s covered by your insurance plan and what’s not. 

In fact, getting prior authorization is normally required by all insurance providers, not just Cigna. This is mainly because they want to review what is medically necessary for your treatment. 

Update Your Policy and Coverage as Needed

Your healthcare needs are bound to change over time. Maybe you have moved to a new country and want to expand your coverage to ensure you get the best care in your new home. Or perhaps you’re welcoming a new member to your family and want to include maternity and newborn care to your plan.

You should tweak your Cigna Healthcare Health Insurance policy to reflect your healthcare needs. You can always change your plan, add new modules, and adjust your copay/deductible amounts.

Does Cigna Healthcare Cover Pre-Existing Conditions? 

It’s uncommon for health insurance to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, but some will cover these conditions under certain circumstances, such as Moratorium terms. 

Moratorium terms allow policyholders to be covered for their pre-existing conditions if they haven’t made any claims or had symptoms in a certain period before starting their new policy (usually three to five years). Cigna Healthcare’s medical insurance plans are fully underwritten, and unfortunately, Cigna doesn’t provide any other option, such as Moratorium terms.

Even though Cigna says in their brochures that pre-existing conditions can be covered with a premium loading, the truth is they will exclude pre-existing conditions and don’t even consider the possibility of providing an option for any new applicants with existing conditions – no matter what they are. 

Cigna Healthcare is one of the most strict insurance providers when it comes to pre-existing conditions.

How to Make a Claim with Cigna Healthcare

Cigna Healthcare has a partnership network of over 2.2 million hospitals and healthcare facilities worldwide, allowing it to arrange direct billing in most cases.

Even if a hospital or clinic is outside Cigna’s network, direct billing can still be arranged, provided that Cigna issues a guarantee of payment before treatment or the facility agrees to accept direct payment from Cigna.

If a customer needs to pay upfront, Cigna will typically process the reimbursement as soon as all claim documents are submitted to its claims team.

There are three main scenarios for making a claim:

• Simple Outpatient Treatment: Show your insurance card at the hospital, and they will handle the billing directly with Cigna.
• Inpatient Treatment: Pre-approval is required for certain costly treatments, such as diagnostic tests or scans like MRIs. This applies to all inpatient treatments.
• Emergency Treatment: You must contact Cigna Healthcare within 48 hours of receiving treatment.
• Non-Emergency Treatment: You should contact Cigna Healthcare in advance to obtain pre-approval.

Why You Should Contact Cigna Healthcare Before Treatment

Many people visit a hospital without obtaining pre-approval from Cigna Healthcare. In most cases, after showing their insurance card, the hospital contacts Cigna on their behalf and secures a guarantee of payment within a few hours.

However, we still recommend reaching out to Cigna Healthcare beforehand for three key reasons:

1. You can confirm whether the treatment is covered.
2. Cigna Healthcare can help you find the right provider nearby and arrange direct billing for both inpatient and outpatient care.
3. If pre-approval was required but not obtained, Cigna may only cover 80% of treatment costs outside the U.S. or 50% within the U.S.

Claim Submission

If you need to pay out of pocket, you can easily submit a claim by uploading the necessary documents to Cigna’s online member portal. Cigna Healthcare typically processes claims within five working days.

How to Apply 

It’s easy to apply. 

You can use this link to go to Cigna’s website and apply. Make sure to talk with a Cigna representative and understand what you’re getting. Once you’re ready to proceed, you need to send your application and payment. 

You can do the entire application process online. 

Alternatively, it’s also possible to apply with a broker of your choice. The price you get from a broker is similar to buying directly from Cigna. 

The benefit of using a broker is that they offer more insurance companies, not just Cigna. 

But you need to be careful when choosing a broker because not all of them are the same. They might not truly know what the insurance plan offers and only push the plan that they get the most commission on. If you want us to recommend a good insurance broker, fill out this form.

How to Cancel Cigna Healthcare Insurance

Within the first 14 days of purchasing a Cignal Global plan, you can receive a full refund as long as no claims have been made during this period. 

After the 14-day cool-off period, the customer can terminate the policy and end coverage by giving at least seven days notice in writing. To cancel, simply contact Cignal Global at [email protected]. 

If you cancel your insurance after the cool-off period, note that you’ll be charged for the period of coverage. 

In other words, if your annual premium is being paid in intervals throughout the year, you’ll still need to pay the remainder of these payments for the period of coverage.

FAQs

How Do I Contact Cigna Support?

There are several ways to get in touch with Cigna Healthcare. If you’re an existing customer, make sure you have your policy number. You can contact Cigna Healthcare in the following ways:

• Live chat
• Phone: +44 (0)1475 788182 if you’re calling from outside the USA or 800 835 7677 if you’re calling from within the USA
• Email: [email protected]

If you’re enquiring, you can contact Cigna Healthcare via:

• Phone: +44 (0)1475 788182 if you’re calling from outside the USA or 800 835 7677 if you’re calling from within the USA
• Online email form
• Callback form

How Long Do Cigna Claims Take?

In general, if you contact Cigna before going to a hospital in its network, it’s possible that Cigna will pay the hospital for your medical treatment. 

Right now, Cigna has the largest number of hospitals within its network – over 2.2 million throughout the world. So, it’s safe to say that most private hospitals around the globe are in Cigna’s network.*

If you need to make a claim – for outpatient treatment, for instance – you can expect Cigna to pay back your claim within five days after you file online.

However, if you submit your claims by mail, it may take up to 15 days to process. Here is the information that Cigna asks policyholders to include in their claims:

• Information on where to issue the refund
• Scanned copies of invoices and claims
• Your policy number should be included on all documents

Please send your claims to Cigna’s claims email: [email protected]

You can also fax information to: +44 (0) 1475 492113

*Please note, Cigna Healthcare may, at their sole discretion and without notification, make changes to the Cigna Healthcare network from time to time by adding and/or removing hospitals, clinics, medical practitioners and pharmacies. 

Is it Difficult to Make a Claim?

Making a claim is fairly straightforward and similar to your average insurance company. If you’ve paid for your treatment by yourself, you’ll have to claim back the costs by filling out an appropriate claim form.

Depending on what you’re claiming, use the:

• Medical and vision claim form
• Dental claim form

Then send your invoice and form to Cigna Healthcare via:

• Your online Customer Area
• Email: [email protected]
• Fax: +44 (0) 1475 492113
• Mail: Customer Care Team, Cigna Healthcare Health Options, Customer Service, 1 Knowe Road, Greenock, Scotland, PA15 4RJ

Cigna Healthcare will generally reimburse you within five days of receiving the claim.

Does Cigna Healthcare Cover Dental?

Cigna Healthcare’s Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans all have the option to add on the Vision and Dental module. This plan covers preventative, routine, orthodontic, and major restorative dental treatment between US$1,250 and US$5,500 per period, depending on your plan.

Is Cigna Healthcare Good Insurance?

Cigna Healthcare is generally considered a good insurance provider and offers a wide range of health insurance plans and coverage options for individuals and families living abroad. 

Cigna has a strong reputation for customer service and its plans often include comprehensive benefits such as emergency medical coverage, mental health services, and wellness programs. 

However, as with any insurance provider, it’s important to carefully review the details of each plan and assess its suitability for your individual needs and budget.

Is Cigna Healthcare ACA Compliant?

Cigna Healthcare isn’t ACA compliant, as it primarily serves expats and international travelers rather than U.S. residents who are subject to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) regulations. 

Most notably, in order to be ACA compliant, there mustn’t be any annual or lifetime cap on the amount of money an insurer will pay for services, which isn’t the case for Cigna Healthcare.

Is Cigna Healthcare Widely Accepted?

Cigna Healthcare is a very widely accepted global health insurance plan that is offered in more than 200 countries, including over 2.2 million healthcare professionals. 

If you use Cigna Healthcare in the U.S., you may have to receive prior authorization beforehand to receive care at a hospital to ensure the hospital is in Cigna’s network. 

That said, if you receive care at a hospital in the U.S. outside of Cigna’s network, you’ll still be able to use Cigna, but you’ll be reimbursed 20 percent less than normal.

Is the Close Care Plan Worth It?

Cigna Healthcare’s Close Care plan is the most affordable option. However, it also covers the least amount of benefits. This is a good plan to consider if you’re an expat who doesn’t need worldwide coverage and only needs coverage in your country of residence and your home country (for temporary visits). The Close Care Plan also has less coverage on most benefits, so if you’re looking for a plan that ensures you’re covered for a wide range of health issues, you may want to consider the Silver, Gold, or Platinum plans instead.

That being said, this is a good option for expats who are on a tighter budget and have few health issues.

If you opt for the Close Care Plan, you’ll only be covered in the country you live in and your home country (for short visits).

Online Reviews

Cigna Healthcare is a worldwide and well-known health insurance provider. So, anyone looking for online reviews can find plenty of them. 

However, you have to take online reviews lightly because health insurance is much trickier to rate than physical products that you can test and hold in your hands. Using insurance also isn’t like eating at a restaurant, where after two hours you have a good idea of the value it provides. 

In fact, most people will have a tough time deciding what star rating to give any insurance company.

First off, reviews can be about a wide range of topics, such as coverage expectations, claims, cost-sharing, deductibles, or direct settlement arrangements. 

Second, some people leave five-star reviews without ever having used their coverage. There are also those who give one-star ratings if their claims are denied simply because they didn’t disclose their pre-existing conditions. Other complaints are often caused by misunderstandings or unclear coverage information.

Having said that, is anyone really in a position to judge the quality of an insurance company?

Instead, it’s better to read through the policy before signing on the line. It’s time consuming, sure, but it’s probably more informative than reading about that one digital nomad who had a skiing accident and whose claim went through smoothly.

Is Cigna Healthcare Worth It? 

While there are plenty of healthcare providers for expats, Cigna Healthcare is, without a doubt, a top contender for the best expat insurance for several reasons:

• Direct billing anywhere in the world due to its wide network
• Flexible plans that allow you to find a good insurance solution based on your individual needs
• Great customer service
• Coverage for the following pre-existing conditions: hypertension, type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, arthritis, joint or back pain, and osteoporosis/osteopenia.*
• Easy claims procedure
• Health support program

There are some disadvantages of Cigna Healthcare Plans:

• Anyone with pre-existing conditions may want to check with other insurance providers.
• Plans can be slightly more expensive than those of other providers.

However, Cigna’s premium-level services are reflected in its premium price point. If you want to purchase Cigna Healthcare, you can use this link to get a personalized quote directly.

*Important note: This specific benefit covering the maintenance of certain pre-existing conditions, including prescribed drugs and outpatient treatments, is not included on the Cigna Close Care ^SM Plan.

Cigna Healthcare Vs. Other Expat Health Insurance Plans 

Cigna Healthcare is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to the world of expat health insurance plans. So, if you’re unsure of whether this provider is for you, you have many other options. Here is how Cigna Healthcare compares to some of the other top expat health insurance providers on the market.

Check out our full article comparing various expat health providers for more on this.

William Russell

Cigna Healthcare and William Russell are both popular healthcare providers for expats.Cigna and William Russell offer similar benefits, including global coverage, 24/7 customer support, and a range of coverage options. However, there are some key differences to consider.

Cigna Healthcare is better in terms of:

• A more extensive network of healthcare providers
• Greater flexibility in coverage options
• The option to be covered in the U.S. (William Russell only provides coverage for up to 90 days in the U.S.)
• A mobile app for managing healthcare on the go
• Price

On the other hand, William Russell offers a higher range of coverage, with a minimum of US$1.5 million.

GeoBlue

GeoBlue Expat Insurance is one of the most reputable healthcare providers for expats, with plans for expats of various nationalities living around the world.

Compared to Cigna, GeoBlue is less customizable and more expensive. GeoBlue offers unlimited coverage and a wide variety of care options, but since you can’t customize the plan, you’re stuck paying for all benefits – even if you don’t need them.

GeoBlue provides custom plans for citizens of the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, and Brazil who are living abroad. 

The plan also specializes in insurance for foreigners living in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad, so if you fall into this category, GeoBlue and Cigna Healthcare are comparable. However, Cigna has more options for expats from other nationalities.

IMG Global

IMG Global is another major healthcare provider for expats around the world. The plan is more affordable than the others already mentioned and comes with several customization options.

One major difference between Cigna Healthcare and IMG are their annual limits. 

• Cigna provides annual maximum coverage limits starting at US$500,000
• IMG Global provides lifetime coverage limits ranging from US$1,000,000 to US$8,000,000.

You may be attracted to the idea of having lifetime limits. However, it’s not always beneficial. 

Most of the time, you’ll only need those higher limits provided by IMG if you develop a major disease. And after you use it up, you’ll have to pay for the rest of your medical costs out of pocket. Also, you won’t be able to change insurance companies because you now have a pre-existing condition that no provider will cover you for. 

On the flip side, you’ll rarely – if ever – exceed Cigna’s yearly limits, even at the US$1,000,000 mark. Cigna has more extensive coverage for maternity care, newborns, senior citizens, dental, vision, mental health, and more, too. 

So, if you want a comprehensive health insurance plan, Cigna Healthcare is better. If you’re on a budget, IMG Global is a good second option.