CIGNA Health Insurance Company of Arizona Review

CIGNA Health Insurance Company of Arizona is aThe Phoenix service area incorporates the counties
solid choice for those looking for affordable AZ healthof Maricopa and the city of Apache Junction. On the
insurance coverage. Perhaps not as well known asother hand the Tucson and Southern Arizona service
many other health care companies, CIGNA has beenarea covers the counties of Cochise, Graham,
around since the year 1792 when the InsuranceGreenlee, Pima, Pinal and Santa Cruz counties.
Company of North America (INA) was formed by aThe good thing about this one CIGNA AZ plan is that
group of citizens in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Theit covers everything one can think of when it comes
company started offering health insurance when theyto health care. For primary care physician (PCP)
acquired the HMO network of Los Angeles in 1978. Aservices a member must pay $25 with no limit on
year later the company acquired HMO's in Phoenix,visits through the calendar year. For specialists they
Arizona and in Dallas, Texas. In 1982 the companyare required to pay a little bit higher ($50) but like
became known as CIGNA when INA and ConnecticutPCP visits, there is not a limit on visits. Other services
General Insurance Corporation combined.that are covered by the plan for which a member
Nowadays CIGNA has continued to grow in everywon't have to pay a single cent are lab and x-rays
state they offer coverage in, and the state ofand blood pressure checks.
Arizona is not an exception. CIGNA covers aboutThe prescription coverage side of the policy is divided
500,000 members in the state of Arizona aloneinto three tiers like many other insurance companies
through their Arizona Health Maintenance Organizationdo. For generic drugs a person should be expected to
(HMO) network, their Preferred Provider Organizationpay $15, for brand name medications they should
(PPO) network and their AZ Health Savings Accountsexpect to pay $40 and for specially drugs they are
plans, not to mention that numbers continue to grow.expected to pay up to $60 dollars. The emergency
The largest coverage area within the state is Phoenixcare fee is $150, however there are special places
where an estimated 150,000 members are locatedwithin the Arizona service areas that are sponsored
and the company has over 20 offices in the metroby the company called CIGNA Medical Group Urgent
area of this city.Care , that a member can go to in order to avoid the
Based within the state in the city of Phoenix becauseemergency room fee. In this group urgent care
is the largest member area within the state asfacilities, a member will only have to pay $75.
discussed before, the company offers their benefitsThe coverage for Inpatient Care holds a $1,000 year
to residents of the following counties: Apache,deductible for individual and a $3,000 year deductible
Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo,pre family. After you have met the deductible you
Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma. Apart from the network ofwill only be required to pay a 20% co-insurance. For
plans listed above they offer Medicare AdvantageOutpatient Care the member has the same
plans, Medicaid and Point of Service (POS) plans.deductibles and the same 20% co-insurance after the
Although the company itself is not a major insurancedeductible has been met. The only difference is that
company within the United States, it has continued toin outpatient every diagnostic test or x-ray such as a
grow and experts predict that it will continue itsCT, MRI, MRA or PET would include $100 copayment.
progress through 2008. With only 5 states where itOther important things that the plan offers include
offers coverage (Tennessee and Florida being thechiropractor services for $50 a visit (a limit of 12
ones where it has expanded the most), it's onlyvisits per calendar year), maternity care in which you
expected that the company continue to expandwont have to pay anything for prenatal and
across America.post-partum exams, but at the time of delivery a
Within Arizona, CIGNA offers only one plan that is20% co-insurance is applied. Vision coverage is also
good for the general person that is looking for aworth mentioning, you will pay $30 for one exam per
well-developed, low-cost and comprehensivecalendar year at a CIGNA vision center. It is
coverage Arizona health insurance plan. The plan itselfimportant to note that if you have an eye exam
is available to individuals that are 18 years of age orsomewhere else, you will be charged full price for it.
older, families with children up to 18 years of age orFamily planning services are also covered, although
23 if the son/daughter is a full time student andinfertility treatment is left out of the equation and
children without an adult subscriber who are at leastyou would have to go somewhere else for that. The
3 months of age. In order for you to receiveplan also offers short term rehabilitation, mental
coverage, the company asks that a person resideshealth services, substance abuse services and detox
within one of the service areas for at least 9 monthsservices. Out-of-pocket maximums for this plan are
or more, unfortunately if you recently move to a$3,000 for individual and $10,000 for family and the
service area you must wait the specified amount oflifetime benefit is unlimited. This last part means that
time for you to be able to purchase a CIGNA plan.if you reach the out-of-pocket maximum within a
The service areas within Arizona are divided into two.calendar year you will not be cut off coverage.