Is Cigna Health Insurance Worth It? Review (2024)
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Despite having a good public healthcare system in Canada, a substantial portion of medical expenses, estimated at over 30%, isn't covered by provincial healthcare. This coverage gap often leaves you with significant out-of-pocket costs, creating a substantial financial burden.
In light of this, having robust private health insurance is crucial. Among the available options, Cigna health insurance could be an option to consider. In this comprehensive review, we'll explore its coverage, advantages, disadvantages, and pricing.
You can also compare the best health insurance plans using our free comparator and get personalized quotes right here in seconds so you can buy a plan that truly first your needs.
Cigna Health Insurance Canada: 7 Key Takeaways
- Cigna Health Insurance provides a range of comprehensive coverage options.
- It includes hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care.
- Many customers have praised Cigna for its efficient claims processing.
- Some Cigna plans do not cover international travel.
- Premiums can vary significantly based on factors such as age, location, and health status.
- Existing Cigna customers can reach the company through phone, fax, and email.
- New customers can inquire about plans via a dedicated phone line or online contact forms.
Our 2024 review of Cigna health insurance Canada
Cigna Health Insurance in Canada offers a comprehensive range of coverage, including hospitalization, doctor visits, prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care. This makes it a suitable choice for non-residents, immigrants, and foreign citizens living or working in Canada who require extensive healthcare coverage.
With multiple plan options like Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care, individuals can select plans tailored to their specific healthcare needs. However, it's essential to note that not all plans cover international travel.
While Cigna provides robust benefits, potential customers should carefully consider the costs and assess whether it aligns with their budget and requirements. Cigna premiums tend to be slightly higher than others in the market.
Therefore, we suggest you compare health insurance plans from various providers before zeroing in on a policy. Use our comparator below to compare the best health insurance in Canada and get free quotes right here.
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Here is a summary of the pros and cons of Cigna health insurance in Canada:
Pros
- Comprehensive coverage options
- A global network of providers
- Access to telehealth services
- Coverage for cancer and mental health care
Cons
- High premiums — subjective to customers
- Difficulty getting pre-approval for treatments
What is the cost of Cigna health insurance plans?
The cost of Cigna health insurance will vary depending on a number of factors, including your age, location, health and lifestyle, and the type of plan you choose.
In general, Cigna health insurance premiums can be higher than those of some other health insurance companies, as also commonly mentioned in other Cigna health insurance reviews.
However, Cigna offers a variety of plans and benefits to choose from, so you may be able to find a plan that fits your budget and needs.
Good to know
Health insurance premiums are higher for older adults. So it's recommended to get a health insurance plan when you're healthy and younger. However, there are retirement health insurance plans for seniors specifically designed for their needs.
Here are some things to keep in mind when estimating the cost of Cigna health insurance:
- Age: Cigna health insurance premiums generally increase with age.
- Location: Cigna health insurance premiums can vary depending on where you live.
- Health and lifestyle: Cigna's premiums may be higher for people with pre-existing conditions or who smoke.
- Type of plan: Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans, including individual, family, and employer-sponsored plans.
Please note that premiums for individual and family plans are generally higher than premiums for employer-sponsored plans. To give you a rough idea of the cost, here’s a sample quote for a 27-year-old Indian living in Canada:
- Silver: $84.43 per month (worldwide, excluding the USA)
- Gold: $114.18 per month (worldwide, excluding the USA)
- Platinum: $150.24 per month (worldwide, excluding the USA)
- Close Care: $62.18 (India and Canada only)
| Plan | Monthly Premium | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | $84.43 | Worldwide, excluding the USA |
| Gold | $114.18 | Worldwide, excluding the USA |
| Platinum | $150.24 | Worldwide, excluding the USA |
| Close Care | $62.18 | India and Canada only |
These costs reflect the rate at 0% cost share and $0 out-of-pocket maximum — with a deductible of $750.
Health insurance is based on individual situations so you must get personalized quotes and compare them before buying a policy. Use our comparator below to compare health insurance plans and get multiple free personalized quotes in no time.
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What are the types of Cigna health insurance Canada plans?
Cigna offers International Health Insurance in Canada — a private health insurance plan that is designed for people who are living or working in Canada but are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The plan offers a range of benefits, including coverage for:
- Hospitalization
- Doctor visits
- Prescription drugs
- Dental and vision care (You can look for standalone dental insurance plans here)
- Maternity care
- Emergency medical evacuation
- And more
There are four types of Cigna health insurance: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care. Let’s dig deep into their coverage and other options.
What does Cigna health insurance cover?
Before we discuss the standard medical benefits offered by Cigna, let’s take a quick look at annual benefit limits per beneficiary per coverage period for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care plans:
- Silver: $1,000,000
- Gold: $2,000,000
- Platinum: Paid in full
- Close Care: $500,000
Here are the medical benefits you will get:
| Service | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Close Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pandemics, epidemics, and outbreaks of infectious illnesses | Paid in full Private room | Paid in full Private room | Paid in full Private room | Paid in full Semi-private room Kidney dialysis: $5,000 Emergency inpatient dental treatment: $2,500 |
| Hospital accommodation for a parent or guardian | $1,000 | $1,000 | Paid in Full | |
| Advanced Medical Imaging, such as CT, MRI and PET scans): Part of day patient, inpatient, or outpatient treatment | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full | Paid in full |
| Inpatient cash benefit: Per night. Up to 30 days per person per cover period | $100 | $100 | $200 | $100 |
| Accident and Emergency Room treatment | $500 | $1,000 | $1,200 | |
| Transplant services | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | |
| Home Nursing | $10,000 | $15,000 | Paid in Full | $2,500 |
| Rehabilitation Cigna pays for: Physiotherapy Occupational therapy Cognitive and speech therapies Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. | $5,000 Up to 30 days | $10,000 Up to 60 days | Paid in Full Up to 90 days | $2,000 |
| Home nursing | $2,500 Up to 30 days | $5,000 Up to 60 days | Paid in Full Up to 120 days | |
| Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine | $1,500 | $2,500 | Paid in Full | Physiotherapy and complementary therapies: $2,000 |
| Palliative care Cigna pays for: Home care Day patient and inpatient hospital (or hospice) care with accommodation Prescribed medicines Physical and psychological care | $35,000 | $60,000 | Paid in Full | Hospice and palliative care: $2,500 |
| Prosthetic devices | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | Internal prosthetic devices/surgical and medical appliances: Paid in full External prosthetic devices/surgical and medical appliances: $2,500 |
| Local ambulance & air ambulance services | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | Paid in Full | Paid in Full (road only) |
| Treatment for obesity once you've been covered for 24 months | No coverage | 70% refund up to $20,000 | 80% refund up to $25,000 | |
| Congenital conditions | $5,000 | $20,000 | $39,000 | |
| Out-of-area Emergency Hospitalisation Cover for those without Worldwide coverage. (Day patient and inpatient treatment costs only) | $100,000 | $250,000 | Paid in Full | $40,000 (temporary trips outside your country of residence or country of nationality) |
We recommend that you compare the coverage of multiple health insurance plans before deciding upon one. You can do it right here using our comparator below. Compare plans and get free personalized quotes in seconds.
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Does Cigna health insurance cover international travel?
Cigna health insurance does cover international travel for some plans. However, it is important to note that not all Cigna plans cover international travel and the specific coverage that is offered will vary depending on the plan.
As for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care plans, they don’t cover international travel. However, these plans cover the following in addition to the standard medical services we just discussed:
- Mental health
- Cancer care
- Parent and baby care
Mental and behavioral health care coverage for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care plans, as part of inpatient, day patient, or outpatient treatment, is outlined as follows:
- Silver: Up to $5,000 for up to 30 days (Inpatient and Daypatient treatment).
- Gold: Up to $10,000 for up to 60 days (Inpatient and Daypatient treatment).
- Platinum: Paid in Full for up to 90 days (Inpatient and Daypatient treatment).
- Close Care: Up to $3,000 with a maximum total of 60 days cover, including a maximum of 30 days of inpatient care.
Download this brochure to get more details about Cancer and parent and baby care coverage.
What are Cigna health insurance deductibles?
A Cigna health insurance deductible is the amount of money you need to pay out of pocket for covered medical expenses before your insurance starts to pay. Once you meet your deductible, your insurance plan will start to pay for covered medical expenses, typically at a percentage of the cost.
- The deductible options for Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Close Care plans are $0 / $375 / $750 / $1,500 / $3,000 / $7,500 / $10,000.
- The cost share options after deductible for each plan are 0% / 10% / 20% / 30%.
- The out-of-pocket maximum options for each plan are $2,000 or $5,000.
How to contact Cigna health insurance?
Existing customers can use the following ways to contact Cigna:
- Phone: +44 (0)1475 788182
- Fax: +44 (0)1475 492113
- Email: [email protected]
If you are a new customer and would like to enquire about Cigna’s insurance plans or other services, you can call + 44 (0)1475 492119 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. GMT). Another way to contact Cigna is to fill out an online form or request a callback from its website.
