Cigna Health Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide for International Students
For international students venturing abroad for education, securing adequate health insurance is paramount. Cigna Health Insurance offers a range of plans designed to cater to the unique needs of individuals studying outside their home country. This article delves into the benefits and coverage options available through Cigna, providing a comprehensive overview to aid international students in making informed decisions about their healthcare.
Understanding Cigna Global Medical Insurance
Cigna Global Medical Insurance is a comprehensive plan tailored for individuals planning to live, study, or work outside their home country for at least one year. This plan is available to individuals aged 18 years and over, with certain country restrictions.
Medical Underwriting
The Cigna Global Medical plan is medically underwritten, requiring applicants to answer medical questions and provide medical records if requested. Cigna evaluates an applicant's medical background to determine how to handle any pre-existing conditions.
Reputation and Global Reach
Cigna is a reputable insurance provider serving individuals and families living abroad in over 200 countries worldwide. Their international health insurance plans offer comprehensive and flexible coverage tailored to individual needs.
Cigna International Health Plan Options
The Cigna international health plan offers three coverage levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each plan covers inpatient and day-patient care, with the option to add outpatient care and other elective modules.
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Coverage Levels
- Cigna Silver: This plan offers a foundational level of coverage, including inpatient and day-patient care.
- Cigna Gold: Building upon the Silver plan, the Gold plan provides enhanced coverage with additional benefits.
- Cigna Platinum: The Platinum plan offers the most comprehensive coverage, including a wide range of benefits and services.
Optional Modules
Cigna offers additional modules to enhance the Silver, Gold, or Platinum international medical coverage plan. These include:
- International Outpatient: Covers expenses for doctor visits, prescriptions, and other outpatient services. You can tailor your Cigna Expatriate Health Insurance to provide more extensive outpatient benefits, including doctor visits and prescriptions.
- Medical Evacuation: Provides coverage for emergency medical transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility.
- Health and Wellbeing: Covers screenings, tests, examinations, and counseling support for a range of conditions. The optional Health and Wellbeing coverage module provides cover for screenings, tests, examinations, and counseling support for a range of conditions.
- Vision and Dental: Vision care provides coverage for routine eye examinations and the cost of eyeglasses and lenses. Dental and Vision care are not included in our Cigna Global health insurance plan, but they do offer Supplemental Plans for Dental and Vision. Otherwise, you can seek alternate insurance and care.
Benefits of Cigna Global Health Insurance
Cigna Global health benefits provide access to a vast international healthcare network of trusted hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. This network is especially helpful if the local healthcare system in your country of residence is too expensive or known for providing inadequate service.
Access to a Global Network
With Cigna Global health benefits, you will gain access to the company’s vast international healthcare network of trusted hospitals, doctors, and other healthcare professionals. Cigna’s network is especially helpful if the local healthcare system in your country of residence is too expensive or is known for providing inadequate service. From there, you can search their directory of hospitals, clinics, and doctors partnered with Cigna. Alternatively, you can call the Cigna Customer Care Team.
Flexibility and Customization
One great feature of the Cigna Global plan is that you can adjust the policy structure to keep its cost low. Applicants can adjust their premiums with various deductibles and co-insurance options to suit their budgets.
Additional Benefits
Cigna proudly announces a new partnership with Carrot, a global leader in fertility care. Carrot offers a wide range of support and services beyond traditional fertility treatments. This enhanced health benefit is available to new and existing Platinum plan members at no additional cost.
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Cost and Premiums
A Cigna Global health insurance plan costs as little as $150 per month for basic coverage. For most clients, the average price of a plan is $460 per month or $5,520 per year.
Factors Affecting Premium Rates
Cigna Global determines its premium rates based on several factors, including your choice of plan tier. You can manage the premium rate by selecting a deductible or a cost-share option, which will lower your monthly or annual costs.
Deductibles and Cost-Share Options
Deductibles and cost-share options are recommended for individuals and families who want to save more money every month.
- Deductible: The amount you pay out-of-pocket before your insurance coverage kicks in. So if your treatment costs are $500, you will need to pay $250, and Cigna Global pay the remaining $250 of covered costs.
- Cost-Share: The percentage of every claim you will pay. You would pay $2,500. After you paid your deductible of $500, your cost share is 20% of $19,500 ($3,900). This is more than your out-of-pocket maximum of $2,000, so you would only pay $2,000 which is the out-of-pocket maximum. In total, you will be paying $2,500, which is the sum of the cost-share and the $500 deductible you paid at the outset.
Application Process
You may apply for Cigna Global insurance as early as 45 days before the start date you requested. Applying earlier than the said period date, or having your start date delayed, might result in you being required to provide updated medical information from your healthcare provider.
Payment Options
Applicants pay their premiums monthly, quarterly, or annually. If paid annually, Cigna accepts payments by credit or debit card or bank wire transfer.
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Coverage Details
The coverage Cigna expatriate health insurance provides is very flexible. Starting with the core policy, you can get cover for essential treatment and hospital stays. Fees for consultation, wellness care, accommodation, and inpatient and outpatient treatments are also covered by the policy.
Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment
Yes, inpatient treatment is covered by Cigna Global health insurance plans. It is included as a standard within the core Cigna Global medical health insurance policy. It covers inpatient treatment that requires an overnight stay in a hospital. Cigna Global can cover expenses on selected outpatient costs such as treatment room fees, surgeon and anesthetic costs, advanced imaging, cancer, and psychiatric care.
Exclusions
No, birth control is not a covered benefit.
Geographic Coverage
If you have purchased a Cigna international health plan, you can be covered for medical expenses and health services anywhere in the world. You have the option of purchasing worldwide coverage including or excluding coverage in the USA. If you choose to exclude coverage in the USA, your plan will provide benefits throughout the world but not in the USA.
How to Get Treatment and Make a Claim
The Cigna International Customer Care Team will assist in arranging your treatment plan to avoid delays and confusion and point you in the right direction. The Cigna Team knows that there will be times when it will not be practical or possible for a beneficiary to contact them for prior approval. This usually happens in emergencies where the hospital cannot contact the insurer before proceeding with the urgent operation.
Using Your Cigna ID Card
Always remember to take your Cigna ID card with you when you go for treatment. Ask your hospital, medical practitioner, or clinic about direct billing in case this has not yet been confirmed. The purpose of your membership card is to identify you as a member; it does not guarantee all payment capabilities. Be assured that you are covered under the terms of your insurance contract based on the coverage and benefits selected. No, it does not.
Direct Billing
Yes, Cigna Global has an extensive international doctor and hospital network where direct billing is included. Where possible, Cigna international healthcare services will arrange to pay for your hospital, clinic, or doctor directly. You must call Cigna Global before getting treatment. They can assist you in finding the best clinic, doctor, or hospital near you and arrange to pay them directly. This will save you the cost and hassle of paying for it yourself and then later requesting reimbursement from Cigna. In most cases, the clinic, doctor, or hospital will send the invoice to Cigna directly.
Reimbursement
Calling Cigna Global before getting treatment, especially during an emergency, may not always be possible. You will need to pay for your treatment yourself in this case, then send the invoice and claim form to Cigna after. If you have paid for your treatment yourself, you will need to claim back your covered costs, less any deductibles and/or cost shares you are responsible for. You will find full details on how to get treatment and make a claim, along with copies of claims forms in your welcome pack. Cigna Global can reimburse you within five working days after receiving the fully completed paperwork. You decide what currency you want the money to be in when you receive it in your account.
Pre-existing Conditions
Yes - pending a review of your medical history Cigna Global will cover any pre-existing medical conditions that are not specifically excluded at the time of your application. If you have sought advice or experienced symptoms before your plan start date, regardless of whether you have been diagnosed or not, Cigna may decide to add special exclusions to your plan. The pre-existing condition will be covered as any other illness.
Cigna's Commitment to International Students
students traveling abroad and international students around the globe,” said Ann Asbaty, CEO, Cigna Global Employer Health (CGEH) Americas. “When students are far away from their home country, it’s not uncommon to experience stress and mental health challenges for which coverage has been previously lacking. for their studies. Outbound students, typically traveling for shorter periods of time, require unexpected illness and injury cover. are typically in-country for longer periods and require more comprehensive cover.
Additional Resources
Duke University Programs
Duke University has contracted with International SOS (ISOS) to offer its travelers the highest possible level of travel, medical and security advice and services, as well as online access to information that is helpful in preparing for your travel and learning about your destination.
CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA)
The CIGNA Medical Benefits Abroad (MBA) program provides short-term health insurance for full-time, benefits eligible employees and their accompanying dependents when they travel abroad on behalf of Duke for trips that are six months or less in duration.
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