Cigna-HealthSpring Medicare Advantage Review

Cigna sells Medicare Advantage plans in 26 states (plus Washington DC):

Cigna offers mostly HMO Medicare Advantage plans. However, they also provide quite a few HMO-SNP plans for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The Cigna-HealthSpring Preferred plan is an HMO, meaning you must receive all your care within Cigna’s network. You will also need referrals from your primary care physician to see specialists or receive other treatments. 

The Preferred plan could be a good option for those who want an affordable Medicare Advantage plan and don’t mind getting referrals from their primary care physician before seeing specialists or receiving other treatments. For those seeking extra benefits without an additional cost, this may not be a good fit.

In a PPO like the Cigna-HealthSpring Preferred plan, you have access to services in and out of the network. However, it’s generally easier on your wallet to stay in network, both in terms of copayments and minimizing your maximum out-of-pocket cost.

The Cigna-HealthSpring Preferred PPO plan could be a good option for people who want a Medicare Advantage plan with plenty of perks, but the freedom to go outside their network.

In an HMO-POS, people have an HMO network, but they also may go out of the network if they need to. However, services will generally be cheaper in the network. An HMO-POS is very similar to a PPO plan, except that you may have to get a doctor referral for a specialist in an HMO-POS, but not in a PPO.

Overall, the Cigna-HealthSpring Premier plan provides great additional benefits over traditional Medicare and the freedom to go out of network. It could be a good fit for anyone looking for a plan with flexibility and extra perks like dental, vision, hearing, and a fitness membership.

An HMO SNP like the CignaHealthSpring TotalCare plan only takes members who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Once you’re enrolled, the plan covers services within the network. But in a Special Needs Plan (SNP) like this one, costs are drastically reduced compared to a regular HMO.

Overall, this is an excellent plan with high ratings and comprehensive coverage for anyone in the service area—if they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. But if you don't care for the HMO model, you may not prefer the TotalCare plan.

With Cigna-HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) your coverage is valid only for health care services within Cigna’s network. If you need to see a specialist or receive other treatments, you’ll likely need a referral from a primary care physician.

The Cigna-Healthspring PreventiveCare plan could be a good option for anyone who plans on staying in-network for their health care services. It could also work for those who want extra benefits.

Many of Cigna’s plans come with dental, vision, and hearing benefits with no additional cost.

Cigna is not shy about adding benefits to their Medicare Advantage offerings. The company delivers a strong portfolio of HMO and HMO-SNP plans. If you live in Cigna’s service area, consider checking out what they can offer you. Just call the number below.

To see more about Cigna or learn more about Medicare, see these links:

• Read our Cigna Part D plans review.
• Read our Cigna vs UnitedHealthcare Review.
• Read our Cigna vs BlueCross BlueShield Review.
• Read about Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans.
• Read More Medicare Insurance Company Reviews.

What dates does Cigna sell Medicare Advantage plans?

You can enroll in a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 through December 7. You may also be able to use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1until March 31 every year.

Or, if you’re new to Medicare, you may have an enrollment period as well. See our Enrollment Period explainer for more information.

What is the difference between Cigna-Healthspring Medicare Advantage and Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO?

Most of Cigna-Healthspring’s plans are HMOs, meaning enrollees must stay in the plan’s network for health care coverage. In a PPO, a person may go outside of the network, although it may cost more. However, Cigna offers a few PPOs and even HMO-POS plans, which have more flexibility than a traditional HMO.

Check out our comparison article on Cigna vs. Aetna.