Cigna builds behavioral health around 24/7 access, virtual care and care management, with the details set by the plan.
Cigna describes a set of behavioral health programs sold alongside medical coverage. Which ones a group has depends on its plan and the selections the employer makes.
What the program is and what members do.
What the program is
Cigna lists inpatient and outpatient care management, emotional well-being programs and tools, specialty coaching, lifestyle management, complex psychiatric case management and narcotics therapy management. Specialty coaching covers autism, eating disorders, substance use and opioid use disorder. Cigna also describes a Centers of Excellence designation for mental health and substance use facilities.
What members do
Cigna says members can connect 24/7 with a licensed behavioral clinician at no extra cost, use one of the larger virtual networks through providers such as MDLIVE, Talkspace and Headspace Care, and get therapist matching and scheduling help. Cigna says appointments are often available in as little as two days through certain partners.
Online tools
Cigna points employees to myCigna for virtual therapy appointments, guided navigation with an assessment, quick access to benefit details, self-guided tools and apps, and live chat. The virtual services are separate from the plan’s network and may not be available in all areas, according to Cigna.
Eligibility, funding and plan design.
Who can use it
Cigna tells employers to contact their representative or broker to learn which behavioral programs are available. Cigna also notes the page is not intended for certain states and that availability varies by location and plan type. Eligibility depends on the group’s plan and selections.
How it is funded or sold
Cigna mentions in-network behavioral claim funding for groups with Cigna Total Behavioral Health, which indicates a packaged behavioral product. Other elements may be included or priced separately. Cigna also says its Employee Assistance Program is a separate service. The proposal should list each element with its cost.
Where it fits in a plan design
Behavioral health sits next to medical and pharmacy, and Cigna says untreated conditions raise cost. For employers, the value is easier access plus coordination with medical care. It is a core plan feature, not an optional perk, so access, copays and network depth matter more than the program names.
What to settle before relying on it.
Which of these programs are in our contract?
Cigna’s list is long, and it says to ask the representative which are available. We would request a one-page schedule of what the group has, what is extra cost, and who is eligible. Program names on a website do not equal coverage.
What are the real wait times and network depth in Michigan?
The two-day appointment claim applies through specific partners. We would ask for Michigan network data, including how many in-network behavioral providers accept new patients near the employer’s locations, and how virtual visits are cost-shared. Wait times on a website are not a promise, so we would ask for measured Michigan results.
Are there parity and cost-sharing differences?
Behavioral benefits are part of the medical plan design. We would compare copays, visit limits and prior authorization for behavioral care with medical care. A strong program name with high member cost sharing will not change how many employees use it, so the plan design itself deserves review.
Common questions about this program.
Is behavioral health care included with Cigna medical?
Cigna sells behavioral health alongside medical coverage, and says which programs apply depends on the plan and employer selections. Ask for a written schedule of services.
Can employees see a clinician right away?
Cigna says members can connect 24/7 with a licensed behavioral clinician at no extra cost. Whether a visit is covered after that depends on the plan.
Does the employer see who used these services?
Cigna’s employer pages describe services for employees and reporting for the organization. Employers should confirm that any reporting is aggregate and that individual use stays confidential.
Programs and vendors named on this page
Official pages for the services mentioned above. Availability, cost and eligibility vary by plan and employer group, so confirm what applies to your group with the carrier.
Where these details come from.
This page summarizes what Cigna publishes. Programs change, so confirm current details with the carrier before relying on them.
Send us your renewal.
We’ll tell you whether it looks competitive, where we see opportunity, and the five questions we’d put to your carrier. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
The renewal letter
Your current plan summary
Contribution split by tier
Enrolled counts by tier
Four documents — two more if your group is 50 or more. Nothing else; every extra one is a reason to postpone.
An independent employee benefits consulting firm. We look at the entire benefits program: cost, plan performance, risk and administration.
Switch to CFH. Unhappy with your broker? Your employees won’t notice. You will. →
Cookies on This Site
We use cookies to keep the site working properly and to understand how it is used. You can decline anything that is not essential. See our Privacy Policy for the detail.
- Essential: needed for the site to load and for you to move around it. These cannot be switched off.
- Analytics: tell us which pages get read, so we know what is worth writing more of.
- Advertising: set by third parties such as ad and social platforms to measure and target campaigns.