
TL;DR
Navigating the world of private medical insurance can feel complex, with a host of providers all offering different strengths. As experienced brokers who have arranged over 900,000 policies of various kinds, WeCovr understands that choosing the right insurer is a crucial decision. This guide focuses on Cigna, a global health service giant, exploring both its UK domestic and international private health insurance plans to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.
Key takeaways
- Who Cigna are and their place in the health insurance landscape.
- The specifics of their UK-based private health cover.
- The key differences and benefits of their renowned International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI).
- Real-world scenarios where Cigna’s international plans are a perfect match.
- How to customise a Cigna policy and get the best possible price.
Navigating the world of private medical insurance can feel complex, with a host of providers all offering different strengths. As experienced brokers who have arranged over 900,000 policies of various kinds, WeCovr understands that choosing the right insurer is a crucial decision. This guide focuses on Cigna, a global health service giant, exploring both its UK domestic and international private health insurance plans to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.
A guide to Cigna private health insurance and when international-style cover may be relevant
Cigna stands out in the UK private medical insurance (PMI) market due to its formidable global presence. While many providers focus solely on the UK, Cigna offers robust solutions for both UK residents and those with international lifestyles. This dual focus makes them a compelling, if sometimes complex, option.
This article will break down:
- Who Cigna are and their place in the health insurance landscape.
- The specifics of their UK-based private health cover.
- The key differences and benefits of their renowned International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI).
- Real-world scenarios where Cigna’s international plans are a perfect match.
- How to customise a Cigna policy and get the best possible price.
Who is Cigna? A Global Health Service Giant
Cigna is not just another insurer; it's a global health services organisation with a history stretching back over 200 years. Operating in more than 30 countries and jurisdictions, and with over 190 million customer and patient relationships worldwide, their scale is immense. In 2018, Cigna merged with Express Scripts to form The Cigna Group, further solidifying its position as a powerhouse in global healthcare.
For UK consumers, this means Cigna brings:
- Financial Stability: The reassurance of being insured by a large, well-established global corporation.
- A Global Network: An extensive network of hospitals, clinics, and medical professionals worldwide, which is the cornerstone of their international plans.
- A Focus on "Whole Health": Cigna heavily promotes a holistic approach, providing resources for physical, mental, and financial well-being, not just reactive medical treatment.
Cigna’s UK presence is primarily focused on corporate schemes and its international plans for individuals and families. While they do offer domestic UK cover, their brand is most synonymous with global health solutions.
Understanding Cigna's UK Private Medical Insurance Offering
For individuals and families living and working solely within the UK, Cigna provides domestic private medical insurance plans designed to work alongside the NHS. The primary benefit, as with all UK PMI, is to bypass NHS waiting lists for eligible conditions, giving you fast access to specialist consultations, diagnostics, and private treatment.
A typical Cigna UK plan is built around a core set of benefits, which you can then tailor with optional extras.
Core cover usually includes:
- In-patient and day-patient treatment: Covers costs for surgery and procedures where you need a hospital bed, even just for the day. This includes surgeons' fees, anaesthetists' fees, and hospital charges.
- Cancer Cover: Comprehensive cancer care is a cornerstone of modern PMI. This typically includes diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Cigna often offers advanced therapies and support services.
- Diagnostics: MRI, CT, and PET scans are covered to ensure a swift and accurate diagnosis.
Optional add-ons allow you to build a more comprehensive policy:
- Out-patient Cover: This pays for specialist consultations and diagnostic tests that don’t require a hospital bed. It's one of the most valuable parts of a policy for getting a quick diagnosis.
- Mental Health Cover: Provides access to psychiatrists, therapists, and psychologists. This has become an increasingly important and sought-after benefit.
- Therapies: Covers treatments like physiotherapy, osteopathy, and chiropractic care, often up to a set number of sessions.
What UK PMI Covers (and What It Doesn't)
It is absolutely vital to understand the fundamental purpose of private medical insurance in the UK. UK PMI is designed to cover acute conditions that arise after you take out your policy.
- An acute condition is a disease, illness, or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment and lead to a full recovery. Examples include joint replacements, cataract surgery, or hernia repair.
- A chronic condition is a long-term illness that cannot be cured but can be managed. Examples include diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis.
Standard UK private health insurance, from Cigna or any other provider, does not cover the routine management of chronic conditions. It also explicitly excludes pre-existing conditions, at least for a set period.
| Feature | What's Typically Covered by Cigna UK PMI | What's Typically Excluded |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions | New, acute conditions (e.g., hip replacement, gallstones) | Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma management) |
| History | Conditions that begin after your policy starts | Pre-existing conditions (from before you joined) |
| Treatment | Diagnosis, surgery, eligible cancer treatment, therapies | A&E / Emergency services, cosmetic surgery, organ transplants |
| Maternity | Complications from pregnancy (on some plans) | Routine, uncomplicated pregnancy and childbirth |
| Wellbeing | Access to digital GPs, stress support helplines | Routine dental check-ups, eye tests, prescriptions |
Working with an expert broker like WeCovr ensures you understand these limitations and can build a policy that provides the protection you actually need, without paying for benefits you can't use.
The Cigna Difference: International Health Insurance (IPMI)
This is where Cigna truly excels. International Private Medical Insurance (IPMI) is a different class of product from standard UK PMI. It’s designed for people who live, work, or travel between countries and require seamless, high-quality medical cover wherever they are.
Who is Cigna International Health Insurance for?
- Expatriates: A British citizen moving to Dubai, Singapore, or Spain for work needs a plan that covers them in their new country of residence and potentially back in the UK when they visit.
- Global Executives: Professionals who travel extensively and cannot afford to be reliant on local healthcare systems or simple travel insurance.
- High-Net-Worth Individuals: Those who want the freedom to seek the very best medical treatment anywhere in the world, without geographic restrictions.
- Returning UK Residents: People moving back to the UK after living abroad who may not be immediately eligible for NHS care or want to ensure continuity of private cover.
Real-Life Scenarios: When Cigna IPMI is a Fit
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Scenario 1: The Tech Consultant in Berlin.
- Profile: Sarah, a UK citizen, takes a 3-year contract in Berlin. She wants medical cover for her life in Germany but also wants the option to have major surgery back home in the UK to be near family.
- Solution: A Cigna Global plan with Europe as the area of cover, including the UK. This gives her comprehensive local cover and peace of mind.
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Scenario 2: The Semi-Retired Couple in Portugal.
- Profile: David and Jane retire to the Algarve. They need robust local health insurance but travel back to the UK for three months every summer.
- Solution: A Cigna international plan ensures they are covered in Portugal and can access private UK treatment during their extended visits, something standard travel insurance would never cover.
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Scenario 3: The CEO of a Multinational.
- Profile: Mark is based in London but spends 40% of his time in New York, Hong Kong, and the Middle East.
- Solution: A Cigna Global plan with "Worldwide" or "Worldwide including USA" cover. This top-tier plan gives him access to Cigna's vast network in every country he visits, ensuring he gets consistent, high-quality care without question.
UK PMI vs. Cigna International PMI: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Understanding the distinction is key to choosing the right product.
| Feature | Standard UK PMI | Cigna International PMI (IPMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic Cover | United Kingdom only. | A chosen region (e.g., Europe) or Worldwide. |
| Portability | Policy typically ends if you move abroad. | Fully portable. You can move countries and keep your policy. |
| Currency | Premiums and payments in Pounds Sterling (GBP). | Options for GBP, Euros (EUR), or US Dollars (USD). |
| Underwriting | Moratorium is common. | Full Medical Underwriting is more common and often required. |
| Typical Customer | A permanent UK resident. | An expatriate, frequent traveller, or global citizen. |
| Cost | Generally more affordable. | Significantly more expensive due to wider cover and complexity. |
Key Cigna Policy Features and How to Customise Your Cover
Whether you choose a UK or international plan, Cigna offers several levers to control your level of cover and the price you pay.
1. Underwriting Explained: Mori vs. FMU
This is how an insurer assesses your medical history to decide what they will and won't cover.
- Moratorium (Mori) Underwriting: This is the "wait-and-see" approach, common in the UK market. You don't declare your full medical history upfront. Instead, the insurer will automatically exclude any condition you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the 5 years before your policy started. However, if you remain completely symptom-free from that condition for a continuous 2-year period after your policy begins, it may become eligible for cover.
- Best for: Younger, healthier individuals with a clean medical history who want a quick and simple application.
- Full Medical Underwriting (FMU): This is the "declare everything" approach. You complete a detailed health questionnaire. The insurer then analyses your history and explicitly states in writing what will be excluded from your policy from day one.
- Best for: Anyone with a known medical history, as it provides absolute clarity on what is and isn't covered. It's also the standard for most international plans.
An adviser at WeCovr can provide invaluable guidance on which underwriting method is most suitable for your personal circumstances.
2. The Policy Excess
An excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim each year. For example, if you have a £250 excess and your eligible treatment costs £3,000, you pay the first £250 and Cigna pays the remaining £2,750.
Choosing a higher excess is a direct way to lower your monthly premium.
| Example Excess | Estimated Impact on Premium | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| £0 | Highest Premium | Maximum peace of mind, no out-of-pocket costs. |
| £250 | ~10-15% reduction | A popular, balanced choice. |
| £500 | ~20-25% reduction | Those happy to self-fund smaller claims. |
| £1,000 | ~30-40% reduction | Healthy individuals wanting cover mainly for major events. |
3. Hospital Lists
Insurers group UK private hospitals into tiers. A standard list might include most private hospitals, while an extended list adds the premium, high-cost hospitals in Central London. By opting for a more restricted hospital list (e.g., one that excludes London's most expensive facilities), you can achieve significant premium savings.
4. The Six-Week Option
This is a clever cost-saving feature available on many UK PMI plans. If the NHS can provide the in-patient treatment you need within six weeks of when it's recommended, you agree to use the NHS. If the NHS waiting list is longer than six weeks, your private policy kicks in. This significantly reduces the risk for the insurer, and they pass those savings on to you.
How to Get the Best Price on Cigna Health Insurance
Securing comprehensive cover doesn't have to mean paying the highest price. Here are five expert tips:
- Use an Independent Broker: This is the single most effective strategy. A specialist broker like WeCovr has a complete view of the market. We compare Cigna's quotes against those from Aviva, Bupa, Vitality, and others to ensure you're not just getting a good policy, but you're getting it at the best possible price. Our service is free to you, as we are paid by the insurer.
- Increase Your Excess: As shown above, being willing to contribute a small amount towards a claim can slash your monthly premiums.
- Tailor Your Hospital List: Be realistic about where you would want to be treated. If you live in Manchester, you probably don't need a list that includes expensive London hospitals.
- Consider the 6-Week Option: If you are comfortable using the excellent care of the NHS for non-urgent procedures, this is a fantastic way to make your premium more affordable.
- Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle: Cigna is focused on wellness. Maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking can positively impact your premiums. WeCovr supports this by providing complimentary access to our AI-powered nutrition app, CalorieHero, to all our health and life insurance clients.
The Final Verdict: Is Cigna Right For You?
Cigna is a top-tier global insurer with an outstanding reputation, particularly in the international space.
Cigna is an excellent choice if:
- You are an expatriate, a frequent international traveller, or a global citizen.
- You require a portable policy that can move with you across borders.
- You value a huge global network and the stability of a major US health corporation.
- You are a UK business looking for a comprehensive corporate scheme.
You might want to compare other options if:
- You are a UK resident with no plans to live or work abroad. While their UK plan is solid, dedicated UK-only providers like Aviva and Vitality are fierce competitors and may offer more competitive pricing or different benefit structures.
The only way to know for sure is to compare. An independent analysis from a broker will lay out the costs and benefits of Cigna's plans alongside the best alternatives, empowering you to make a truly informed decision. Furthermore, when you take out a policy with WeCovr, you may be eligible for discounts on other products like life or income protection insurance.
Does Cigna cover pre-existing conditions?
Can I use Cigna health insurance for a chronic condition like diabetes?
What is the main difference between Cigna UK and Cigna Global insurance?
Ready to find out if Cigna provides the best fit and value for your unique needs?
The private health insurance market is complex, but the choice doesn't have to be. Contact WeCovr today for a free, no-obligation quote. Our FCA-authorised advisers will conduct a thorough market comparison, analysing Cigna's plans against the UK's leading insurers to find you the perfect cover at the best possible price.












