BLOOMFIELD, CT – CIGNA's Cost of Care Estimator and extended weekend and holiday call service hours are now available to almost all 550,000 CIGNA-contracted physicians, hospitals and free-standing clinics.

The initiatives are designed to:

• shorten physician and facility revenue cycles by improving payment information and processes;
• support delivery of quality healthcare by providing information that helps manage patient care more effectively;
• and minimize administrative costs and make it simpler to do business with CIGNA.

The CIGNA Cost of Care Estimator provides real-time pre-care and point of care itemized cost estimates for medical treatments, including an explanation of estimate that the physician can share with his or her patient detailing the total cost, how the covered individual’s benefits are applied, the anticipated payment from an individual’s health account (such as an HRA) and any out-of-pocket costs for which the individual is responsible.

By providing itemized cost estimates and explaining the sources of payment based on the covered individual’s specific plan, the CIGNA Cost of Care Estimator helps people understand their benefits and how much they owe for specific services. The estimator can serve as the basis of pre-care financial discussions to help avoid after-the-fact financial surprises, and also help avoid potential point-of-care over-billing because both the individual and physician can see the portion that's paid by insurance and by the individual’s health account.

According to a CIGNA survey of those who used the health plan's Cost of Care Estimator, 80 percent said receiving the estimate is helpful, 74 percent said knowing their obligation while in the care setting makes it more likely they will pay the bill, and 72 percent said the estimate helps them understand their benefits.

Healthcare professionals who are contracted directly with CIGNA may access the CIGNA Cost of Care Estimator using CIGNA's secure Web site for physicians and facilities.