Agreement Reached Between Cigna and UNC Health

After negotiations culminated in an agreement on Friday afternoon, Cigna insurance patients can now visit UNC medical facilities without worry.

As stated by UNC Health, the new agreement encompasses all commercial plans offered by Cigna Healthcare.

James Day, the general manager for Cigna Healthcare in the Carolinas, expressed satisfaction with the new agreement, noting, “Cigna Healthcare is pleased to reach an agreement with UNC Health that allows us to continue in-network coverage for the customers we jointly serve. Together, we will continue to provide affordable, quality care to the people of North Carolina.”

Additionally, UNC Health indicated that patients who had prepaid while out of network will receive refunds as Cigna processes claims.

Previously, UNC Health and Cigna had been at an impasse over their contract for several weeks, with an earlier agreement set to expire on November 30. The new contract retroactively takes effect from December 1.

Dr. Matt Ewendo, chief clinical officer at UNC Health, noted, “This new agreement with Cigna Healthcare will benefit patients as well as health care providers across the state. Our patients will not face increased costs or the stress of going out of network or finding a new provider for their care. We look forward to working with Cigna Healthcare in the coming years to improve access, reduce costs, and remove barriers to care.”

UNC Health plans to reach out to affected patients soon to inform them about the new agreement with Cigna and reassure them that their care will remain unchanged.

One patient, Raleigh resident John Markle, is nearly 80 years old and understands the weight of health risks more than most.

“I have diabetes, and the last time I was hospitalized, I was in a diabetic coma and nearly died,” Markle shared.

His visits to UNC Health were clouded with uncertainty due to the previous contract expiration.

As one of the 65,000 Cigna-insured patients at UNC Health, Markle faced potential increased costs for in-network services.

“I live on a very fixed income. I don’t have a lot of money. I can’t afford to go to every doctor or specialist,” he expressed.

With the resolution of the contract issue, Markle can find some relief, but the stress still lingers.

“Any kind of stress impacts your health,” Markle remarked. “I believe my health suffered because I was anxious. I tried to manage my worry, but it was challenging.”