Negotiations Between UNC Health and Cigna Continue

UNC Health and Cigna are in the midst of negotiations for a new agreement as the holiday season approaches. The current contract is set to expire on Sunday, November 30th.

In a statement to WRAL, UNC Health expressed its ongoing commitment to reach a fair agreement with Cigna.

“Unfortunately, progress has been difficult,” UNC Health stated. “As of December 1, it looks increasingly likely that UNC Health hospitals, clinics, and providers will be ‘out-of-network’ for Cigna members, which could lead to higher costs and inconvenience for those patients.”

WRAL has been covering these negotiations since earlier this year. In July, UNC Health noted, “Unfortunately, Cigna is not open to meaningful discussions or willing to provide the patient care standards that we require.”

“We have been negotiating a new agreement with Cigna that aligns with our relationships with other insurance providers and maintains the quality of care our patients expect, which remains our goal.”

WRAL reached out to Cigna via email to inquire about the negotiation status, any obstacles in finalizing contracts, and how users can maintain continuity of care. Cigna responded, stating, “We are negotiating in good faith with UNC Health to achieve a fair and reasonable agreement for all parties involved.”

Recently, UNC Health notified around 65,000 Cigna members about this situation through a letter. The letter emphasized UNC Health’s commitment to ongoing negotiations and their hope for a patient-first agreement with Cigna.

UNC Health is advising patients to explore other insurance options when possible or to contact Cigna, whose information is provided on the back of their membership ID cards.

WRAL has received feedback from viewers regarding how this may impact them. One viewer shared that he attends occupational therapy once or twice weekly, paying a co-pay of $25, which will rise to $468 starting Monday. Additionally, his doctor’s visit co-pays are increasing from $30 to $165. Patients indicated that their doctors preemptively called them to cancel appointments or alert them to upcoming cost increases.

According to UNC Health, “Certain patients may qualify for ‘continuation of care’ through Cigna for a limited period—this includes patients who are hospitalized, pregnant, or currently receiving active treatment before December 1.” However, patients need to contact Cigna to verify eligibility and complete necessary forms.

“We understand this situation can be distressing and overwhelming for patients, and we are committed to working closely with them to reduce any disruption to their care.”