Negotiations Between UNC Health and Cigna Ongoing

Discussions between UNC Health and Cigna are underway, but an agreement hasn’t been finalized yet.

As of Friday, it has been five days since Cigna excluded UNC Health Hospital from its insurance coverage. In response to this, UNC Health has sent approximately 65,000 letters to patients who utilize Cigna, informing them about the ongoing contract issues.

Many patients, especially cancer survivors, have expressed worry over potential limits in their insurance coverage and the need to continue their treatments with their preferred doctors.

In the meantime, towns in Apex are starting to voice their concerns.

Mayor Jacques Gilbert shared his apprehension, saying, “I’m very concerned about how this affects our staff and their families.”

According to Town Manager Randy Vosburg, town employees rely on Cigna insurance, impacting more than 850 residents and their families.

He remarked, “This is my work family. It’s troubling when situations like this arise. Hopefully, it won’t be a long-term issue.”

Vosburg noted that the town is maintaining constant communication with both UNC Health and Cigna regarding the need for a resolution. They are leveraging their status as a municipality covered by insurance.

“We’re putting pressure on them,” he stated. “We’ve reached out with texts, emails, and calls to both parties. We even met with Cigna last week, and they understand our concerns. It’s crucial for us, and we know UNC is taking this seriously. We just hope a solution comes soon.”

Gilbert added that the situation affects more than just the town’s employees.

“We have police officers, firefighters, public works employees—these are the individuals who support our community daily,” he mentioned.

These dedicated individuals embody Apex’s motto: “The Pinnacle of Life.” However, Gilbert emphasized that the community’s overall well-being is tied to the health of its employees.

“With around 82,000 residents, our community relies on our emergency responders,” he noted, underlining the importance of support for those who care for the public.

UNC Health conveyed to WRAL News that they are hopeful for a new agreement with Cigna and are taking steps to ensure patients face minimal treatment interruptions, including submitting requests for continued treatment.

As of Friday, Cigna had not responded to recent inquiries from WRAL News for an update.

Earlier this week, Cigna did announce that it had proposed an extension to the current contract with UNC.

In their statement, Cigna shared, “Our aim is to keep UNC Health as part of our network and we’ve suggested an extension of our existing contract. We’ll continue discussions to arrive at a fair agreement for our clients and their families.”

As negotiations progress into the weekend, Vosburg is looking towards the end of the year, pondering how the calendar shift might influence discussions.

“If we reach the new year without resolution, I anticipate more in-depth conversations will follow,” he remarked.

With the impasse ongoing, potential changes regarding Apex and Cigna might occur as New Year’s approaches.

“Everything’s on the table,” Vosburg concluded. “We need to review the contract, but it’s certainly something we’ll consider.”