Introducing Cigna
The Cigna Group is a global health company with over 70,000 employees. It aims to improve the well-being of more than 178 million clients worldwide by providing a range of insurance plans and products to address their physical and emotional needs.
Through its two distinct divisions, Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, the company addresses significant healthcare industry challenges such as escalating costs, poor care accessibility, and a lack of personalized assistance for individuals managing complex health conditions. Furthermore, Cigna fosters innovation by creating new products and platforms to advance healthier communities.
About Cigna's international health insurance plans
Cigna's international medical plans are crafted to address specific health insurance needs while granting access to a network of hospitals and medical experts worldwide. These plans consider various factors impacting well-being to offer comprehensive support. With a focus on holistic care, individuals receive assistance in every aspect of their lives, from routine medical needs to unforeseen circumstances.
These plans include essential medical services such as hospital stays and treatments. They also offer flexible options tailored to preferences and financial considerations. Priority access to support from Cigna's team of doctors and nurses and access to a range of tools and digital solutions through a secure online portal for comprehensive whole health care support are some additional features of Cigna plans.
What are deductibles and coinsurance?
Before your insurance coverage kicks in, you have to pay a certain amount out of your pocket for the covered medical services. Most of the time, plans with higher monthly premiums have lower deductibles and vice versa. Once you have reached your deductible, coinsurance is the percentage of the total cost of covered healthcare services you pay. The rest of the amount is paid by your insurer. It is always more affordable to consult an in-network provider as coinsurance is lower for services from them compared to out-of-network providers.
Insurance terms you should know
Educating yourself on key insurance terminology can help you make more informed choices regarding your healthcare:
Catastrophic plan
This plan provides basic coverage as required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). These plans usually allow three primary care visits per year. While the monthly premiums are typically low, the deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance for most regular healthcare services are much higher. This means you’ll pay most or all of your medical expenses out of pocket (aside from preventive care) until you meet your deductible, which is often several thousand dollars.
Concierge medicine
Also known as retainer or boutique medicine, this allows a direct arrangement between you and your doctor. You pay a yearly fee in return for personalized care and easier access to your physician. These practices usually keep their patient list small to provide more dedicated and preventive care. Keep in mind that this annual fee isn’t covered by insurance, so it will come directly out of your pocket.
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
COBRA allows you to maintain your insurance coverage in the event of job loss or loss of coverage as a dependent under your parent's insurance. To continue being covered, you must pay the full premium, which may include your previous employer's share if you have lost your job.
Copay or copayment
A copay (or copayment) is a set amount you pay for specific healthcare services, like doctor visits, prescriptions, or other covered treatments. Your insurance takes care of the rest. Typically, you’ll pay less in copays if you stay with providers who are in your insurance network rather than going out-of-network.
Who is a dentist?
Dentists are certified doctors specializing in preventing, managing, and treating problems affecting the teeth, mouth, and gums. One of their most crucial responsibilities is promoting good oral hygiene and reducing oral disease risks. They are skilled at extracting teeth, repairing cracked teeth, and whitening, filling, and bonding teeth. In addition, they can fill cavities, treat gum diseases such as gingivitis, and fit crowns and veneers.Â
The symptoms of health issues in other body parts often manifest in the mouth. Dentists can detect these during routine checkups and make referrals to specialists if necessary.
What do dentists do?
Apart from treating the teeth and gums, dentists also examine the head and neck and the parts of the nervous system located there, jaw muscles, salivary glands, and the tongue. During a detailed dental examination, they also check for swellings, lumps, ulcers, discolorations, and any other abnormalities in the oral cavity. Dentists can even perform appropriate diagnostic procedures like oral cancer screenings, biopsies, screenings of salivary gland functions, and diagnostic tests for infectious or chronic diseases.
Dentists can also perform surgical procedures on the oral cavity's soft tissues, bones, and teeth. They use modern equipment and the latest dental technology, such as X-ray machines, scalpels, brushes, drills, and other dental tools.
What are the educational qualifications of a dentist?
Since dentists are medical professionals, they follow a similar educational route to medical doctors. The first step is to get a bachelor's degree in science after finishing an undergraduate program in a relevant subject like biology, chemistry, health, or math. Next comes the dental admissions exam, which a candidate must pass to apply to dental schools.
Dental schools have the same rigorous academic standards as medical schools. They are also crucial for educating dentists to provide modern oral healthcare securely and efficiently. The dental school training process involves two years of biomedical science studies and two years of clinical practice. It culminates in either a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or a Doctor of Dental Medicine (DDM) degree, after which dentists must acquire a dental license.
Dentists must take the National Board Dental Examination to become certified. Subsequently, they can also undergo a postgraduate residency spanning one to three years, depending on their area of specialization. They may choose to subspecialize in any of the following areas:
- Dental public health
- Endodontics
- Oral and maxillofacial pathology
- Oral and maxillofacial radiology
- Oral and maxillofacial surgery
- Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics
- Pediatric dentistry
- Periodontics
- Prosthodontics
Who is a pediatric dentist? What kind of treatment does such a specialist provide?
Pediatric dentists, also called pedodontists, are specialists who attend to dental problems in infants, children, and teenagers. They conduct oral health exams, provide teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments, perform cavity removal, repair dental injuries like fractured or displaced teeth, and help manage gum diseases. These dentists can also help detect oral health conditions that stem from other bodily issues like asthma, diabetes, hay fever, etc.
Finding a top-rated Cigna dentist near you in Denver, CO
If you are looking for routine checkups and need help locating a qualified and experienced dentist in your area, take Zocdoc's help! Zocdoc helps patients in Denver find qualified healthcare professionals that match their needs and preferences right from the comfort of their homes. All you need to do is visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition or symptoms, location, and insurance plan. Then, browse the list of top-rated primary care doctors and filter your search results based on gender, time of day, hospital affiliation, languages spoken, distance, and whether a provider treats children.Â
Further, you can also select your insurance carrier and plan in the drop-down menu at the top of the page to filter the displayed list of dentists with in-network providers. For example, you can specifically search for a Cigna dentist near you.
When you book an appointment on Zocdoc, you'll need to either provide your insurance details or confirm that you'll be paying out of pocket. Some providers require insurance information before you can schedule a visit with them. If you don't have insurance or prefer not to use it, you can look for a different provider on Zocdoc. For more information about insurance, visit Zocdoc’s insurance page.
If you need help determining which health plan is right for you, Zocdoc's insurance checker can assist. If you're interested in purchasing health insurance but need help figuring out where to begin, you can start by reviewing Zocdoc's Health Insurance 101 guide, which covers insurance basics.Â
Moreover, Zocdoc also helps you to make an informed decision by listing each provider's educational background, including clinical training, certifications, licenses, awards, and accreditations. Another way to choose the best Cigna dentist near you is by reading honest and verified patient reviews.Â
All bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure!
Statistics on dentists and dental health
Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 40% of American adults experienced oral pain in the past year. The report also states that by the time they turn 34, over 80% of people will have experienced at least one cavity. The country spends more than $124 billion yearly on dental-related expenses. Every year, dental emergencies requiring unplanned care cost more than $45 billion in lost productivity and over 34 million school hours on average.
The following are a few examples of oral health issues that affect adults, according to the CDC:
- Gum disease: Almost half (46%) of all adults aged 30 or older exhibit signs of gum disease, and about 9% of adults have severe gum disease.
- Oral cancer: People over 55 who smoke and drink heavily are most at risk for developing oral cancer.
- Untreated cavities: The CDC estimates that around 26% of American adults have untreated tooth decay.
Sources
Cigna Healthcare[1]
Cigna Healthcare[2]
Cigna Global
Cigna Healthcare[3]
The Cigna Group[1]
The Cigna Group[2]
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Healthchildren.org
American Dental Education Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
