About Cigna
The Cigna Group is a global leader in offering health insurance plans and is dedicated to enhancing well-being worldwide. With a workforce of over 70,000 across Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, Cigna serves more than 178 million people in 30 countries.
Cigna is committed to improving health outcomes through collaboration and innovation. By providing advanced solutions and a network of healthcare professionals, Cigna enhances access to quality care, emphasizes preventive health, and promotes overall well-being. Their efforts go beyond insurance, addressing broader health concerns like mental health issues and chronic illnesses.
Leveraging technology and data, Cigna strives to improve healthcare experiences and results for individuals, families, and communities. Focused on customer needs and excellence, Cigna is at the forefront of shaping the future of healthcare in the United States.
About Cigna health insurance plans
The Cigna Group offers various insurance services tailored to individuals' and organizations' diverse healthcare needs. Their portfolio in the U.S. spans vision, dental, and life insurance plans.
Cigna Health insurance includes various medical coverage options, including individual and family, employer-sponsored, and Medicare Advantage plans. These plans typically provide access to an extensive network of healthcare providers, prescription drug coverage, and wellness programs to promote preventive care and holistic well-being.
Cigna's dental and vision insurance plans cover routine exams, cleanings, eyeglasses, and contact lenses, supporting individuals in maintaining good oral and vision health.
For income protection, Cigna Disability Insurance offers financial assistance if a disability prevents someone from working, helping ensure financial stability during challenging periods.
Cigna also offers telehealth services (Medicare-covered), which include non-emergency urgent care and consultation with a telehealth doctor via smartphone, computer, or tablet for care related to allergies, cough, headache, sore throat, and other minor illnesses. Benefits also include telehealth mental health therapy and dermatology services.
Who is a dermatologist?
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who attains a general medicine degree and then hones their expertise in diagnosing, managing, and treating conditions affecting the skin, nails, and hair in adults and children.
Dermatologists can treat over 3,000 skin, hair, and nail diseases and address cosmetic concerns. Most practitioners are also trained in skin surgery and are adept at handling benign and malignant skin lesions.
Considering how intensive some dermatological treatments can be, it is essential to ensure you go to a practitioner who is appropriately qualified to treat you. Additionally, to help minimize costs, see a practitioner who accepts your insurance plan, as dermatology consultations and procedures can sometimes be very expensive. If you are looking for a top-rated in-network provider, consider searching for a Cigna dermatologist near you.
Read on to learn more about the educational requirements of a dermatologist and equip yourself with the knowledge to choose the right specialist.
Licensure a qualified dermatologist must hold
In the U.S., a certified dermatologist holds credentials from the American Board of Dermatology, the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology, or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the largest dermatology organization in the U.S. with over 20,000 members, requires its members to complete college, medical school (M.D. or D.O.), and a year-long residency.
Dermatologists with the FAAD designation, meaning Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, are licensed practitioners who have passed the necessary exams and are AAD members.
What subspecialties can a dermatologist look at?
Some dermatologists pursue further education after becoming board-certified, specializing in areas such as:
- Dermatopathology: Dermatopathologists are doctors trained in both dermatology and pathology. They examine tissue samples and skin scrapings under a microscope to diagnose diseases like skin cancer. Their findings are documented in biopsy or pathology reports, which assist dermatologists in determining the best course of treatment.
- Pediatric dermatology: Pediatric dermatologists diagnose and treat children's skin, hair, and nail conditions. While all dermatologists can treat children, pediatric specialists are adept at handling conditions more common in newborns or adolescents, such as birthmarks and acne.
- Medical dermatology: These specialists concentrate on diagnosing and treating severe skin conditions that may have drastic effects, impacting other parts of the body.
- Surgical dermatology: Dermatological surgeons are certified doctors who perform skin surgeries, often in office settings with local anesthesia. They handle a range of procedures, including cancerous tissue removal, hair restoration, scar removal, and laser treatments.
- Cosmetic dermatology: Cosmetic dermatologists receive special training to improve the looks of the skin, hair, and nails per a patient's desire. Their treatments include removing age spots, wrinkles, unwanted hair, cellulite, scars, tattoos, and stretch marks.
What is the role of a dermatologist?
Apart from addressing dermatological concerns, dermatologists can identify skin symptoms that signal internal health issues, such as organ disease or failure.
Due to the impact dermatological issues can have on the overall body, a practice in this field often involves working within multidisciplinary teams. Dermatologists frequently collaborate with other medical and surgical experts, including oncologists, geneticists, plastic surgeons, rheumatologists, immunologists or allergists, histopathologists, specialist nurses, and allied health professionals to fulfill their day-to-day duties.
They also frequently perform specialized diagnostic procedures related to skin conditions and prescribe a variety of treatments, including:
- Topical or injected medications.
- Ultraviolet (U.V.) light therapy.
- Various dermatologic surgical procedures, such as mole removals and skin biopsies.
- Cosmetic procedures, including chemical peels, sclerotherapy, and laser treatments.
How can you find the best Cigna dermatologist near you in Chicago, Illinois?
Finding a top-rated dermatologist who accepts your Cigna insurance can be simplified with Zocdoc, an online healthcare directory. Zocdoc's extensive database lets you search for dermatologists based on their expertise, location (e.g., Chicago), and insurance coverage. To start, visit the Zocdoc website, create a free account, and enter your preferences. The site generates a list of dermatologists matching your criteria.
Zocdoc offers an insurance verification tool to confirm if a dermatologist accepts your Cigna plan. Adding your Cigna information to your account can streamline the process, though bringing your insurance card to appointments is recommended. If you cannot find your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading an image of your medical insurance card. Please note that this feature is not available for vision and dental plans. Our system will scan the image and display your likely plan. If you experience any issues while uploading, reach out to our service team. Zocdoc's patient help center can also assist you with other insurance-related questions.
Each dermatologist's profile on Zocdoc includes details such as gender, specialization, education, certifications, languages, and patient reviews. For virtual consultations, look for the purple video icon. Booking through Zocdoc is quick, secure, and free, helping you find the ideal Cigna dermatologist near you.
Dermatology and health insurance statistics in Chicago, Illinois
As per the data from a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, about 12,040 dermatologists were practicing nationwide as of May 2023. Out of this, Chicago, Naperville, Elgin, IL-IN-WI had around 300 employed practitioners.Â
Regarding health insurance coverage in Illinois, the landscape shows a diverse distribution of coverage types:
- Medicare: Medicare primarily serves approximately 1.77 million Illinois residents, accounting for 14.4% of the population. Out of these beneficiaries, 39% are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. The Illinois Department of Insurance regulates Medicare supplemental plans, while the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) offers free counseling to Medicare beneficiaries through the Department of Aging.
- Medicaid and the children's health insurance program (CHIP): These programs cover almost 2.47 million Illinois residents, that is, around 20.1% of the total population. Adopting the Affordable Care Act's expansion of Medicaid made it possible to extend coverage to 1 million low-income adults in the state. Additionally, Medicaid finances approximately 38% of all births in Illinois.
- Employer-sponsored insurance (ESI): ESI covers around 53.1% (6.53 million individuals) of Illinois residents. About 52.1% of Illinois employers offer ESI. However, offer rates vary by the size of the firm. For example, almost 99.6% of large firms provide ESI, but when it comes to small employers, only 36.2% of them offer it. Approximately 37% of private sector businesses that offer health insurance self-fund at least one health plan. In large firms that provide health insurance, 64.9% self-fund at least one health plan.
Sources
The Cigna Group[1]
The Cigna Group[2]
Cleveland Clinic
Medical News Today
WebMD
Cigna Healthcare
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Association of Health Care Journalists
