Cigna and its coverage
Cigna Healthcare is a US health insurance provider that helps people attain better health in every stage of life by equipping them with the information and insight required to navigate the healthcare system.
Cigna offers various plans for individuals, families, people who access health insurance through their employer, and Medicare beneficiaries. Its offerings encompass the US Commercial, US Government, and International Health sectors, providing customized plans and solutions for people with diverse needs. A Statista report from 2023 states that Cigna offers health coverage to around 20 million customers.
What are the different types of health insurance?
In the US, health insurance is of various types. Some of these include:
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs): HMOs offer you a local network of doctors, other healthcare professionals, hospitals, and facilities that you can choose from. You must select a primary care provider (PCP) from the network. The PCP will become the home base for your medical care; they will get to know you and help coordinate all your medical care. Additionally, they will provide referrals if you need to visit in-network specialists. If you stay in-network, HMO plans are typically cheaper than most other health insurance plans.
- Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs): EPOs provide a network of participating healthcare providers. Most EPO plans do not cover out-of-network medical care except for emergencies. Depending on your plan, you might or might not have to select a PCP. Additionally, unlike HMO plans, if you want to visit an in-network specialist, you do not require a referral from a PCP.
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs): While PPOs provide an extensive network of healthcare providers, you do not need to select a PCP and can visit specialists without a referral. You can also see out-of-network doctors but must pay more for these visits.
- Point-of-Service (POS) Plans: POS plans combine different features of PPO and HMO and PPO plans. The network they offer is typically smaller than that of PPO plans, and the charges for in-network care are usually lower, like HMO plans. POS plans also require selecting a PCP from the plan's network of physicians and other primary care professionals. If you need to see a specialist, you must get a referral. Additionally, you can choose to see specialists that are in-network or out-of-network. If you see an out-of-network doctor, your share of the total costs will be higher. You will also have to file any claims on your own.
Zocdoc's A-Z insurance guide can also help if you need guidance on insurance-related terminologies.Â
Common insurance pricing FAQs
Have you been browsing health plans for yourself or your family? You may have encountered confusing insurance pricing jargon and probably have various related queries. The following compilation of FAQs around the subject will clarify all your doubts and help you make an informed decision when finalizing your health plan. Read everything carefully and make notes for later reference.Â
What are my total yearly costs for a health plan?Â
When you invest in health insurance, your total yearly costs will include monthly premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays.Â
What is a premium?Â
Most health insurance plans function based on a subscription-based model, which means you must pay a fixed monthly fee to keep your plan active. Hence, in any given year, you will pay 12 monthly premiums. Generally, if you pay a higher monthly premium, your out-of-pocket expenses for covered healthcare services, including deductibles, coinsurance, and copays, will be much lower. On the contrary, lower premium plans mean higher out-of-pocket costs.Â
What are deductibles?Â
A deductible is a pre-decided amount you must pay out-of-pocket for covered healthcare services before your insurer starts sharing costs with you.Â
Once I meet my deductible, will my insurer cover 100% of the costs?
When you reach your deductible threshold, your health plan will kick in, but you will still have out-of-pocket costs in the form of coinsurance and copays. So, while your insurer will start paying, they will not cover 100% of the medical bill.Â
What are coinsurance and copays? What is the difference between the two?
Coinsurance is a specific percentage of the medical expenses you pay out of pocket every time you get care. For instance, if your coinsurance is 30% and a procedure you underwent costs $1000, you will pay $300 out-of-pocket, while your insurer will cover the rest. Copays are flat fees for certain healthcare services, such as a doctor's visit or prescription refill. So, if your insurer has fixed $20 for an in-network doctor's visit, you will pay only that amount, irrespective of what the doctor usually charges.Â
What is an out-of-pocket limit?
Out-of-pocket limit refers to the maximum amount you will spend on deductibles, coinsurance, and copays (excluding premiums). After you max out your out-of-pocket limit, your insurer will cover 100% of your covered healthcare expenses.Â
Who are dermatologists, and what training do they receive?
Dermatologists are healthcare experts who specialize in diagnosing and treating illnesses of the hair, nails, skin, and mucus membranes. They also identify symptoms that appear on the skin and might indicate problems inside the body, like organ failure. Some common conditions dermatologists treat include acne, eczema, nail fungus, psoriasis, and rosacea.
Dermatologists complete a four-year pre-medical undergraduate program and four years of medical school. Upon graduating, they complete a one-year internship and a three-year residency in dermatology and other fields. Finally, they acquire a medical license and clear an exam to earn their certification from the American Board of Dermatology.
Some dermatologists also pursue a fellowship after their residency program to specialize in an area of dermatology, including:
- Dermatopathology: Dermatopathologists use light, electron, and fluorescence microscopes to examine tissue samples. This method allows them to diagnose various infectious diseases, tumors, degenerative diseases, etc.
- Pediatric dermatology: Pediatric dermatologists specialize in treating hair, skin, and nail conditions in infants, children, and teenagers. Children experience several skin conditions that are unique to their age group. Pediatric dermatologists are adept at putting children at ease in medical settings and devising the right treatment plan.
- Cosmetic dermatology: Cosmetic dermatologists use various treatments to enhance the appearance of your hair, nails, and skin. Cosmetic procedures, such as chemical peels and hair transplants, are for aesthetic purposes and are not essential to maintaining good health.
What procedures do dermatologists perform?
Dermatologists perform a wide range of surgical and non-surgical procedures, such as:
- Cryotherapy: During cryotherapy (or cryoablation), dermatologists use extreme cold to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue using liquid argon or nitrogen. This procedure can help treat various external and internal skin conditions as well as some cancers, such as prostate and liver cancer.
- Dermabrasion: During dermabrasion (surgical skin planing), dermatologists use a specialized instrument to 'sand' the skin. This abrasive action enhances skin contour by scraping away the top layers of skin and revealing new, smoother skin. People suffering from wrinkles, acne scars, melasma, etc., can benefit from this procedure.
- Laser surgery: Laser surgery uses special light beams instead of instruments. Dermatologists use it to treat several skin concerns and cosmetic complaints, including moles, warts, tumors, scars, and wrinkles.
- Mohs surgery: Dermatologists use Mohs surgery to remove high-risk skin cancer. During the procedure, they cut away the tumor in layers and examine its sides and deep ages under a microscope. If the tumor extends to any of the edges, they will remove more tissue in those areas and inspect the new sample, continuing the process until all of the cancer gets removed.
How can you find Cigna dermatologists near you in Denver, Colorado?
Not all doctors accept your health insurance, and finding the ones that do might be challenging. But with Zocdoc, you can identify a top-rated dermatologist covered by your plan in no time!
Zocdoc is an online platform with a vast database of healthcare providers. It helps you find doctors based on specific criteria, including specialty, location (in this case, Denver), and insurance coverage. The process is simple: visit the website, create a free account, and enter your requirements. Zocdoc will generate a list of dermatologists who meet your criteria.Â
You can use Zocdoc's insurance detector to find Cigna dermatologists near you. If you do not see your insurance provider listed on the website, try capturing a picture of your insurance card (this does not apply to vision and dental insurance cards) and uploading it. Zocdoc will automatically scan the image and display your most likely plan. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for any other insurance-related queries.
Every doctor listed on Zocdoc has a personalized profile with information about their gender, areas of expertise, educational background, certification, languages spoken, patient ratings, and past reviews to help you make an informed decision.
With Zocdoc, you can book in-person and online sessions with Cigna dermatologists near you. While browsing the list of doctors, look for a purple-colored video icon next to each provider's name to book virtual consultations.
All bookings you make on Zocdoc are 100% fast, free, and secure.
Health insurance-related statistics for Colorado
The Colorado Division of Insurance publishes annual statistical reports on the state's insurance industry. Per the report from 2022, 34.3% of Colorado citizens purchased accident and health insurance, which topped the list of types of insurance plans purchased.
An infographic by USA Facts showed that 92.03% of all people in Colorado were insured in 2021. Further, 58.75% of the total population had private health insurance, 21.52% had public health insurance, and 11.33% had both public and private health insurance. The website drew information from the US Census and the American Community Survey data for the graph.
According to a Statista report on the health insurance status distribution of Colorado's total population in 2021, 53.8% of all insured people availed of health benefits through their employer. 18.7% were Medicaid beneficiaries, 12% were Medicare beneficiaries, and 7% were uninsured.
Sources
Statista[1]
Statista[2]
WebMD[1]
WebMD[2]
Verywell Health
Cleveland Clinic[1]
Cleveland Clinic[2]
Cleveland Clinic[3]
Cleveland Clinic[4]
Cigna Healthcare[1]
Cigna Healthcare[2]
Medical News Today
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Colorado Division of Insurance
HealthCare.gov
