A brief overview of Cigna
Cigna Group is a global powerhouse dedicated to keeping people healthy. With a team of over 70,000 passionate individuals, they offer a broad spectrum of insurance plans and products to over 178 million clients worldwide. The company comprises Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, both committed to addressing critical healthcare challenges such as soaring costs and ensuring access to essential care. Their focus on innovation extends to developing new products and tools to foster healthier communities. Cigna's unwavering dedication and collaborative approach inspire optimism for a healthier future for all.
What's the difference between an in-network and an out-of-network provider?
Most health plans offer a network of doctors, facilities, and pharmacies that can help you save money. To qualify to be included in the network, these medical professionals must meet specific requirements and agree to a reduced fee for the treatments covered by the health plan. These medical professionals in the network are known as in-network providers.
If a doctor or facility is outside your health plan's network, they are considered out-of-network. In such cases, they may charge you the total price for the treatment, which is typically much higher than the discounted rate given to in-network providers.
Types of health insurance plans provided by Cigna
It's essential to have health insurance, as the cost of healthcare without coverage can be significant. Different types of health insurance have unique features and benefits:
- Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) provide a local network of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals that you must choose from. You must pick an in-network primary care provider (PCP), and they coordinate and oversee your care. Referrals are needed to see in-network specialists, and costs are typically lower as long as you stay in-network.
- Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs) offer a network of participating providers, and out-of-network care is usually only covered in emergencies. Depending on the plan, you may or may not be required to choose a PCP, and referrals are not needed to see in-network specialists.
- Point-of-Service (POS) Plans combine features of HMO and PPO plans with a smaller provider network and lower costs for in-network care. You are required to choose a PCP from the plan's network, and referrals are needed to see specialists. However, like a PPO, you can choose to see specialists that are in-network or out-of-network, with higher costs for out-of-network care.
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) typically offer an extensive network of providers, allowing you to pick from various doctors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals. Choosing a PCP is unnecessary; you can see specialists without a referral. However, costs may be higher for out-of-network care.
Does Cigna cover mental health services?
Cigna offers mental health services to employers, individuals, families, and Medicare beneficiaries. The coverage varies by plan. Their Medicare Advantage plans provide behavioral health programs like Depression Disease Management and Substance Use coaching. You can also access resources like the friendship line, depression screening, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Furthermore, Cigna Healthcare individual and family plans offer virtual care for non-emergency mental health conditions like panic disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and child/adolescent issues.
Cigna's Behavioral Health Network provides employee assistance, work/life programs, and benefit management through health plans offered by employers of all sizes. The network includes over 80,000 independent psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers and over 10,000 facilities and clinics. They also offer behavioral health programs like the employee assistance program (EAP), which provides counseling sessions, work/life assistance, and complex psychiatric care.
Searching for a Cigna therapist/counselor near you can cover significant costs while getting quality mental health support.
Therapist vs. counselor
The terms "counselor" and "therapist" are often used interchangeably. However, they refer to two distinct types of mental health specialists. While their skills and interests may overlap, their training and licensing differ. Therefore, when seeking mental health treatment, it is essential to find the appropriate professional who can cater to your individual needs.
When it comes to counseling and therapy, it is crucial to look for licensed professionals. Although life coaching may seem similar to talk therapy, it is not licensed or regulated. According to the American Mental Health Counselors Association, life coaches do not have professional standards or training requirements, unlike licensed therapists. Licensed therapists also take a holistic, strengths-based approach to mental health.
Counseling is goal-focused and can cover individual, couples, family, and group therapy, as well as trauma, substance use, loss or grief, anxiety, depression, and more. Counselors focus on current problems affecting mental health and well-being. It's essential to ask about their approach to counseling to decide if it's a good fit.
Both therapists and counselors focus similarly on treatments that can improve mental health and well-being. Therapy sessions can be conducted individually, with your partner or family, or in a group setting. Therapists and counselors treat similar mental health conditions, as per the National Institute of Mental Health. These conditions may include stress, grief or loss, relationship or family issues, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and more.
Both therapists and counselors may specialize in talk therapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Therapy aims to alleviate symptoms and enhance the quality of life. However, asking a therapist about their techniques and approaches is essential to finding the right strategy for your needs.
Therapists and counselors have overlapping specializations. Their approaches to human behavior and research may depend on individual training. Some therapists with advanced training may handle more complex issues than counselors.
Different types of therapies
The four most common types of therapies are:
- Psychodynamic therapy: It is a long-term approach to mental health treatment. Developed from psychoanalysis, it explores the connection between a person's unconscious mind and actions. This involves examining their emotions, relationships, and thought patterns. Psychodynamic therapy can be a good choice for addressing anxiety, depression, eating disorders, somatic symptoms, substance use disorders, etc.
- Behavioral therapy: It is a focused, action-oriented approach to mental health treatment that can help a person change their behavioral responses and prevent distress. There are various subtypes of behavioral therapy, including systematic desensitization, aversion therapy, and flooding. A mental health professional may use behavioral therapy to treat anxiety, substance use disorder, phobias, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional and defiant behaviors, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and behavioral issues that arise from communication difficulties or emotional challenges.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): It is a short-term approach to mental health treatment. It is pretty similar to behavioral therapy but also addresses problematic thought patterns. The therapist usually guides patients to explore ways to replace negative thought patterns with more effective and accurate ones. Subtypes of CBT include rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). CBT can treat mood disorders, anxiety and phobias, eating disorders, substance use disorders, OCD, insomnia, and some symptoms of schizophrenia.
- Humanistic therapy: It is an approach that examines your worldview and its effects on your life choices, especially those that cause distress. Your therapist will help you find ways to grow self-acceptance and discuss the concerns you're dealing with. Humanistic therapy is an excellent way of addressing self-esteem issues, difficulty coping with chronic health concerns, effects of trauma, depression, relationship issues, substance use disorder, and feelings of worthlessness or being lost in life.
The choice of therapy ultimately depends on the type of mental health concern you are facing. A trained and trusted professional can make the journey easier.
Find a top-rated Cigna therapist/counselor near you in Houston, TX
Have you been going through a significant change in your life, such as death, moving cities, or a new home? Are you having sleepless nights and feeling low and anxious? If so, a therapist can be your best option for treatment. With Zocdoc, you can easily find a good therapist in Houston, TX.
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 therapists and filter your search results based on gender, time of day, hospital affiliation, languages spoken, distance, and whether a provider treats children.
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 therapists with in-network providers. For example, you can specifically search for therapists who accept Cigna near you. Moreover, you may upload a photo of your insurance card if you cannot locate your medical insurance plan. Zocdoc will scan the image and display the most probable plan for you. Note that this feature is unavailable for dental or vision insurance cards. If you encounter any difficulties uploading the image, you can contact Zocdoc's service team for assistance. Additionally, you can visit Zocdoc's patient help center to get answers to any further insurance-related questions that you may have.
If you need help determining which specialist is right for you and accepts your insurance, 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.
Thanks to Zocdoc, finding a desired Cigna therapist/counselor near you is now easier! Bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure.
Statistics about Cigna and mental health in Houston, Texas
In 2022, a new study conducted by Cigna's health services business, Evernorth, analyzed around 275,000 customers and found a significant correlation between behavioral health care and lower total medical costs. According to the study, individuals who have been diagnosed with behavioral health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder, and have received behavioral outpatient care have shown lower total healthcare costs of up to $1,377 per person in the first year compared to those who did not receive any behavioral outpatient care. These savings were consistently maintained, resulting in up to $3,109 cost reduction per person over two years.
According to data from Understanding Houston, approximately one in five adults in the area is affected by some form of mental health condition, leading to increased financial costs, disability, and death rates. Unfortunately, there has been no significant increase in the availability of mental health resources, as the supply of mental health providers is unable to keep up with the growing demand. Across the country, about 136 million people live in areas with a shortage of mental health providers. In Texas, over 15 million people live in these shortage areas, and only 32.9% of the needs are being met. Low health insurance coverage rates in Houston and the state further exacerbate these challenges. Additionally, Texas ranks poorly in terms of access to mental health treatment compared to other states. Among the three counties, Harris County has more accessible mental health services than Fort Bend and Montgomery counties.
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Understanding Houston
