The Plot Thickens--Preferred Care

Information about the National Alliance with CIGNA health care --Preferred Care

As announced in September 2006, Preferred Care, MVP Health Care and CIGNA health care have formed an alliance to offer companies with employees residing in multiple states, including upstate New York, fully insured and self-funded PPO and EPO health benefit plans. Members of these plans will access the MVP Health Care provider network locally and the CIGNA health care provider network in areas outside of upstate New York. Such plans will be offered to qualified employer groups as of July 1, 2007.
Preferred Care’s and MVP’s self-insured and fully insured PPO products will be offered to qualified employer groups through the Alliance. That is, employer groups that qualify for affiliation members can see CIGNA practitioners outside of the Preferred Care and MVP service areas. In those instances, CIGNA will manage their care in accordance with the member’s benefit plans.
Select counties in New York will be a part of the Alliance. For a listing of these counties, and other commonly asked questions and answers about the National Alliance, click here.

For Current Preferred Care ProvidersIf you practice in one of the aforementioned counties in New York, you have received, or will receive, an amendment to your participating provider contract that enables you to see CIGNA members. As a result of agreeing to the terms of that amendment, your name and practice location(s) will be listed on CIGNA’s Web-based and print directories. Therefore, you may treat CIGNA members if you have agreed to the terms and conditions of the amendment.

When treating CIGNA members, you will need to follow the CIGNA member’s plan requirements. Please click here to view the online tools that CIGNA offers to health care providers treating CIGNA members as well as contact information. There is an online demo you can view to see how to register and use the Web site. A sample of a CIGNA ID card you may see when treating CIGNA members can be viewed by clicking here. If you have questions for CIGNA health care about claims submission for CIGNA members after reviewing the information provided here, please call 1-800-8CIGNA (822-4462).

Preferred Care will be ready to work with CIGNA and you to help get payment for covered services in the unlikely event you encounter difficulties. If you are unable to rectify an issue, please contact our Professional Relations Service Center at 1-800-999-3920.

If you still have questions about the alliance, or have not received an amendment to join us in the alliance, please contact your Professional Relations representative.

Updated March 29, 2007

I will keep you posted
Jimmy B.