Cigna vs. Anthem Insurance

In this Cigna vs. Anthem bout, Anthem takes the lead, offering a larger provider network than Cigna plus availability in more states. Our handy guide has provided everything you need to know about these two health insurance carriers, including user ratings, plan types and when you can enroll with these companies.

Key Takeaways Both Cigna and Anthem offer a wide range of plans including HMO, PPO, EPO, Medicaid, Medicare, etc. Cigna offers coverage in 12 states whereas Anthem provides coverage in 14 states. Anthem scored higher in overall user reviews. Anthem fared better in a J.D. Power customer satisfaction study across several regions.

Cigna History

In 1792, a group of citizens formed the Insurance Company of North America (INA), the country’s oldest stockholder-owned insurer. In 1794, INA issued its first insurance policy, for a sea captain, to mitigate the risk of death. In 1865, the Governor of Connecticut signed a special act of the General Assembly incorporating the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, which helped make Hartford, CT, “the insurance capital of the world.” The Insurance Company of North America and the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company combined in 1982 to form Cigna as we know it today.

Click to read our full Cigna review.

Anthem History

In 2004, WellPoint Health Networks Inc. and Anthem, Inc. merged and became the nation’s leading health benefits company. In December 2014 WellPoint Inc. changed its corporate name to Anthem, Inc. On June 28, 2022, Anthem rebranded to Elevance Health. As of 2022, Anthem has 46.8 million members and is ranked 33rd on the Fortune 500.

Click to read our full Anthem review.

Cigna vs. Anthem: A Quick Glance

Comparison	Cigna	Anthem
Plan Types	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HDHP, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare and POS	HMO, PPO, CDHP, EPO, FSA, HDHP, HMO-POS, Indemnity, HSA, Medicaid, Medicare and POS
Availability	12 states	14 states (varies by plan type)
Coverage Limit	Varies	Varies
Deductible	Varies	Varies
Maximum Annual Benefit	Varies	Varies
Waiting Period	Varies	Varies
Providers In-Network	1.5 million	1.7 million
Covers Telehealth	Yes (depending on plan and location)	Yes
Policy Management	Mobile app, online account, phone	Mobile app, online account, phone

Cigna Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Network of 1.5 million providers[1]	Limited availability
One of the largest and oldest insurance institutions in the country	Below average customer satisfaction rating in most regions in 2022 J.D. Power study

Anthem Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Network of 1.7 million providers	Limited availability
Ranked higher overall in a 2023 J.D. Power study	Overall user reviews are less favorable than Cigna
Available in more states than Cigna

Cigna vs. Anthem: Plan Structures

Cigna and Anthem are tied in this category, offering a variety of health plans, from HMOs to PPOs, along with extra services like Medicaid and Medicare, as well as others. They serve individuals and families and also offer work-based plans that include dental and vision coverage. See each company’s coverage benefits below.

Plan	Cigna	Anthem
Individual & Family	✓	✓
Medicare	✓	✓
Medicaid	✓	✓
Dental	✓	✓
Vision	✓	✓
Small Business	✓	✓
Self-employed	✓	✓
Short-term	✓	✓
Student	✓	✓

Cigna vs. Anthem: Plan Availability

In this round of Cigna vs. Anthem, Anthem narrowly beats out Cigna in availability, offering coverage in 14 states compared to Cigna’s 12.^[2][3]

Anthem Availability	Cigna Availability
California	Arizona
Colorado	California
Connecticut	Colorado
Georgia	Connecticut
Indiana	Florida
Kentucky	Georgia
Maine	Maryland
Missouri	Montana
Nevada	North Carolina
New Hampshire	South Carolina
New York	Tennessee
Ohio	Texas
Virginia
Wisconsin

Be aware that Anthem's health plans may go by alternative names in specific states — like Rocky Mountain Hospital in Nevada or Community Insurance Company in Ohio. Although its reach is somewhat limited, Anthem is a member of the broader Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, which serves all 50 states and is worth considering if Anthem is unavailable in your state.

Cigna vs. Anthem: In-Network Providers

Anthem pulls ahead of Cigna in this round, utilizing BCBS’s provider network of 1.7 million.^[4] However, Cigna’s network is still impressive and currently has 1.5 million providers.

Cigna vs. Anthem: Cost

Due to the varying nature of healthcare needs and plan types, comparing costs between Cigna and Anthem is difficult. The price of your health insurance premium varies based on several variables such as your age, your geographic location, your deductible, whether you smoke, your insurance provider and the type of plan. Costs will fluctuate based on the category of your chosen plan. Both Cigna and Anthem employ a tiered structure, featuring bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels.

The following image provides a detailed explanation of how each tier operates.

Cigna vs. Anthem: Coverage Limits

Insurance providers such as Cigna and Anthem are not allowed to set financial limits on what are considered essential healthcare services for their policyholders. A portion of the costs for these critical services must be covered. These services include:

Ambulatory patient services	Emergency medical care
Hospitalization for surgeries and inpatient care	Diagnostic laboratory evaluations
Mental health and substance abuse therapies	Pediatric healthcare
Maternity, prenatal and newborn care	Prescription drugs
Preventive wellness and chronic disease management	Rehabilitative services and assistive devices/technologies

Cigna vs. Anthem: Policy Management

Both Cigna and Anthem provide digital platforms and mobile applications for managing your policy, which include features like locating healthcare providers, reviewing your coverage and monitoring claim statuses.

As far as mobile app user reviews are concerned, Anthem wins. Anthem's mobile application is named Sydney Health.

Company	Google Play Store	Apple App Store
Cigna	3/5 stars[5]	4.8/5 stars[6]
Anthem	4.6/5 stars[7]	4.8/5 stars[8]

Cigna vs. Anthem: Medical Loss Ratio

The Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) indicates what portion of an insurance company's premium revenue is used for patient services and improving care quality. By law, at least 80% of the premiums from individual plans or 85% from group plans must go towards healthcare services.^[9] If these minimums aren't reached, the difference is refunded to the policyholders as rebates.

In 2022, Cigna had a medical loss ratio (MLR) of 81.7%, slightly exceeding the threshold for individual policies.^[10] For the year 2021, Anthem issued MLR rebates to nine different states, which include:^[2]

California	Colorado
Connecticut	Georgia
Kentucky	Maine
Missouri	New Hampshire
New York	Ohio
Virginia

Cigna vs. Anthem: Enrollment Process

To purchase a Cigna or Anthem plan from your state’s marketplace, you will need to do so during open enrollment. Open enrollment runs from November 1st to December 15th for coverage beginning on January 1st. If you miss this window, you can still enroll by January 15th but coverage will start on February 1st.^[11]

For those unable to participate in open enrollment, certain events may help you qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP). SEPs allow you to purchase a plan outside the designated enrollment periods but only if you experience a qualifying life event such as:

• Gaining U.S. citizenship
• Switching jobs
• Changes in marital status (getting married or divorced)
• Welcoming a new child, either by birth or adoption
• Falling below the federal poverty level in income
• Losing existing healthcare coverage (due to a spouse's job loss or death)
• Moving to a new location

For those looking to have Medicare Advantage plans, separate enrollment periods exist.^[12]

3 months before you turn 65 to 3 months after	Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (if you have both Medicare Part A and B)
October 15 to December 7 for coverage starting on January 1	Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan
January 1 to March 31 for coverage starting on the 1st of the month after the company receives your request	Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan Drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare

Cigna vs. Anthem: Policyholder Experience

Below is a table showing ratings based on customer reviews and company reviews from several online sources for both Cigna and Anthem.

Company	Cigna	Anthem
Consumer Affairs	1.9/5 stars[13]	2/5 stars[18]
Trusted Choice	2.5/5 stars[14]	3/5 stars[19]
BestCompany	2.7/5 stars[15]	1.4/5 stars[20]
Affordable Health Insurance	4.2/5 stars[16]	4.6/5 stars[21]
BBB	1.11/5 stars[17]	1.05/5 stars[22]

Based on the above data, Anthem has a minor advantage over Cigna. Also, a 2022 research report by JD Power and Associates focusing on commercial member health plans shows that Anthem surpasses Cigna in eight geographic areas.^[23]

How to File Claims With Cigna and Anthem

When you see a healthcare provider that's part of your insurance network, they'll take care of submitting your insurance claim for you. If you opt for a doctor or service outside your network, you'll need to handle the paperwork and submit the claim on your own. Both Cigna and Anthem have designated forms for this, which you'll need to mail to the specified address. You can also track the status of your claim using the online portal or mobile app provided by your insurance company.