Cigna and Oscar launching health plan to appeal to small businesses struggling through COVID-19

Insurers Cigna and Oscar are going forward with their partnership declared in January to deliver very affordable, customized well being programs to compact organizations.
The Cigna + Oscar well being programs will be out there in Atlanta, the San Francisco Bay Location and in towns throughout Tennessee by the close of the yr, pending regulatory approvals.
What is THE IMPACT
Additional than 50% of compact small business homeowners and executives are contemplating or are unsure about changing their well being insurer heading into 2021, according to a study of around one,000 compact small business choice makers carried out by the companies. Sixty-6 p.c take into consideration well being insurance policy a higher precedence in their budgets considering the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic.
They positioned wellness positive aspects and well being insurance policy as additional important than flexible or remote perform selections, financial setting up assets like a 401(k), dental and vision insurance policy, and paid out time off.
Modest organizations have been significantly hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 70% encountering a drop in their revenue. Fifty-two p.c have laid off or furloughed staff members.
As compact organizations commence to reopen, 66% of choice makers report that furnishing well being insurance policy to their staff members is a higher precedence in their budgets. Eighty-eight p.c explained that access to very affordable solutions that support staff well being and very well-staying – bodily and mental – will be additional important likely forward.
Program positive aspects contain cost-free 24/7 virtual medical doctor visits, $three drug co-pays, member support providers, access to Cigna Behavioral Health’s specialised coaching courses and 24/7 crisis helpline, and admittance to numerous Cigna networks of medical professionals, professionals and hospitals.
THE More substantial Trend
The two companies declared earlier this yr that they would be teaming up to supply very affordable well being insurance policy to compact organizations.
The two companies will share threat equally beneath a reinsurance agreement and strategy to grow the partnership around time.
Before this 7 days, Highmark and HealthNow New York teamed up to drive better well being results, handle costs, boost affordability and improve engagement for customers and clinicians throughout their network.
ON THE RECORD
“Modest organizations are the lifeblood of the U.S. financial state and have been significantly challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic,” explained Chelsea Cooper, senior vice president of compact team small business at Oscar. “Cigna + Oscar was designed with the objective of addressing compact businesses’ special challenges as a result of solutions personalized to their budgets and treatment made to prioritize their employees’ well being requires. Their top precedence is our top precedence, and appropriate now that is recovery.”
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