Cigna Critical Illness Insurance: The Workplace Plan, Its Payouts and Who Owns What Now

Key Takeaway

Cigna critical illness insurance is a voluntary group plan sold through employers and issued by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company that pays you a cash lump sum, often $10,000 to $30,000, after a covered diagnosis such as invasive cancer, heart attack or stroke. Cigna’s former individual supplemental policies are now run by Health Care Service Corporation under the HealthSpring name.

2027 by the Numbers

Good to know: A rating applies to the company printed on your certificate. AM Best rates Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company A (Excellent) with a stable outlook, a rating it affirmed in March 2026.

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Cancer. Invasive cancer pays 100%. Carcinoma in situ, an early cancer that has not spread, pays 25%. Basal or squamous cell skin cancer pays a flat $250 once per lifetime.

Heart and blood vessels. Heart attack and stroke pay 100%. Coronary artery disease that needs bypass surgery pays 25% in most designs; angioplasty and stents do not qualify.

Nervous system. Advanced-stage Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis usually pay 25%, and none of them pays a second time.

Organs and senses. End-stage kidney disease, major organ failure, paralysis, benign brain tumor and blindness pay 100%. Some plans add loss of hearing, loss of speech, lupus and serious infections such as sepsis.

First diagnosis. The initial benefit for that condition pays once per covered person, at the percentage on your summary.

A different condition. A second, unrelated condition can pay its own initial benefit if its diagnosis falls outside the separation period, which was 90 or 180 days in the plans we read.

The same condition again. A recurrence benefit can pay after 12 months have passed since the earlier diagnosis, if the condition is one that allows recurrence.

Conditions with no second payment. Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson’s, MS and blindness pay only once, and major organ failure will not pay again for an organ already paid.

Enrollment check: Guaranteed issue limits usually apply to new hires who sign up during the first eligibility window. Electing more than the limit, or enrolling later, can require proof of good health that the insurer must approve.

Taking it with you. The summaries let you continue 100% of coverage for everyone covered when your job coverage ends, as long as the person is under 100. Rates may change, and all coverage ends at 100. Texas and Vermont call this continuation.

Older individual Cigna policies. Cigna’s individual lump sum heart attack and stroke and cancer policies were issued by Loyal American Life, now part of HCSC and marketed as HealthSpring. Our Cigna cancer insurance page covers the cancer side.

Coverage bought in Asia. A Cigna policy bought in one of the six Asia-Pacific markets before July 2022 is now a Chubb policy, with its own local terms.

No Cigna plan at work. Cigna’s group plan is sold only through employers. Other carriers sell lump-sum coverage directly, as our cancer insurance providers list shows.

➤ Can I buy Cigna critical illness insurance on my own?

Not as a standalone policy that we could find. Cigna sells critical illness coverage through employers, and its former individual heart attack, stroke and cancer policies are now marketed by HCSC as HealthSpring.

➤ Did Chubb take over Cigna critical illness policies in the U.S.?

No. Chubb’s 2022 purchase covered Cigna’s personal accident, supplemental health and life business in Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia, not U.S. group plans.

➤ What does Cigna pay for carcinoma in situ?

The four plan summaries we compared paid 25% of the elected amount for carcinoma in situ. Invasive cancer paid 100%, and basal or squamous cell skin cancer paid a flat $250 once per lifetime.

➤ How long must I wait between two Cigna critical illness claims?

A different condition must be diagnosed outside a separation period, 90 or 180 days in the plans reviewed. The same condition can pay a recurrence benefit after 12 months, where recurrence is allowed.

➤ Does a Cigna critical illness plan ask health questions?

Not up to the guaranteed issue amount, which was $20,000 or $30,000 for employees in the plans reviewed, if you enroll when first eligible. Higher amounts or late enrollment can require proof of good health.

➤ Will my Cigna critical illness premium go up as I age?

It depends on how your employer’s plan is rated. Attained-age plans raise the premium in older age bands, while issue-age plans tie it to your age at enrollment.

➤ Is the health screening benefit paid even if my test was free?

Yes. The summaries say it pays a flat amount once a year, $50 to $100 in the plans reviewed, regardless of the actual cost of the covered screening.

➤ Does Cigna critical illness insurance count as health insurance?

No. It is limited-benefit coverage that does not meet ACA minimum essential coverage rules and is not a Medicare or Medicaid supplement. It pays cash on top of a medical plan.

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Compare cancer insurance plans and cash benefits from several insurance companies in one call.

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