Oct. 2, 2024
Earlier this year, the company of which Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is a division and The Cigna Group entered into a definitive agreement whereby it will acquire Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare Advantage, Supplemental Benefits, Medicare Part D and CareAllies businesses. We expect the transaction to be completed in the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and required regulatory approvals.
We are excited about this transaction and the value it will deliver to those we serve once it is finalized. We want to assure you that we appreciate your continued partnership and remain committed to supporting you during this transition.
Continuing our work together in 2024
- It’s important to know that BCBSIL and Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare Advantage businesses remain separate companies until the transaction is finalized.
- The announcement of the transaction does not impact either company’s partnerships with you or how we continue to conduct business together — it remains business as usual.
- You should continue to see and treat patients with a Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage benefit plan as you do today, as the announcement has not caused any changes to their coverage, plan services or benefits.
- Since the transaction is expected to close in early 2025, each company will sell their products under their respective brands for the 2025 plan year through the annual enrollment period from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2024. People who purchase Cigna Healthcare or BCBSIL plans during open enrollment will remain enrolled in and covered by the plan they selected for the duration of the 2025 plan year.
Looking forward to 2025
- For products purchased during the 2024 annual enrollment period, there will be no changes to Medicare Advantage plan benefits or premiums in plan year 2025 for either company (Medicare Supplement plans will follow state filings). BCBSIL and Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage customers will remain enrolled in and covered by their existing BCBSIL or Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage plan upon the close of the transaction in 2025 for the duration of the 2025 plan year.
- Therefore, you will continue to see patients in the 2025 plan year with Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage benefit plans.
- The terms of current Provider Services Agreements with Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage, including reimbursement rates, will remain in effect and are not otherwise affected.
- Following finalization of the transaction, you should not expect any changes to your billing, prior authorization or provider network contacts or processes as a result of the transaction. For BCBSIL members, follow BCBSIL processes for providing and billing for care. For Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage customers, follow Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage processes for providing and billing for care.
- When providing services to BCBSIL members and Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage customers, continue to:
- Ask to see their member or customer ID card before all appointments.
- Check eligibility and benefits before all appointments.
- Follow utilization management review requirements and guidelines.
- Follow the billing instructions on the member or customer ID card.
- Contacts for BCBSIL and Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage will remain the same for 2025. For BCBSIL contacts, see our contact us page.
- Independent of the transaction, we continue to evaluate opportunities to enhance the tools and platforms we use, and you may experience changes as part of normal business operations. If there are any changes, we will inform you with plenty of notice.
Both BCBSIL and Cigna Healthcare Medicare Advantage are committed to a smooth transition and ensuring continuity of service. If you have any questions, please continue to work with your assigned points of contact.
We appreciate the quality of care that you provide and will keep you informed of any updates as they become available. You may also refer to our FAQs.