Earlier this year, Cigna Corp. informed UW Medicine that it intended to terminate its contract with University of Washington Medical Center and UW Physicians on Aug. 1, 2020. Starting on that date, Cigna patients may be financially responsible for services they receive at UW Medical Center, as well as for professional fees from UW Physicians practicing at UW Medical Center, Harborview Medical Center, UW Neighborhood Clinics and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
UW Medicine has sent a letter to current patients with Cigna insurance, notifying them that their care may no longer be covered as an in-network benefit.
"UW Medicine will continue to negotiate with Cigna between now and the termination date," said Lisa Brandenburg, president of UW Medicine Hospitals & Clinics. "To help patients have time to plan for this change, we are notifying Cigna patients that their services may not be covered starting August 1, and are already scheduling patients for earlier appointments."
"We want to make sure we can offer patients the care they need without the cost becoming a financial burden, especially during the current pandemic," Brandenburg said.
Cigna patients should contact either their employer's human resources department or Cigna Health Plan (at the number on their insurance card) with concerns about this termination. For questions about services at UW Medical Center or with a UW Physicians provider beginning Aug. 1, 2020, patients may also call the UW Medicine Cigna termination phone line at 1.855.520.2295.
Additional updates will be provided as information becomes available. Visit www.uwmedicine.org/cigna for more details.
