beccad777 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We have new choices for benefits this year. Basically, there are only 2 choices. They cost the same and the coverage levels are the same. Our only decision is whether to choose Cigna or United Healthcare. Which would you choose? We have had Aetna for the last 4 years, so I have no real experience with either of these companies. Oh, and I have to make a choice tonight! Nothing like putting it off til the last minute, huh? ;) Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbecueMom Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 (edited) We have new choices for benefits this year. Basically, there are only 2 choices. They cost the same and the coverage levels are the same. Our only decision is whether to choose Cigna or United Healthcare. Which would you choose? We have had Aetna for the last 4 years, so I have no real experience with either of these companies. Oh, and I have to make a choice tonight! Nothing like putting it off til the last minute, huh? ;) Thanks for your help! I've had both in the past year (and Aetna.. and BCBS..). Our coverage with UHC was better, but Cigna has been more "organized". Statement of benefits is easier to decipher. All of our UHC satements went to email and DH never prints them. We've had several medical issues the past year and no insurance problems. ETA: UHC's coverage was only better because DH's then-company paid for a nicer plan. What things are covered is the same with both insurers. Edited October 21, 2011 by BarbecueMom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In2why Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I only know Cigna, and we are really happy with them. I have always been able to speak with a live agent, they walk me through everything and we have never been denied coverage and then had to appeal like many insurance companies. We have bent the rules at different times and there still wasn't a hassle once we submitted what we needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twilight Woods Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We have had insurance through both Cigna and UHC. Cigna is a lot better organized and easier to work with when it came to any claim issues. I have never had a problem with claims being denied either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We have Cigna and have had multiple problems with them. We are currently in an appeals situation over a denial right now. I know nothing about United Healthcare as a consumer although they pay Providers relatively well compared with Cigna (we are on both sides of healthcare). I would avoid Cigna if I could. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsheresomewhere Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Cigna was great. I never had any issue with claims and they approved a experimental treatment for my DH. Now united was hell to us. They liked to deny a lot of my DS's stuff. I think I talked/appealed about once every two months with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Mom Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have experience with both companies. I suggest running away from UHC as fast as possible. CIGNA isn't perfect, but it is far more organized than UHC. Also, UHC constantly turned down claims, turned down all appeals with general form letters, refused to fill prescriptions, and I could never reach a living soul for assistance. We had their "top" plan and all I did was shell out thousands for "uncovered" care. Run away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krista in LA Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We've had United Healthcare and have been happy with them. Of course that might change when I see how they handle my recent $40k in bills.... Just make sure that your doctors are on the plan you choose - that might be a deciding factor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairProspects Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I have experience with both companies. I suggest running away from UHC as fast as possible. CIGNA isn't perfect, but it is far more organized than UHC. Ack!! I can't even imagine anything less organized than Cigna. We've had claims denied because the Cigna people failed to select a provider from the drop-down menu! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmama Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Sorry -- this is like choosing from the worst of both worlds. I've had experience with both. Ugh. I guess, maybe maybe Cigna, but, ooh, that is a tough one. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I've had both, but the policies were very different so the experience was very different. When we had an HMO, it was very, very bad. Now we have a very expensive PPO and get excellent coverage and service. One was Cigna and one was UHC, but I think the main difference was in how much they cost. We've had Aetna too, and that wasn't a very pleasant experience either. :) I've had UHC for 13 years now. Every year they will throw back the first claim of the year to see if we are covered under some additional insurance. Every year I call, talk to a real nice person and get it cleared up. This year we even had them pay a year old lab bill that had slipped through the cracks and gone to collections. Check the list of preferred doctors, pharmacies, and hospitals and make sure both insurances are accepted at all the places you frequent, then toss a coin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crafty Mathy Mom Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We've had both. We've had automatic denials of coverage with both. We've had to file multiple appeals with both. I voted Cigna simply because doctors are dropping UHC left and right around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 Customer service is wayyyyyyy better at Cigna. I had so many issues with UH that even my dr office finally gave up trying to deal with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brilliant Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 We have UHC. They paid everything according to contract during my cancer treatment earlier this year. There were a total of 3 claims/billing snafus - one that got re-processed before I even appealed (provider might have questioned it?), another that got fixed with a phone call, and another that got fixed with a faxed appeal form. So, really few problems with them considering they processed dozens of claims totaling about $70-80k. There are plenty of network providers in my area for UHC. That would probably be my deciding factor, if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestavern Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 My vote (Cigna) is not based on any personal experience, only that I have read many negative articles about United Healthcare, the most recent being an article in last night's newspaper about a local healthcare network that is dropping them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaMa2005 Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I've had both - UHC for several years and now we are with Cigna. No problems with either one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I've had UHC in the past (through hubby's work) and didn't have any problems with it that I can remember....we have aetna now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangerine Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 My midwives accept all commercial insurance. Except UHC. Which is, handily, what we get with DH's new job. :glare: Having had awesome benefits through Starbucks, I'm kind of shocked and dismayed at just reading the plans of UHC, and I'm getting nervous about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8circles Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 We've had UHC for about 4 years. Lots of claims and no problems whatsoever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfunnybunch Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 I didn't vote because I don't know anything about Cigna. We have UHC. The only complaint I have is that they reguarly deny *my* claims, and have since dh and I married. The kids, fine. Dh, fine. Me...well, they haven't kicked back many in the past couple years, but it used to happen for about every other visit to the doctor. And I don't go to the doctor very often. They are pretty good about taking care of it quickly once dh called, but it got to be a hassle to call so often. Cat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beccad777 Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 I just wanted to thank everyone for their help. We chose Cigna. Thanks again!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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