Despite Drops in Insurance Coverage in the US, Companies Are Stepping Up

In 2018, 27.5 million people (8.5% of the U.S. population) did not have health insurance. That’s the highest number of uninsured Americans since 2009, according to a report from the US Census Bureau. Despite a strong economy, increasingly more Americans have no coverage. The dip is driven mostly by fewer people qualifying for Medicaid.

People of color are particularly affected by these drops in coverage. Hispanics experienced a 1.6% drop in insurance coverage between 2017 and 2018, according to the Census Bureau.

However, there are companies  trying to do good in the face of a roiling political climate and federal policy change that is affecting healthcare coverage.

Cigna Corporation, a health service company, conducted its annual Value of Integration report, which looks at how to better improve their health plans. Their 2019 study looked at about 2.3 million customer claims from January 2018 to December 2018 from medical claims through the individual’s employer.

CIGNA acquired Express Scripts in late 2018. Express Scripts (No. 44 DI Top 50) is a Cigna company.

“More than ever, employers are prioritizing whole person health and offering fully connected benefits, which are key to attracting and retaining talent,” Matt Totterdale, Senior Vice President Cigna Pharmacy, said in a statement.

The report showed employers who offered fully integrated health plans with medical, pharmaceutical and comprehensive behavioral coverage gave more cost savings to their employees.

“Cigna offers tools such as our Cigna One Guide® solution, which gives us access to real-time data, predictive analytics and a complete picture of an individual’s health,” saidTotterdale. “With this tool, we can put actionable information in the hands of health coaches, doctors, pharmacists, behavioral clinicians and other health care professionals to create personalized, coordinated interventions that enable better quality care, at the right time, in the setting that’s best for the customer.”

Related Article: Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment Patients Less Likely to Have Access to Affordable Care: Report

According to the study, employees with Cigna’s comprehensive coverage:

  • Saved $207 annually per customer
  • $867 annually per individual with an identified health improvement opportunity
  • Individuals with conditions requiring a specialty medication, such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, got annual medical cost savings of $7,372
  • Customers with an oncology diagnosis showed savings of more than $11,679

“We mobilize across the continuum of care – eliminating gaps in care, getting ahead of disease, and driving interventions with customers and providers that guide their next best actions,” Totterdale said. “This ultimately makes it easier for customers to understand their health care choices and helps protect against surprise costs. Our integrated approach maximizes every opportunity to deliver a health care experience that is affordable, predictable and simple.”

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