Aetna vs. Cigna: Comparisons, Costs and More

Aetna vs. Cigna: Policy Types 

Individual ACA health insurance plans come in different policy types. First, the policies use a metal name to broadly show the level of coverage provided. Bronze and catastrophic plans charge a lower premium but have higher out-of-pocket expenses if you need care. On the other end are gold and platinum plans. These plans charge a higher premium but have lower out-of-pocket expenses when you need care. In addition, an ACA plan will list the type of network for seeing providers:

• A health maintenance organization (HMO) requires you to stay in-network unless you have an emergency. You also need to get a referral from your primary care provider before you can see a specialist. Typically, HMO plans charge the lowest premiums of the policy types.
• An exclusive provider organization (EPO) policy also requires you to stay in-network for care. However, you can see a specialist without a referral. These plans are relatively inexpensive but could charge a higher premium than an HMO.
• A preferred provider organization (PPO) allows you to see out-of-network providers. You typically pay more out of pocket when you go out of network. PPOs also usually charge higher premiums than other policy types.

More Aetna Policy Types 

Aetna has a good selection of ACA policy types. It offers a range of metal levels going from expanded bronze to gold. Aetna also sells ACA plans with all three of the most common provider networks. Given this range of options, you can likely find a policy within your budget and desired provider network.

Besides ACA plans, Aetna sells dental, vision, and pharmacy plans, including those coordinating with CVS. Aetna sells group employer health insurance plans and supplemental benefits, which pay for extra costs from accidents and critical illnesses.

Aetna serves the Medicare market as well. It sells Medicare prescription drug plans (Part D), Medicare Supplement plans, and Medicare Advantage plans.

More Cigna Policy Types 

Cigna has a decent selection of ACA policy types. It has a slightly better range of metal levels, including a bronze option missing from Aetna. However, Cigna only offers plans using an HMO or EPO provider network. If a doctor is not part of the Cigna network, you cannot see them except for emergencies.

Like Aetna, Cigna has many policy types besides ACA plans. It sells dental insurance, vision insurance, and behavioral health and wellness plans. It sells supplemental health plans to cover gaps in health insurance, like payment for deductibles. Finally, Cigna offers group employer health insurance.

Cigna also sells Medicare insurance plans, including prescription drug plans, Medicare Supplement plans, and Medicare Advantage plans.

Aetna vs. Cigna: Price Comparison

Aetna and Cigna are very similar in overall costs for ACA plans. Our researchers determined this by collecting quotes for bronze and silver plans in Hialeah, Florida, and El Paso, Texas. We considered all plan costs, including premiums, deductibles, and copayments. 

Based on these factors, Aetna and Cigna received near-identical scores. However, the cost of your coverage will depend on your unique situation and location. Your results could be different. Here’s more on how the price comparison broke down.

Cost by Age 

Aetna quoted lower overall premiums and deductibles for all age groups. Aetna outscored Cigna by a much wider margin for younger applicants: 25-year-olds, 35-year-olds, and 45-year-olds. The costs were more similar for applicants who are 60 years old, but Aetna still quoted lower overall costs than Cigna. 

Cost by Plan Type

We collected quotes for bronze, silver, and gold plans to create a score for overall costs (premiums and deductibles). Once again, Aetna outscored Cigna by quoting lower overall costs for all three plan types. The gap between the two companies was much higher for bronze plans. The quoted cost of silver and gold plans was much closer, but Aetna still quoted lower overall costs. 

Cost by Copays

A copayment is a charge for each time you see your doctor or another medical provider. This is on top of the deductible. Cigna quoted lower overall copays and received a significantly better score than Aetna in this category. If you see your doctor frequently during the year, you could spend considerably less on copays using Cigna versus Aetna.

Aetna vs. Cigna: Availability

Aetna and Cigna do not sell ACA plans nationwide. Whether you can access either company’s plans depends on where you live. Cigna has wider availability. It sells ACA plans in 17 states, versus Aetna, which only sells ACA plans in 12 states.

However, Aetna has an expanded reach thanks to its partnership with CVS. You could receive discounted care from any CVS MinuteClinic if you have an Aetna health insurance plan. MinuteClinics provide checkups, screenings, and treatment for minor illnesses and injuries. You can get in-network care at CVS while traveling outside your home state.

With Cigna, you need to be careful about receiving care while traveling out of network. Its ACA plan types do not cover seeing out-of-network providers except for emergencies.

Medicare Advantage: Aetna vs. Cigna

Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans stand out, especially if you are on a budget. Cigna has exceptionally low average premiums and drug deductibles. It outperformed Aetna, as well as numerous other insurers, in terms of cost. The drawback is that Cigna only sells Medicare Advantage plans in 29 states, not nationwide.

Aetna’s Medicare Advantage plans do have their positives. The company received a higher NCQA customer satisfaction rating on average for its Medicare Advantage plans than Cigna. Aetna also sells Medicare Advantage plans in 47 states. While Aetna has higher costs than Cigna, it’s still competitive compared to other insurers. 

Aetna vs. Cigna: Policy Management

Aetna and Cigna each offer a website and a mobile app to manage your health insurance policy. Here’s how they stack up.

Aetna Policy Management

You log into your Aetna health insurance policy using its website. Aetna also provides a mobile app called Mobile Health. Through these portals, you can review and pay claims, find healthcare providers, and get medication cost estimates.

Aetna received excellent reviews for its mobile app. It has a 4.7/5.0 score at the Apple App Store and a 4.6/5.0 with Google Play. Reviewers seemed pleased with the app's design and ease of use. Some reviewers also said they found it much easier to use the app than Aetna’s website.

Cigna Policy Management

You can log into your myCigna account using its website and mobile app. Your online Cigna account lets you get digital ID cards for proof of health insurance, find in-network providers, pay claims, and manage your healthcare spending accounts.

Cigna has mixed reviews of its mobile app. It received a 4.8/5.0 score at the Apple App Store but only a 2.7/5.0 with Google Play. Positive reviewers like the features and capabilities of the mobile app. Negative reviewers complained about technical issues, like the app freezing or constantly requiring them to reenter the password.

Aetna vs. Cigna: Customer Experience

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a nonprofit organization that reviews health insurance plans. It gives plans a star rating on a 5-star scale based on the quality of patient care, patient satisfaction, and the insurer's efforts to improve its coverage. On average, Aetna received a higher NCQA rating for its plans than Cigna: 3.46 versus 3.28. Both insurers did receive an above-average score for the NCQA ratings, though, showing decent customer satisfaction.

J.D. Power also surveys customers about their satisfaction with health insurance plans. It releases a study each year showing the top-rated insurer in terms of customer satisfaction. Aetna did much better here. It ranked as the best for customer satisfaction in the Northwest, Southwest, and East South Central regions. Cigna only won as the very best in New Jersey.

Aetna vs. Cigna: Discounts and Savings

Aetna and Cigna both offer special discounts and savings to policyholders. With Aetna, you receive discounts through CVS. You can get $0 virtual appointments from the doctors working at CVS MinuteClinics and $5 generic prescriptions from CVS pharmacies. You also receive a $100 annual credit to buy wellness products from CVS, such as cold remedies, allergy medication, and pain relief pills. Finally, you qualify for discounts on healthcare services such as fitness, vision care, and weight management, thanks to Aetna’s partnerships with other companies.

Cigna runs a TakeControl rewards program to encourage healthier lifestyles. If you take advantage of preventive care and policy recommendations from the MyCigna portal, you can qualify for up to $325 per year on a debit card or redeem for merchandise. Cigna also offers member discounts for wellness programs, including weight loss management, yoga, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

Aetna vs. Cigna: Enrollment Process 

Aetna and Cigna use a similar enrollment process when you sign up for health insurance, especially for plans that use a standardized exchange like ACA and Medicare Advantage.

Individual and Family (ACA)

You can only sign up for ACA plans at certain times during the year. You can join any plan available in your area during open enrollment. This runs from November 1 to January 15 each year. Outside of open enrollment, you could join a plan for specific reasons, like you lost coverage from moving or changing jobs.

If you are eligible to join a plan, you can see what’s available using an insurance exchange. If your state does not have its own exchange, you will sign up using the federal exchange on Healthcare.gov. Either way, you’ll see the ACA plans in your area, including what’s available from Aetna and Cigna. The exchange will show the premium, deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and provider network. 

Once you find one you like, click enroll on the exchange to join the plan. You’ll need to enter your personal information and pay the first month’s premium to complete enrollment.

Medicare Advantage 

Medicare Advantage plans follow a similar process. You can typically only sign up during an open enrollment period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 for first-timers; Jan. 1 to March 31 if you’re switching plans). You may qualify for a special enrollment period in certain circumstances, such as if you change addresses, lose your current coverage, or lose or qualify for Medicaid. You sign up for Medicare Advantage plans using the Medicare.gov exchange. Enter your ZIP code to see the Medicare Advantage plans in your area, including those from Aetna and Cigna.

The exchange will show the premium, deductible, copayment, and plan rating from Medicare. It will also show whether the plan includes prescription drug coverage. If you find a plan you like, click enroll, and the exchange will walk you through the process to join.

Off-Exchange

Aetna and Cigna let you start the enrollment process and compare plans using their websites outside of the formal exchange. You enter the same information as you would on the exchanges. However, if you use an insurance company’s website, you’ll only see its plans, not everything in your area. For more help, you could contact an insurance agent or broker working with either company.

You can sign up for other health insurance plans, like dental and vision, through either the company’s website, its customer service phone line, or with a company agent.

Alternatives to Aetna and Cigna

If you’d like more options to compare against Aetna and Cigna, check out our list of best health insurance companies. Blue Cross Blue Shield stood out as the best overall health insurance company. It charges competitive premiums, has a wide selection of plan types, a vast provider network, and good customer satisfaction scores.

Kaiser Permanente had the highest quality plans, thanks to excellent customer satisfaction ratings. Oscar stood out for having the most health management programs. On top of health insurance, it includes programs for weight loss and to manage conditions such as asthma, depression, and diabetes. Aetna also made this list of top insurers because of its same-day care options through CVS.

We also have a list of the best Medicare Advantage companies, if you’re in the market for a Medicare plan. UnitedHealthcare topped that list because of its high Medicare star rating, large provider network, and wide range of choices. We also like Humana for its nationwide coverage and Kaser Permanente for its quality and customer satisfaction. Cigna and Aetna are both also on this list. 

Methodology

To review Aetna and Cigna, we focused on some of the most important factors to consider when comparing health insurance companies. For each provider, we looked at the policies available, the cost of coverage, the coverage limits for various plans, the policy management tools, the overall customer experience, and the enrollment process. We also paid attention to the network size and area of availability for both companies.