Cigna Plans are Top-Ranked in New Jersey, According to NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Sept. 21 -- CIGNA issued the following news release:

Cigna (NYSE:CI) health plans are the top-ranked Health Maintenance Organization/Point of Service (HMO/POS) and Preferred Provider Organization-type (PPO-type) plans in New Jersey*, according to National Committee for Quality Assurance's (NCQA's) Private Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2012-2013. The rankings are based on NCQA's measurement of a health plan's performance in three categories: health care quality, customer service and scores on NCQA accreditation surveys. "Rankings such as NCQA's are important because they show the areas in which our plans are performing well, but also highlight for us areas for continued improvement," said Charlie Catalano, president and general manager for Cigna in New Jersey. "We are committed to helping our customers improve their health, well-being and sense of security and to being a partner of choice for the health care professionals who care for our customers." NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS(TM)) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. The rankings are based on the voluntary submission of health care quality results as measured through HEDIS(R), customer service scores based on customer surveys through CAHPS(R) and participation in NCQA's accreditation program for health plans. More information on the rankings is available at www.ncqa.org In total, some 538 private health plans are included in the rankings; 474 of the 538 are given a numerical ranking by NCQA. The rankings included the HMO/POS plans offered by Cigna HealthCare of New Jersey, Inc., and PPO and Open Access Plus plans from Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. ** Cigna HealthCare of New Jersey's national ranking is 64; the national ranking for Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company and Connecticut General Life Insurance Company in New Jersey is 158.

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