Cigna Introduces Prediction and Prevention Services to Reduce Short-Term Disability Absences

• Health coach-led prevention services to become part of Cigna's integrated health care and disability solutions program
• Services shown to reduce new short-term disability absences for high risk individuals by more than 10 percent

Cigna CI has added new Absence Prediction and Prevention (AP&P) services to its integrated disability and health care solutions program, Cigna Disability & Healthcare Connect^®. The AP&P services use predictive analytics to determine which employees are at high risk of developing a disabling injury or illness and, using a health and wellness coach, implement solutions to prevent short-term disability.

Integration of the services into Cigna Disability & Healthcare Connect^® follows a multi-year AP&P pilot program involving 200,000 employees from 42 employers. The pilot led to a 10.5 percent average reduction in new short-term disability absences for participating employees and companies.

"Employers and employees are working toward the same goal," said Bill Smith, president of Cigna's group insurance business. "They want to take control of their health, be productive and contribute to the business. By designing health plans and disability benefits that work better together, we are taking deliberate actions to help accomplish that – and drive down workplace absence."

Employee workplace absence has become a $226 billion¹ challenge for U.S. companies, annually, and integration of health and disability benefits is proven to address the issue. In fact, according to Cigna's 2017 integration researchⁱⁱ, employees with disability and health coverage from the same carrier experienced 16 percent quicker decision times on short-term disability claims, nearly seven fewer days away from work, and 52 percent better return-to-work outcomes than those who have health care and disability coverage with separate carriers.

In addition to intensive, personalized wellness coaching, Cigna's Disability & HealthCare Connect program also includes employee access to: Cigna's Your Health First^® chronic condition management program; Cigna's Employee Assistance Program (LAP/EAP) to help individuals cope with stress, depression and various work-life challenges; and pre-disability vocational coaching and counseling for those experiencing work-related challenges because of a covered illness or injury.

Smith added: "Integration of health and disability benefits drive better outcomes. It's that simple. We have been studying the value of integrated benefits for nearly a decade and are excited to launch AP&P services through Cigna Disability & Healthcare Connect^®."

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation CI is a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being and sense of security. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Life Insurance Company of North America and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 95 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna^®, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

ⁱ Absenteeism and Employer Costs Associated With Chronic Diseases and Health Risk Factors in the US Workforce, October, 6, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2016/15_0503.htm
ⁱⁱ Cigna internal analysis, study vs. control group from July 2009–2017, June 2017. Individual customer/client results will vary.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171128005309/en/