The Cigna Group Milestones

1792-1870: Starting off strong

In 1792 after a series of meetings in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, a group of prominent citizens form the Insurance Company of North America (INA). INA is the first marine insurance company in the United States and it remains the nation’s oldest, stockholder-owned insurer.

INA issues its first marine policies for the ship America, insuring its hull and cargo on a voyage from Philadelphia, PA to Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

1794

INA is incorporated, and issues its first life insurance policy—insuring a sea captain against death during a voyage. The policy even includes a clause promising benefits if Barbary Coast pirates capture the captain.

1865

The Governor of Connecticut signs a special act of the General Assembly incorporating the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company—one of the companies that would make Hartford known as the "insurance capital of the world."

1871 – 1945: Playing a part in history

We’ve played a significant role in shaping the United States. Through our INA heritage, we resurrected two of the biggest cities in the country after disaster. We insured some of the biggest events and innovations of the past century, and were at the forefront of health insurance.

1871

In October, the great Chicago Fire burns for two days, destroying 2,000 acres and leaving 100,000 people homeless. INA pays $650,000, one of only 51 insurance companies (out of a total of 202) to pay claims in full.

1906

Fires from the San Francisco earthquake leave nearly five square miles of the city in ruins. INA and subsidiaries promise to pay losses in full—a total of $4,772,000.

1912

Health insurance starts getting attention during the 1912 presidential election, when Theodore Roosevelt proposes funds to assist Americans with health care costs. That same year, Connecticut General forms a new accident department, followed by a new group department in 1918. It begins marketing group accident and sickness contracts in 1919—its first involvement with employee health insurance.

1926

Both INA and Connecticut General begin to insure the Age of Flight. INA joins a syndicate to insure aircraft, and Connecticut General writes the first individual accident coverage—a forerunner to modern day health insurance—offered to passengers of regularly scheduled airlines.

1942

At the request of the U.S. Army, an INA company writes accident and health insurance for the 30 men working on the Manhattan Project, without being told the nature of their employment.

1946-1949: Growing our business globally

We’re not just a U.S. company - we’re an international one, too. We established our international roots a long time ago by setting up overseas offices and agents, and we continue to do business globally.

1946

INA grows in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Near East and Central and South America.

1950-1980: Focusing on health care after World War II

Health insurance gained public attention during the 1910's, but didn't gain momentum until after World War II, when contracts for group health insurance increased rapidly. That's when we began focusing our innovations on health care and supplemental health solutions, based on changing costs and technology.

1950

Connecticut General introduces medical catastrophe (major medical) insurance, writing the first policy in the U.S. for its own employees.

Four years later, in 1954, Connecticut General introduces the first comprehensive medical case that combines group health and major medical into a single contract.

1964

Connecticut General introduces group dental insurance for any employer with at least 35 employees.

1969

Connecticut General establishes a health maintenance organization (HMO) to serve the planned city of Columbia, MD.

1970

Connecticut General expands to provide group insurance and pension services to select international companies for their employees based abroad.

The first expatriate employer group policy is written in 1977. Today, Cigna Expatriate Benefits is one of the largest health care insurers in the global market, and covers more than a quarter million expatriates and family members.

INA forms International Rehabilitation Associates (IRA) to market professional rehabilitation services to insurance companies and other organizations. It’s the first medical cost-containment business in the United States.

1978

INA enters the prepaid health plan business by acquiring HMO International, which operates hospitals in the U.S. and abroad as well as an HMO in Oakland, CA. Based on its success, INA builds a network of HMOs throughout the United States, beginning in the Southwest and Southeast.

In 1980, INA purchases Ross-Loos, the nation’s oldest HMO, founded in 1929 and headquartered in Los Angeles.

1981-1997: Coming together - and growing stronger - as Cigna

Cigna as we know it today was formed from the union of two companies, both already strong players in the insurance field. Together, we were able to grow and find more ways to support individuals.

1982

Connecticut General Corporation (CG) and INA Corporation (INA) announce that they will combine their operations and health insurance businesses.

1984

Cigna acquires American Foreign Insurance Association (AFIA), an international insurance underwriting association reaching customers in more than 100 countries. INA had been a founding member of AFIA in 1918, before withdrawing in 1921.

1990

Cigna acquires EQUICOR, the sixth-largest provider of employee benefits in the U.S., complementing Cigna’s network of health plans.

1994

Cigna joins the March of Dimes^® fight for healthy babies as a national sponsor of the annual walk-a-thon. In the first 5 years of sponsorship, 22,431 employees walk at over 80 sites, helping to raise $7.6 million.

Today, we still support the March of Dimes. In 2013, 71,313 employees participated in the walk-a-thon. For over 20 years, we’ve been a national sponsor, raising nearly $30 million.

1997

Cigna acquires Healthsource, Inc. to strengthen our health care operations with access to new markets. The acquisition grows and complements our existing network of health care plans.

1998-2013: Innovating health care and continuing expansion

Over the past decade and a half, we’ve refocused our business on health care and continued to grow in global markets. We’re offering more ways to help by adding to our business—through joint ventures and acquisitions—and developing innovative online tools.

1998

Cigna begins to refocus on its health care business. In 1998, we sell our individual life insurance and annuity business to Lincoln National Corporation. In 1999, we sell the property and casualty business to ACE Limited of Hamilton, Bermuda. And later, in 2004, we sell the financial and retirement business to Prudential Financial, Inc.

2002

Cigna helps launch the world’s first online physician-led healthcare network for employees on global assignments and expands offerings in our Chinese and Mexican markets.

Cigna unveils myCigna.com, a personalized web portal giving consumers control over their health and financial security. The portal receives “Best in Show” honors from Business Insurance.¹

Cigna teams with International SOS to launch the world’s first online physician-led healthcare network for employees on global assignments.

Cigna enters the Chinese life insurance market, and later in the year establishes a joint venture to market life insurance in Shenzhen.

Cigna Seguros offers families and individuals access to quality hospitals in Mexico and the U.S. with new major medical insurance. The new major medical coverage offers open access to any hospital in Mexico, and expanded access to U.S. facilities.

2005

Cigna International becomes the only U.S. insurer to offer web-based expert second opinion services for expatriates through the renowned e-Cleveland Clinic.

2007

The Global Knowledge Exchange Network (GKEN) is created through a $1 million grant from the Cigna Foundation. GKEN brings leaders from government, health care, business, philanthropy, academia and health insurance companies together to advance better practices in health care.

Cigna International celebrates 20 years of operations in Korea and Hong Kong.

2009

Cigna becomes the first and only health service company in the U.S. to offer live 24/7/365 access to its call center service representatives for medical, dental, and pharmacy plan customers and contracted health care professionals.

Cigna International launches Envoy, a web portal to help doctors and hospitals better serve expatriate patients.

Cigna and CMC Life Insurance Company Limited, a joint venture between Cigna and China Merchants Group, announce the launch of its first comprehensive health care product in China.

2010

Cigna becomes the international leader in benefits for people living abroad with the acquisition of Vanbreda International.

2011

Cigna launches a new U.S. campaign, GO YOU, focused on meeting the unique needs of every person Cigna serves.

Cigna adopts a new business strategy—Go Deep. Go Global. Go Individual—and a new “Tree of life” logo to reflect the GO YOU philosophy.

Cigna continues to expand globally by opening operations in Singapore, announcing joint ventures with Finansbank in Turkey and TTK Group in India, acquiring First Assist in the UK, and expanding health networks in Brazil and expatriate networks in Africa.

Cigna acquires Great American Supplemental Benefits, offering a broader range of products to serve the needs of seniors and other individuals. Supplemental includes voluntary benefits, limited benefit and low-cost health plans, disability, employee benefits for hourly and part-time workers and their families and Medicare supplement benefits.

2012

Cigna celebrates 30 years of formation.

In the U.S., Cigna acquires HealthSpring to expand its focus on serving the health needs of seniors.

2013

The Cigna Foundation sponsors the first-ever Global Healthy Workplace Awards, recognizing the world’s healthiest workplaces.

Cigna announces a strategic venture with MyFitnessPal, a web-based food log, to allow customers to track progress toward their health goals.

2014 – Present: Evolving the Cigna brand

From 1792 to today, we've come a long way. And health insurance—now over a century old—has changed as well. So now, we're evolving the Cigna brand to more accurately reflect our business and more strongly communicate our core commitment: helping our customers improve their health, well-being, and sense of security.

2014

Cigna unveils an evolved brand identity in September. With this brand evolution, Cigna makes a new global promise: We understand our customers’ needs and work together to help them achieve healthier, more secure lives. The evolved brand builds on Cigna’s strengths, by focusing on connecting more deeply with customers in order to deliver on their changing needs, build relationships, and continue to make a difference in their lives.

Cigna launches a new global campaign and tagline—”Together, all the way^®”—to help share its evolved brand story and show what it has to offer with the world.

2015

Cigna is the first payer to commit to the US Department of Health & Human Services 50/90 goals (50% of payments in alternative payment models and 90% in value-based arrangements by 2018).

2016

Cigna's new technology solutions include Cigna One Guide^®, a multi-modal customer experience for proactive engagement to stay healthy, and Cigna SureFit^®, a heightened collaboration between local physicians' networks and hospital groups to drive efficiencies and optimize networks for customers.

Cigna's HIT (Health Improvement Tour: Go. Know. Take Control.^®), delivers free health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index) and coaching to many individuals who do not have access to health care through traditional means.

2017

Cigna acquires Brighter, a leader in digital engagement, to accelerate the development of technology platforms and create new end-to-end experiences that connect health consumers and providers.

Cigna continues its commitment to reducing opioid use by sponsoring community forums such as "Addiction in America" in Washington D.C. and NPR's "Generation Listen" events in Atlanta and Chicago, ending prior authorization for commercial health plan customers, and supporting the Shatterproof and Stamp Out Stigma initiatives.

Cigna's "TV Doctors promotes preventive care initiatives, and Cigna and CVS Health launch Cigna Health Works^SM, a new model for customer-enabled design for affordable, convenient access to pharmacy and health care.

2018

Cigna completes combination with Express Scripts^®, establishing a blueprint to transform the health care system to deliver improved affordability, choice, and predictability through flexible, open, and connected solutions.

Celebrates first day as a combined company with an incremental investment of $200 million to support local communities, focused on improving societal health.

Launches Healthier Kids for Our Future^®, a new community engagement program to improve the health and well-being of children globally.