Cigna-HealthSpring and The University of Pennsylvania Health System Expand Network Agreement for 2016

• Agreement provides health care professionals with greater resources and aligned-incentives to deliver quality patient care
• University of Pennsylvania Health System represents three hospitals. The new agreement also brings in Chester County Hospital.

PHILADELPHIA, November 02, 2015 - Cigna-HealthSpring, a Cigna (NYSE:CI) company serving Medicare and Medicaid customers, and The University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) are expanding their network relationship that will also include Chester County Hospital.

The expansion means customers who choose a Cigna-HealthSpring plan for 2016 during fall open enrollment period can do so knowing that services from UPHS physicians will be covered at the in-network benefit level when their plan takes effect in January. The University of Pennsylvania Health System, a world-class hospital system, serves the Greater Philadelphia area.

"Cigna-HealthSpring collaborates with primary care physicians to help customers receive the services and care they need to achieve their health goals, with health care professionals and specialists they trust," said Dr. Laura Reich, Cigna-HealthSpring market manager for Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. "Our collaborative programs have helped close gaps in care such as missed health screenings or prescription refills and improved follow-up care for customer's transitioning from the hospital to home."

"By expanding our relationship, together we are able to increase health care access for residents of the tri-state area, close gaps in care and proactively address health issues before they become more serious and more costly," said Ralph Muller, Chief Executive Officer, The University of Pennsylvania Health System. "Our shared goals put the patient at the center and empower our physicians to improve health outcomes and provide a personalized customer experience."

Cigna-HealthSpring customers with questions about their plan can call customer service at the number on their Cigna-HealthSpring ID card from 8a.m. - 8p.m., seven days a week.

About The University of Pennsylvania Health System

Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $5.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top five medical schools in the United States for the past 17 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $409 million awarded in the 2014 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Chestnut Hill Hospital and Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2014, Penn Medicine provided $771 million to benefit our community.

About Cigna-HealthSpring

Cigna-HealthSpring, a Cigna company (NYSE:CI), is one of the country's leading health plans focused on delivering care to the senior population, predominately through Medicare Advantage and other Medicare and Medicaid products. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Cigna-HealthSpring offers a national stand-alone prescription drug plan and operates health plans in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.cignahealthspring.com.

All Cigna products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation. The Cigna name, logos, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our customer service number at 1-800-668-3813 (TTY 711), 8a.m. - 8p.m., 7 days a week. Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Por favor, llame a nuestro servicio al cliente al 1-800-668-3813 (TTY 711), 8a.m. - 8p.m., 7 días de la semana. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. Cigna-HealthSpring is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna-HealthSpring depends on contract renewal.

H3949_16_38494

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151102005230/en/