Cigna Healthcare Expands Access to Fertility and Family-Building Benefits and Services

Rhea-AI Summary

Cigna Healthcare announced a new collaboration with Progyny, Inc (Nasdaq: PGNY) to offer expanded fertility and family-building services for more employers. This comprehensive benefit aims to provide coverage from pre-conception to postpartum care, including surrogacy and adoption. The initiative addresses the affordability challenges employers face and acknowledges the growing demand for such services, with 1 in 6 people affected by infertility globally.

The offering is designed to help employers attract and retain top talent, with 61% of millennials valuing these benefits for company loyalty and 70% willing to change jobs for better family-planning benefits. Progyny's Smart Cycle® design allows employers to simplify coverage based on fertility cycles rather than financial thresholds, offering services such as:

• Access to over 650 premier fertility clinics in the U.S.
• 1:1 personalized support from Patient Care Advocates.
• Pre-conception coaching and clinical programming.
• Prescription fertility medication coverage.
• Customized cycle-based coverage for reproductive technologies.
• Egg and sperm freezing and storage.
• Doula services for labor and delivery.
• Holistic well-being and mental health support.
• Guided support and reimbursement for surrogacy and adoption services.

This new benefit will be available to most of Cigna Healthcare's self-funded employer clients in early fall 2025.

Positive

• Cigna Healthcare's new benefit expands fertility and family-building services, addressing a significant market need.
• The collaboration with Progyny provides comprehensive coverage, including surrogacy and adoption, which can attract and retain top talent.
• Progyny's Smart Cycle® design simplifies employer coverage, potentially reducing administrative burdens.

Negative

• There is no immediate financial impact or revenue figures provided, making it hard to assess the short-term financial benefits.

BLOOMFIELD, Conn., Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna Healthcare, the health benefits division of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), today announced a new offering in collaboration with Progyny, Inc (Nasdaq: PGNY) that makes best-in-class fertility and family-building services accessible and equitable for more employers. This new and comprehensive benefit will enable employers to offer expanded coverage throughout the entire fertility journey, from pre-conception planning to postpartum care, along with coverage options for family-building services such as surrogacy and adoption.

Historically, many employers have faced affordability challenges in offering such comprehensive services to their workforces. Yet, with 1 in 6 people worldwide impacted by infertility, demand for these services continues to grow. Availability of fertility, childbirth and family-building services have become a leading factor in job retention, with 61% of millennials saying these benefits drive company loyalty and 70% saying they would change jobs based on family-planning benefits. By providing expanded services, this new offering can help a wider range of employers attract and maintain top talent.

Through Progyny's Smart Cycle® design, employers can simplify coverage by designing benefits based on fertility cycles, rather than financial thresholds, and selecting from among a fully integrated suite of services, including:

• Access to Progyny's network of over 650 premier fertility clinics across the U.S.
• 1:1 personalized support from Progyny's Patient Care Advocates.
• Pre-conception coaching and clinical programming, including blood work, ultrasounds, and biopsies.
• Prescription fertility medication coverage supported by Evernorth's Freedom Fertility Pharmacy.
• Customized cycle-based coverage for assistive reproductive technologies such as intra-uterine insemination (IUI), intravenous fertilization (IVF), and embryo and oocyte transfers, with the option of unlimited cycles.
• Egg and sperm freezing and storage.
• Doula services to support labor and delivery.
• Holistic well-being and mental health support for pre-conception and early pregnancy care.
• Guided, personalized support and reimbursement for surrogacy and adoption services.

"Employers understand that the road to parenthood can be challenging physically, emotionally, and financially, and they want to support their colleagues in reaching their family-building goals," said Heather Dlugolenski, senior vice president, U.S. employer strategy officer, Cigna Healthcare. "Our newest offering helps make best-in-class, personalized care accessible and equitable for a wider range of employers, while helping people achieve healthy pregnancies, babies, and families."  

In addition to the enhanced solution powered by Progyny, Cigna Healthcare continues to offer a range of fertility benefit options for clients to select based on the unique needs of their workforce and their budget.

The new benefit solution will be available to most of Cigna Healthcare's self-funded employer clients in early fall 2025. 

About Cigna Healthcare
Cigna Healthcare is a health benefits provider that advocates for better health through every stage of life. We guide our customers through the health care system, empowering them with the information and insight they need to make the best choices for improving their health and vitality. Products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Evernorth Health companies or their affiliates and Express Scripts companies or their affiliates. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits and others. Learn more at CignaHealthcare.com.

Media Contact
media@cigna.com

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SOURCE Cigna Healthcare

FAQ

What does the new Cigna Healthcare and Progyny partnership mean for PGNY shareholders?

The partnership expands access to comprehensive fertility and family-building services, potentially increasing demand for Progyny's offerings and positively impacting revenue.

How does the new Cigna Healthcare benefit impact employers?

It allows employers to offer expanded fertility and family-building services, which can help attract and retain top talent.

What services are included in the new Cigna Healthcare and Progyny benefit?

Services include access to fertility clinics, personalized support, pre-conception coaching, prescription medication coverage, reproductive technologies, egg and sperm freezing, doula services, mental health support, and surrogacy and adoption reimbursement.

When will the new Cigna Healthcare benefit be available?

The new benefit will be available to most of Cigna Healthcare's self-funded employer clients in early fall 2025.

How does Progyny's Smart Cycle® design benefit employers?

It simplifies coverage by allowing employers to design benefits based on fertility cycles rather than financial thresholds, reducing administrative burdens.

Why is there a growing demand for fertility and family-building services?

With 1 in 6 people affected by infertility globally, there is a significant need for comprehensive fertility and family-building services.

What impact could the new Cigna Healthcare benefit have on job retention?

The expanded services could improve job retention, as 61% of millennials value these benefits for company loyalty and 70% might change jobs for better family-planning benefits.