CIGNA International expands Global Access Health Network

CIGNA International, a world leader in expatriate benefits, has added 47,000 health care facilities to its network in Africa as part of its launch of CIGNALinks^® Africa in South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco. The CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits (CIEB) network currently stands at more than 140,000 doctors, hospitals, and clinics outside the United States, providing access to care for globally mobile employees and their family members worldwide.

“CIEB launched CIGNALinks beginning in 2005 to simplify the claims process and health care payment for expatriates and their families”

CIGNALinks Africa integrates CIEB’s global coverage with the administrative services and health care facility networks of the Medical Services Organisation (MSO) and MSO’s joint venture, the Global Access Health Network, both located in South Africa. The CIGNALinks Africa network expansion is designed to offer customers substantial discounts when accessing the local network for care and to reduce out-of-pocket costs at the time care is delivered.

“CIEB launched CIGNALinks beginning in 2005 to simplify the claims process and health care payment for expatriates and their families,” said Sonny Patel, CIEB’s senior director of global health solutions. “The program integrates CIEB’s global medical plans with the administrative services and networks of local health care organizations.”

CIGNALinks programs enable customers to access care wherever they work or travel. With recent network expansions, CIEB has grown its health care facility network outside of the United States by more than a third in recent months. CIEB serves customers in more than 205 countries and jurisdictions, offering covered expatriates and business travelers 24/7 customer service regardless of their location.