Inside The Cigna Group: Mega-Mergers, "Click and Close" Denials, and the $247 Billion Healthcare Giant
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Show Notes
In this episode, we take a deep dive into The Cigna Group, a Fortune 15 managed healthcare and insurance powerhouse based in Connecticut. We trace the company’s massive footprint, from its formation in the 1982 merger of Connecticut General and INA to its 2018 acquisition of Express Scripts for $67 billion.
Tune in as we break down Cigna’s complex history and corporate strategy, including:
- The Rise of Evernorth: How Cigna rebranded its health services portfolio, including Express Scripts and Accredo, under the Evernorth name.
- The "PXDX" Scandal: We investigate the controversy surrounding a system that allegedly allowed doctors to reject claims in an average of 1.2 seconds without opening patient files—a process internally termed "click and close".
- High-Stakes Legal Battles: From the Department of Justice’s 2020 lawsuit alleging $1.4 billion in Medicare fraud to the messy, failed merger with Anthem that ended with both companies suing one another.
- Public Outcry: The tragic 2007 case of Nataline Sarkisyan, whose liver transplant was initially denied, sparking protests and scrutiny over the company’s decision-making.
- Recent Moves: The 2024 agreement to sell Cigna's Medicare Advantage and other benefits businesses to HCSC for approximately $3.7 billion.
Join us for an unvarnished look at one of the largest health services organizations in the world, its $4.4 million lobbying efforts, and the whistleblower who exposed the industry from the inside.