Letter: St. Mary's chief medical officer details issues with Cigna

As a physician leader at St. Mary’s Health Care System, I am proud of the high-quality care we provide to patients and honored to serve our communities.

Throughout the years, my colleagues and I have worked to ensure the well-being of our community. Unfortunately, Cigna has made it increasingly difficult for patients to access care at St. Mary’s by refusing to reach an agreement that would reinstate in-network access to our hospital and trusted care providers.

Our patients’ health is our top priority, and it is critical that we make certain that health insurers put patients first and that we hold the insurers accountable when they don’t.

With Open Enrollment in full swing, patients with Cigna commercial or Medicare Advantage insurance plans may still be able to select a new health insurance plan that offers in-network access to care at St. Mary’s. The first step is to ask your employer for a list of alternative plans. Your employer may be able to provide secondary health plan coverage that includes access to our trusted providers. If an immediate family member is offered insurance through their employer, you may also consider enrolling in their health benefits plan to reinstate your ability to access St. Mary’s affordably in 2024.

Most importantly, patients should never delay necessary care. Regardless of our network status with Cigna, emergency care is always covered at in-network rates, and you should seek immediate care if you experience a medical emergency.

We are deeply disappointed in Cigna’s unwillingness to focus on what matters most – patients.

While we continue to negotiate with Cigna, we strongly encourage all our patients with Cigna commercial or Medicare Advantage plans to consider a different health plan that will protect their in-network access to St. Mary’s and their trusted hospital and doctors for 2024.

Eric Schuck, MD, FAAP chief medical officer

St. Mary’s Health Care System 

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Letter: St. Mary's chief medical officer details issues with Cigna