Aetna vs Cigna
An honest side-by-side comparison of two of our top health insurance picks — pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and who each one is really for.
Aetna
Ranked #4 of 15 in this directory
Major health insurer now part of CVS Health offering integrated care
Cigna
Ranked #5 of 15 in this directory
Global health insurer with strong employer plans and behavioral health coverage
Our pick: Aetna. Our editors rank Aetna higher overall in Health Insurance — but Cigna can be the better fit depending on your budget and use case below. How we review
Compare the details
| Aetna | Cigna | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Paid | Paid |
| Starting price | See website | See website |
| Category | Employer | Employer |
| Editorial rank | #4 of 15 | #5 of 15 |
Strengths
Aetna
- ✓Integration with CVS provides convenient pharmacy and clinic access
- ✓Strong Medicare Advantage offerings in many markets
- ✓Comprehensive wellness and disease management programs
- ✓Good digital tools through the Aetna Health app
- ✓Competitive pricing for employer-sponsored group plans
Cigna
- ✓Industry-leading behavioral and mental health coverage
- ✓Express Scripts integration delivers strong pharmacy benefit management
- ✓Excellent international coverage for globally mobile employees
- ✓Comprehensive employer health plan options with flexible designs
- ✓Strong preventive care and wellness program incentives
Watch out for
Aetna
- !Provider network may be smaller than UnitedHealthcare or BCBS in some areas
- !CVS integration benefits are most valuable near CVS locations
- !Customer satisfaction scores are average compared to top-rated insurers
- !Some plans have restrictive referral requirements
Cigna
- !Individual marketplace availability is limited in many states
- !Provider network may be narrower than BCBS or UHC in some regions
- !Customer service wait times can be frustrating
- !Plan complexity can make it difficult to understand actual costs
Best use cases
Aetna
- →Employee whose company offers Aetna group health insurance
- →Senior near CVS locations who can benefit from MinuteClinic access
- →Employer wanting integrated health and pharmacy benefits for workers
Cigna
- →Employer wanting strong mental health benefits for employees
- →Multinational company needing international health coverage
- →Organization seeking integrated health and pharmacy benefit management
About each tool
Aetna
Aetna, now a subsidiary of CVS Health, serves approximately 34 million medical members with a comprehensive range of health insurance products. The integration with CVS Health has enabled Aetna to offer unique benefits including MinuteClinic access, CVS pharmacy discounts, and HealthHUB locations that combine insurance services with clinical care. Aetna provides employer-sponsored, individual, Medicare, and Medicaid plans with a focus on whole-person health and affordability.
Cigna
Cigna is a global health services company serving over 190 million customer relationships worldwide, with particular strength in employer-sponsored health plans and behavioral health coverage. The company merged with Express Scripts to create a combined health insurance and pharmacy benefit management powerhouse. Cigna is known for its focus on whole-person health, including mental health support, and its extensive international coverage for globally mobile employees.
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