Many patients and their families will lose in-network access to Piedmont Medical Center hospitals and doctors if Cigna continues to refuse to negotiate in good faith on a contract renewal with the system set to expire on December 31st. The only exception will be for emergency care, which Cigna will have to provide in-network coverage for by law, regardless of whether an agreement is reached.
Cigna, one of the nation’s largest health insurance companies, has so far refused reasonable rate increases to allow the Piedmont Medical Center Market to remain in network for their clients. If Cigna fails to close a deal by the New Year’s Eve deadline, patients with their insurance will be forced to pay substantially higher out of pocket costs to keep their current PMC providers or will have to leave Piedmont Medical Center’s network all together.
“We are working overtime to get this done for our patients, but Cigna’s current offer is nowhere near what it takes to deliver the high-quality health care and professionalism that our patients have come to rely on and deserve,” said Teresa Urquhart, Market CEO for Piedmont Medical Center. “This is a pattern for Cigna, an insurance company who likes to let these contracts expire, ignoring the immense stress they are placing on patients and families who just want to keep their current providers.”…