The Plan needs to tighten the reigns on healthcare spending. The cost for care is rising.
Consider this.
Hypertension is abnormally high blood pressure. Hypertension can lead to severe health complications and increase the risk for heart disease, stroke and sometimes death. Problem is, sometimes someone can have hypertension and not know it. There are often no symptoms. So, the best course of action is to visit your doctor annually to catch this diagnosis before it’s too late. As with all things, though, healthcare doesn’t come without a price. But your is life not a game of Russian roulette, so the option for “no preventive visit” really is a non-option.
In 2019, 3,282 participants under our health plan were diagnosed and were treated for hypertension. The health plan paid $9,585 per member per month for their care, which translates to $31,457,523 annually spent by the plan on hypertension and it’s complications from not receiving maintenance care alone.
In 2020, less participants were treated for hypertension: 2,927. However, healthcare costs per participant were $10,188 per participant. Why? Because healthcare costs are rising. Had the same number of participants been treated, the cost for care would have risen nearly $2 million annually.
Your health plan is here for your healthcare needs. We want you to ʙᴇ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ and ꜱᴛᴀʏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ. But if you need treatment for any diagnoses, we absolutely want to make sure you get the ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴏꜱꜱɪʙʟᴇ at the ʙᴇꜱᴛ ᴘʀɪᴄᴇ ᴘᴏꜱꜱɪʙʟᴇ.
You may have seen some changes in our health plan recently. These changes may require you to do things a little differently than you’ve done them in the past. You may be asked to get a prior authorization for services when you didn’t have to before. You may be given the opportunity to work with a health coach through Cigna’s Lifestyle Management Program. Know these services are here to serve you, your Brothers and Sisters and your families in the best way and to get you the best care at the best price possible.
To do your part in helping the plan tighten our reigns on healthcare spending, consider getting your annual preventive care visit with your primary care physician in 2021. Visit myCigna.com or call Cigna One Guide at 800.244.6224 to find a doctor if you don’t already have a primary care physician, or call the Wellness Center at 314.955.WELL (9355) to make an appointment with one of the Wellness Center physicians.
