Important Update for Patients with Cigna Healthcare Insurance Plans

UC Health, which includes UC San Diego Health, is continuing negotiations for a new agreement to keep our health care facilities and professionals "in network" with Cigna Healthcare insurance plans and preserve access to care for our patients.

If a new agreement is not reached, UC Health's facilities and professionals will be out-of-network with Cigna Healthcare's insurance plans starting on July 1, 2026. This change would affect Cigna Healthcare members across plan types, including:

  • Commercial HMO
  • Commercial PPO
  • Plans offered by employers
  • LifeSource (Cigna's transplant network)
  • Evernorth (Cigna's behavioral health network)

For HMO patients: You may have received a notice from Cigna assigning you to a new primary care physician outside of UC San Diego Health, even as negotiations are continuing. If a new agreement is not in place before July 1, 2026, you may have a right to keep your UCSD Health primary care physician for a designated period of time. Please contact Cigna's member services department. If you have further questions, you are encouraged to contact the Department of Managed Health Care, which protects consumers, by telephone at its toll-free number, 1-888-466-2219, or at a TDD number for those who are hearing- or speech-impaired at 1-877-688-9891, or online at dmhc.ca.gov.

For PPO patients: You may have received a notice from Cigna. If a new agreement is not in place before July 1, 2026, you may be eligible to continue your care with UC San Diego Health for a designated period of time without interruption or increased costs.

What Happens Next?

Nothing is changing just yet. You can still see your doctor and receive care at UC San Diego Health until July 1, 2026, without any changes. You are important to us, and we look forward to remaining your health care provider.

If UC Health's locations and providers are excluded from Cigna Health's network, patients with Cigna health plans could face significantly higher out-of-pocket expenses — or even find that Cigna will no longer cover their health care costs through UC San Diego Health at all.

What Are We Doing?

We continue to do our part to negotiate with Cigna Healthcare in hopes of reaching a new, fair agreement to preserve your access to UC care without interruptions or added costs.

What Can You Do?

If you have questions or concerns about this potential change, we encourage you to call Cigna Healthcare's member services phone number found on your insurance card.

Continuity of Care (COC) / Transition of Care Services

State law provides patients the opportunity to continue care related to certain medical conditions if your current physician is no longer in your health plan, as described above.

Examples of those who may be eligible for Continuity of Care (COC) / Transition of Care benefits as determined by Cigna include:

  • Patients who are pregnant
  • Patients who are under the age of 3
  • Patients who are awaiting a transplant or have received a transplant
  • Patients who have an upcoming scheduled surgery or procedure
  • Patients who have certain acute conditions, serious chronic medical conditions, or a terminal illnesses

You can find more details on the California Department of Managed Health Care's Continuity of Care page.

To apply for COC, take these steps:

  • Reach out to Cigna to learn how to download Cigna's Continuity of Care /Transition of Care Request Form that applies to your health plan. Your plan information can be found on your Cigna membership card.
  • Follow the instructions for completing and submitting the form to Cigna.
  • For questions about your eligibility for these services, we encourage you to call the toll-free number on your Cigna membership card.

For patients with appointments or procedures scheduled for July 1, 2026 or later, we encourage you to apply to Cigna as soon as possible for Continuity of Care/Transition of Care benefits.

Common Questions

We have a set of common questions and answers below to help you get the information you need. If you have a question that is not answered, please reach out to UC San Diego Health at 800-926-8273 to speak to a team member. As a valued patient, we want to help you understand what is happening.

What Is Happening Between Cigna Healthcare and UC Health?

UC Health, which includes UC San Diego Health, is continuing negotiations for a new agreement to keep our health care facilities and professionals "in network" with Cigna Healthcare insurance plans and preserve access to care for our patients.

If a new agreement is not reached by July 1, 2026, UC Health's facilities and professionals will no longer be "in network" with Cigna Healthcare insurance plans. For now, nothing is changing and Cigna members may continue to access care at UC Health as we continue to try to reach a fair agreement to preserve Cigna Healthcare members' access to care at UC Health.

Which Cigna Healthcare Insurance Plans Are Affected by the Negotiations?

If a new agreement is not in place by July 1, 2026, this change would affect Cigna Healthcare members across plan types, including:

  • Commercial HMO
  • Commercial PPO
  • Plans offered by employers
  • LifeSource (Cigna's transplant network)
  • Evernorth (Cigna's behavioral health network)

Which UC Health Professionals and Facilities Are Impacted?

All UC Health hospitals, facilities, and health care professionals rely on this agreement with Cigna Healthcare to remain in network for you.

Have Additional Questions?

Because you are a valued patient, we want to help you understand what is happening with our Cigna Healthcare agreement. Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to UC San Diego Health at 800-926-8273 to speak to a team member.