Anyone who’s shuttled between doctor’s offices, struggled to relay information, or searched for specific health records knows the frustration.     

Fragmented care comes in pieces. One doctor provides one service. Another doctor provides another service. Doctors may not communicate. Health data may get lost. The patient may be left trying to put the puzzle together. 

What is integrated health care?

With integrated health benefits, patients get more coordinated and personalized care. Solutions draw on health data to engage them. Providers know more about their needs. And care is holistic – focused on both body and mind. That means better experiences and outcomes. 

By drawing insights from data, engaging patients, and encouraging provider collaboration, integrated care can help improve outcomes and lower costs. 

Helping lower overall health care costs

For the 7^th year, Cigna Healthcare has conducted a Value of Integration Study, which evaluates the impact of medical, pharmacy and comprehensive behavioral benefit integration on annual total medical costs. The study once again proves that our holistic approach to benefits management improves customer engagement and outcomes, while reducing total medical costs:

• Employers saved $193 per member per year¹ total medical cost savings across the Cigna Healthcare book of business.
• For members engaged in a help improvement program, employers saved $9,2707 per member per year.¹ 

What to know about integrated health care  

Additionally, for Cigna Healthcare members, integrated medical, pharmacy and behavioral benefits reduce hospital stays by 31%² and preventable trips to the emergency room (ER) by 22%.³ When care is fragmented, both employees and employers lose money. Worse, patients’ heath can suffer. Connected care saves costs and improves lives.

Let’s take a closer look at key features of integrated care:

1.       Data insights for more personalized care

Analyzing patient health data can show who’s at risk for high-cost conditions such as musculoskeletal (MSK) pain and diabetes. The Cigna Health Matters^® health assessment score and other data can reveal the need for action, whether it be preventive care or participation in targeted health coaching.

Here are other ways Cigna Healthcare plans draw on data:

• Gathers employee health information, such as health assessment results, benefits utilization, engagement in wellness programs, and provider quality.
• Integrates data insights from different sources, such as primary care, mental health, pharmacy, and employee assistance programs, to better understand employee health and well-being.
• Uses advanced predictive modeling tools to identify top health risks and improve engagement. 

2.  Proactive engagement to reduce costs

When people understand how early intervention and preventive health care can help, they’re more likely to have regular check-ups and screenings. Getting preventive health care can lead to significant savings for patients and their employers. The Cigna Healthcare Value of Integration study found:

• 37% more health risk assessments¹
• 14% more personalized outreaches¹

Here are a few examples of how personalized programs can help employees:

• Offer in-person onsite clinics, plus virtual care  
• Incentives for health screenings, preventive care, and healthy challenges
• Personalized communications based on data insights, including targeted messages about relevant resources and services.

3. Provider collaboration for quality care

The Cigna Healthcare integrated data platform makes it easier for doctors to share information with care team members – nurses, pharmacists, therapists, social workers, and others. When doctors, care team members, and patients get on the same page, duplicate testing or unnecessary treatment becomes less likely. Costs go down and better outcomes follow.

A complete picture of health

It’s time to move beyond fragmented benefits and toward an integrated health care plan. Integration is how we drive care that’s more predictive, more curated, more personalized, and more effective—making better care and lower cost possible.

Through holistic, collaborative models of care, employees and employers share the benefits of reduced costs, improved outcomes, and a better quality of life.

Health care that’s better by design

Discover how Cigna Healthcare supports you in life’s ordinary and extraordinary health moments through predictive, personalized, and connected experiences.

1. Cigna Healthcare 2024 National Book of Business study of 2023 claims of medical customers who have Cigna Healthcare integrated medical, pharmacy and Cigna Total Behavioral Health® benefits. Average annual per member per year (PMPY) – Individual client/customer results will vary and are not guaranteed. Cigna Healthcare used a match case-control methodology developed at Harvard University to produce supplementary statistics on different subsets of customers (those with certain comorbidities, who engaged in health improvement activities, etc.) A control group isolates the difference in medical cost. The sample size and methodology are consistent with previous years’ analyses, and do not reflect any selection biases or partialities
2. Cigna Healthcare Analytics Health Matters Care Management program evaluation, October 2020–March 2023, with members identified from April 2021 to March 2022. Measure of engaged vs non-engaged members, with relative reduction. Results may vary.
3. 2022 matched case-control study of 2021 medical claims for One Guide high-engaged clients/members with 24-month coverage compared to One Guide low-engaged population with 24-month coverage. Results may vary.